With three Premier League games played in a
week over the Christmas period, it can be a pivotal time of the season
for many clubs.
With Leicester and Watford proving to be just two of the
surprise packages in the Premier League so far this season, and with
Chelsea and Manchester United under-performing, it's been an
unpredictable first half of the season.With the games coming thick and fast over the next few weeks, who has the trickiest Christmas? We've taken the average current league position of each team's three opponents to work it all out…
Chelsea
December 26, Watford (h): 7th
December 28, Man Utd (a): 5th
January 3, Crystal Palace (a): 6th
Average opponent position: 6
Guus Hiddink will take charge of Chelsea for the first time since 2009 when they face Watford at home on Boxing Day. The Dutchman's first priority will be to get fans back onside after the Jose Mourinho fallout was more than evident in Chelsea's 3-1 win against Sunderland on Saturday. Supporters will want maximum points from the next three matches to start climbing away from the relegation zone.
Leicester
December 26, Liverpool (a): 9th
December 29, Man City (h): 3rd
January 2, Bournemouth (h): 14th
Average opponent position: 8.7
Leicester are flying at the moment as they sit top of Premier League, but will the run last? Their fine form will be put to the test on the road at Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool, followed by home ties against Manchester City and Bournemouth. Liverpool are winless in their last four matches so a response will be expected from Klopp. The Foxes then take on two possession-oriented sides in Man City and Bournemouth so they may look to keep their explosive counter-attacking approach going.
Manchester City
December 26, Sunderland (h): 19th
December 29, Leicester (a): 1st
January 2, Watford (a): 7th
Average opponent position: 9
City face two of the league's biggest surprise packages in their next three fixtures as they travel to leaders Leicester and then go to Watford, who are just one point off the Champions League places. They will be hoping to bounce back from their defeat to Arsenal with a home win over struggling Sunderland on Boxing Day.
Liverpool
Philippe Coutinho and Liverpool must travel to Sunderland and West Ham
December 30, Sunderland (a): 19th
January 2, West Ham (a): 8th
Average opponent position: 9.3
Jurgen Klopp described Liverpool's 3-0 loss to Watford as "the most disappointing moment of my Liverpool life". He will be looking for a response against league leaders Leicester, struggling Sunderland and West Ham, who are making a bid for Europe. Liverpool have not won in their last four matches, and Klopp will want to ensure the "revolution" gets back on track quickly.
Tottenham
Harry Kane and Tottenham travel to Watford and Everton
December 28, Watford (a): 7th
January 3, Everton (a): 10th
Average opponent position: 11
Tottenham currently sit in fourth place but Manchester United and Crystal Palace are breathing down their necks with just goal difference separating the three clubs. Spurs' second game of the Christmas period is against Watford, who are just one point behind. It will make for interesting viewing to see if Tottenham's young side can thrive under the pressure.
Arsenal
Olivier Giroud will be hoping to fire Arsenal to a successful Christmas campaign
December 28, Bournemouth (h): 14th
January 2, Newcastle (h): 17th
Average opponent position: 14.3
Arsene Wenger will be pleased to see his Christmas schedule consists of three teams in the bottom half of the table, and with just one away game against a Southampton side who have not won since November 7. Bournemouth and Newcastle have both experienced an upturn in form recently but Arsenal underlined their title credentials with a win over Manchester City on Monday Night
Manchester United
Louis van Gaal faces tough games at Stoke and home to Chelsea
December 28, Chelsea (h): 15th
January 2, Swansea (h): 18th
Average opponent position: 14.7
Van Gaal is under immense pressure after his side's home loss against Norwich extended Manchester United's winless streak to six games in all competitions. United's first chance to put the record right is away at Stoke, who have only beaten United once in Premier League history. Neither Chelsea nor Swansea were expected to be in their current league positions at the start of the season, and United will look to profit on their struggles as Van Gaal looks to ease the evident tension surrounding his position.
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