Who has worst Xmas schedule? Spurs play six in 17 days as Man United get lucky

The likes of Tottenham, Liverpool, Chelsea, West Ham and Leicester are all still fighting in four fronts both domestically and in Europe.

And many of those clubs will need to count on every member of their squads in what is a season-defining period in mid-December.

Comparatively, the two Manchester outfits have both already had their fixture list trimmed by their early exit from the Carabao Cup.

Arsenal, meanwhile, will enjoy their lightest festive period in years with the Gunners having no European football this term for the first time in 25 years.

But on the opposite end of the fixture table, which Premier League team will be working extra hard this Christmas? talkSPORT.com takes a look…

Arsenal

Mikel Arteta's side will be in action nine times across the course of festive period.

Arsenal start with a difficult away day to Old Trafford to take on Manchester United which precedes a run of seven games before they finish at home to Man City on January 1, 2022.

The Gunners lack of European football does ease their fixture list slightly but they do have to squeeze in a League Cup quarter final against Sunderland as well.

That game comes in the middle of Arsenal's busiest period in which they have to play six times in 18 days - an average of playing a match every three days!

Man United (a) December 2

Everton (a) December 6

Southampton (h) December 11

West Ham (h) December 15

Leeds (a) December 18

Sunderland (h) December 21

Norwich City (a) December 26

Wolves (h) December 28

Man City (h) January 1

Aston Villa

The Villains play one less than Arsenal over the same period with their third-round Carabao Cup defeat to Chelsea clearing their schedule of that extra game.

But Villa have an extremely tough run of games in which they play Man City, Leicester, Liverpool and Chelsea in a matter of weeks.

The one consolation for the clubs is the amount of rest Villa will be afforded between matches compared to the rest of the Premier League.

The Birmingham outfit have four days between most of their December games with a two-day turnaround after Boxing Day their only physical challenge.

Man City (h) December 1

Leicester City (h) December 5

Liverpool (a) December 11

Norwich (a) December 14

Burnley (h) December 18

Chelsea (h) December 26

Leeds (a) December 28

Brentford (a) January 2

Brentford

As was the case with Arsenal, Thomas Frank's side will be in action nine times across the course of festive period.

But unlike the Gunners, Brentford's fixtures have ensured that the club will have an average of four days rest between most of their games.

The Bees never have less than three days from one match to another but like Aston Villa have a difficult run in December.

Brentford have Premier League ties against Tottenham, Man United and Man City alongside a Carabao Cup clash with Chelsea.

Tottenham (a) December 2

Leeds (a) December 5

Watford (h) December 10

Man United (h) December 14

Southampton (a) December 18

Chelsea (h) December 22

Brighton (a) December 26

Man City (h) December 29

Aston Villa (h) January 2

Brighton

Graham Potter's side are among the teams with the lightest December schedule with eight games over the festive period.

Brighton start December away at West Ham before a trip to Southampton three days later precedes an eight-day rest.

The Seagulls fixtures do increase on December 12 when they host Spurs, three days before welcoming Wolves and then away at United three days after that.

West Ham (a) December 1

Southampton (a) December 4

Tottenham (h) December 12

Wolves (h) December 15

Man United (a) December 18

Brentford (h) December 26

Chelsea (a) December 29

Everton (a) January 2

Burnley

Sean Dyche's men will also enjoy the absence of League Cup duty with eight fixtures affording them at least three days rest between games.

Burnley also have rather favourable games during December, as they face struggling Newcastle, Aston Villa and Watford.

However, the Lancashire outfit do have an intriguing Boxing Day clash with Everton before a trip to Old Trafford a helpful four days later.

Wolves (a) December 1

Newcastle (a) December 4

West Ham (h) December 12

Watford (h) December 15

Aston Villa (a) December 18

Everton (h) December 26

Man United (a) December 30

Leeds (a) January 2

Chelsea

The Blues have been swamped with a hectic Christmas period with TEN matches in just one month - including a clash with title rivals Liverpool.

Thomas Tuchel's men are currently top of the table but face a battle to hold onto their lead with three away games kicking off a busy December.

Chelsea also have to navigate a 2,600-mile return trip to Russia for a Champions League tie with Zenit St Petersburg and a Carabao Cup quarter-final.

Watford (a) December 1

West Ham (a) December 4

Zenit (a) December 8

Leeds (h) December 11

Everton (h) December 16

Wolves (a) December 19

Brentford (a) December 22

Aston Villa (a) December 26

Brighton (h) December 20

Liverpool (h) January 2

Crystal Palace

Patrick Vieira's first time navigating the Christmas period as a manager is much kinder than his old club Arsenal or London rivals Chelsea.

