The Premier League will return with its annual tradition of games on Boxing Day, kicking off the annual run of matches over the festive period.
England’s top flight is not the only league that plays during the Christmas season, with the country’s lower leagues and Italy’s Serie A also playing between Christmas and New Year. The Premier League, however, takes center stage during this period and especially on Boxing Day, a holiday on which the league has long been a stronghold.
Ahead of this year’s Boxing Day schedule, here’s what you need to know about this season’s schedule and the long history of matches on this date.
Premier League Boxing Day schedule
All US/Eastern times
Thursday December 26
Manchester City vs. Everton, 7:30 am (USA Network and Fubo)
Southampton vs. West Ham United, 10am (Peacock)
Nottingham Forest v Tottenham Hotspur, 10am (Peacock)
Newcastle United vs. Aston Villa, 10am (USA Network and Fubo)
Chelsea vs. Fulham, 10am (Peacock)
Bournemouth v Crystal Palace, 10am (Peacock)
Wolverhampton Wanderers vs. Manchester United, 12:45 pm (USA Network and Fubo)
Liverpool vs. Leicester City, 3:00 p.m. (USA Network and Fubo)
Friday December 27
Brighton and Hove Albion v Brentford, 2.45pm (Peacock)
Arsenal vs. Ipswich Town, 3:15 p.m. (USA Network and Fubo)
What is boxing day?
Boxing Day became a national holiday in the United Kingdom in 1871 and is celebrated annually on the day after Christmas. The exact reasons for the holiday’s creation are unknown, although many believe the name comes from the Victorian-era practice of employers giving employees Christmas boxes on December 26 and giving them the day off.
History of English football on Boxing Day
England’s major leagues have scheduled matches on Boxing Day since 1888, when the Football League was created. For the first six or seven decades, a full round of matches were scheduled on both Christmas and Boxing Day and teams played on consecutive days. The hope was to boost attendance numbers, as many people used the two-day holiday as an excuse to leave their homes and gather outside.
The last English league game at Christmas took place in 1965, when Blackburn Rovers won 4-2 at Blackpool, when more people began celebrating the holiday at home. However, Boxing Day remained a popular date for games and remains one of the most important days in the football calendar. This year, the Championship and League One will also play a near-full schedule on Boxing Day (you can watch the matches on Paramount+ or catch the Golazo Show on CBS Sports Golazo Network to follow all the action in one place), while Los League teams will also play on December 26. Elsewhere in Europe, Rangers’ trip to St. Mirren (12:45 p.m., CBS Sports Network) headlines the Scottish Premiership action and the Belgian Pro League will also be in action.
The Premier League now chooses to regularly spread a full round of matches over a few days, and this year has allocated two games for Friday 27 December. However, the majority of Week 18 games will take place on Boxing Day.
