Need to know
There is only one Premier League match taking place on December 26 with Liverpool and Everton both playing at the weekend instead
Why aren’t Liverpool and Everton playing on Boxing Day this year?
- For the first time in over a decade, the traditional Boxing Day “footballing feast” has been significantly scaled back. If you’re looking for Liverpool or Everton on December 26, 2025, you won’t find them on the pitch.
- The Premier League has made the unprecedented decision to schedule only one match for Boxing Day 2025: Manchester United vs. Newcastle United (8pm kick-off).
- Liverpool and Everton have both had their Matchweek 18 fixtures moved to Saturday, December 27. The Reds will face Wolves at Anfield at 3pm, meanwhile, the Toffees will travel to Turf Moor for a clash with Burnley at the same time.
- The departure from tradition isn’t due to a single factor, but rather a “perfect storm” of scheduling conflicts. These include:
- Broadcast obligations: The Premier League is contractually required to provide broadcasters with 33 full weekends of fixtures and five midweek rounds. Because Boxing Day falls on a Friday this year, the league needed to utilise the following Saturday and Sunday (December 27–28) to count as a weekend round for TV rights.
- Player welfare (The 60-Hour rule): A major priority this season was ensuring no team plays two matches within 60 hours of each other. By moving the bulk of the games to the 27th, the league protects players ahead of the next round of matches, which starts on December 30.
- Expansion of European competitions: The introduction of new, larger formats for the UEFA Champions League and Europa League has compressed the domestic calendar. This leaves fewer midweek slots available and forces the Premier League to be more rigid with its weekend scheduling.
- READ MORE ABOUT THE UPCOMING FESTIVE FIXTURES ON MERSEYSIDE HERE: ‘Ten minute’ warning issued to Liverpool fans attending games at Anfield