The Frenchman will only oversee seven matches into the New Year however his Palace side will have less rest between games.

The Eagles have a week's rest after opening December away at Man United before three days only separate clashes with Everton, Southampton and Watford.

The Selhurst Park outfit are also in action just two days after a Boxing Day fixture with Spurs as they host Norwich City.

Manchester United (a) December 5

Everton (h) December 12

Southampton (h) December 15

Watford (a) December 18

Tottenham (a) December 26

Norwich City (h) December 28

West Ham (h) January 1

Everton

The Toffees have the standard eight games to play in December but Rafael Benitez will welcome the rest afforded his side between games.

Everton never have less than three days break following a match with certain fixtures even giving them five and six days off at a time.

The added rest will be needed at Goodison Park considering their horror run that includes facing Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea and Leicester City.

Liverpool (h) December 1

Arsenal (h) December 6

Crystal Palace (a) December 12

Chelsea (a) December 16

Leicester City (h) December 19

Burnley (a) December 26

Newcastle (h) December 30

Brighton (h) January 2

Leeds

Marcelo Bielsa's men are in for some holiday cheer with only seven games to worry about over the festive fixtures.

However unfortunately for them, those matches involve facing Chelsea, Man City and Liverpool in successive away clashes while also hosting Arsenal.

Leeds will need to ensure they utilise all six days rest before that period that follows the opening December contest against Brentford.

Brentford (h) December 5

Chelsea (a) December 11

Man City (a) December 14

Arsenal (h) December 18

Liverpool (a) December 26

Aston Villa (h) December 28

Burnley (h) January 2

Leicester City

The Foxes are among the clubs with a more congested fixture list, having to play ten matches in a month because of their Europa League exploits.

Brendan Rodgers' men have to travel to Italy for a must-win game against Napoli while also facing Liverpool in a Carabo Cup quarter-final.

Leicester also face the Reds six days later in Premier League action - which comes just two days after a trip to the Etihad to take on champions Man City.

Leicester will play six games in just 17 days around Christmas - the most congested fixture list in the league alongside Tottenham.

Southampton (a) December 1

Aston Villa (a) December 5

Napoli (a) December 9

Newcastle (h) December 12

Tottenham (h) December 16

Everton (a) December 19

Liverpool (a) December 22

Man City (a) December 26

Liverpool (h) December 28

Norwich City (h) January 1

Liverpool

Jurgen Klopp famously doesn't like England's crowded Christmas period - and this year the German won't be happy with his side playing ten times.

The one boost is the Reds have already topped their Champions League group so can afford to rest a few key stars for an away trip to face AC Milan.

Yet after that, Liverpool play four matches in 11 days with three Premier League games and a Carabao Cup quarter-final to navigate.

Everton (a) December 1

Wolves (a) December 4

AC Milan (a) December 7

Aston Villa (h) December 11

Newcastle (h) December 16

Tottenham (a) December 19

Leicester City (h) December 22

Leeds (h) December 26

Leicester City (a) December 28

Chelsea (a) January 2

Manchester City

Pep Guardiola will have his lightest festive period since arriving in England, with his side out of the Carabao Cup for the first time in five seasons.

City do still have nine games in December with a difficult Champions League trip to face RB Leipzig in between a run of much kinder Premier League games.

The Etihad outfit have favourable away-day clashes with top-flight strugglers Aston Villa, Watford and Newcastle.

Aston Villa (a) December 1

Watford (a) December 4

RB Leipzig (a) December 7

Wolves (h) December 11

Leeds (h) December 14

Newcastle (a) December 19

Leicester City (h) December 26

Brentford (a) December 29

Arsenal (a) January 1

Manchester United

The Red Devils do have nine games to manage heading into the New Year, however later fixtures should serve them well.

United are involved in the only match not taking place on Boxing Day while they also have to wait until January 3 to kick-start the action in 2022.

United's biggest tests are both at Old Trafford as well, with an opening December clash with Arsenal preceding a Champions League tie against Young Boys.

Arsenal (h) December 2

Crystal Palace (h) December 5

Young Boys (h) December 8

Norwich City (a) December 11

Brentford (a) December 14

Brighton (h) December 18

Newcastle (a) December 27

Burnley (h) December 30

Wolves (h) January 3

Newcastle

The Magpies' Christmas run of games will go a long way into deciding whether the club will be in the Championship next season.