Premier League fixtures: Christmas & festive season times, dates

As usual, the English top flight will present a packed fixture list either side of Christmas Day as 2018 approaches

It's the most wonderful time of the year.

That phrase may have first been used to describe things not related to football over the holiday season, but we're not particularly interested in that.

For better or worse, the Premier League traditionally presents a packed fixture list either side of Christmas Day and this year is no different.

Every club in the English top flight will play three times between December 22 and New Year's Day, with clashes such as Arsenal vs Liverpool and Tottenham vs West Ham on the schedule.

Goal has your complete guide to this year's festive fixtures.

DECEMBER 22 & 23

We get kicked off in style on the evening of December 22 at the Emirates Stadium, where Arsenal will face Liverpool.

That is followed the next day by a tasty lunchtime kick-off between Everton and Chelsea before five 15:00 games, with Manchester City's meeting with Bournemouth the pick of them.

In the evening, high-flying Burnley will look to deny Tottenham victory for a second time this season when the two clubs meet at Turf Moor.

And that is followed by a 19:45 match between Leicester City and Manchester United, making for a bumper Saturday schedule with three televised games.

DECEMBER 26, 27 & 28

There are eight matches on Boxing Day and one each on December 27 and 28.

Tottenham and Southampton drew the short straws and will have to arise early from their post-Christmas slumbers for a 12:30 kick-off at Wembley.

Six games will take place at 15:00, with Brighton visiting Chelsea and Burnley making the short trip to Manchester United.

Shortly after that, Liverpool host Swansea City in the second televised game of the day.

And Newcastle United take on Manchester City on the 27th before Crystal Palace clash with Arsenal a day later, with both games played in front of the live television cameras.

DECEMBER 30 & 31

The schedule leading into the New Year starts with six 3pm games on December 30, including Chelsea against Stoke City and Liverpool versus Leicester City.

Manchester United then take on Southampton at Old Trafford in the evening fixture, which will be broadcast live.

All three Sunday games on New Year's Eve will also be on television. That action starts with Roy Hodgson's Crystal Palace going up against Pep Guardiola's Manchester City.

West Ham visit Wembley to face Tottenham in a London derby at 14:15 before West Brom meet Arsenal in the final Premier League match of 2017.

HOW TO WATCH THE CHRISTMAS GAMES

In the UK, Premier League games will be available to  watch live  on Sky Sports and BT Sport, with the BBC broadcasting highlights on Match of the Day. Viewers will also be able to stream games live online   using Sky Go and the BT Sport app.

In the U.S., up to 250 Premier League games will be available to watch live on television on NBC's channels this season, including NBC, NBCSN and CNBC. These games can be streamed on NBC Sports Live.

The network also announced in June that a further 130 games would be exclusively available with the 'Premier League Pass' on NBC Sports Gold. The 'Premier League Pass' service will cost $50.