Festive Fixtures: 27 December – 1 January
News in Brief
Monday 23 – Thursday 26 December
Fulham striker Raúl Jiménez has written himself into Premier League history, joining Manchester City legend Yaya Touré with a perfect penalty record. The Mexican international’s spot-kick in the 1-0 win over Nottingham Forest means he’s now converted all 11 of his Premier League penalties, matching Touré’s flawless record. Boss Marco Silva praised Jiménez’s “special coldness” from 12 yards, a quality that could prove crucial during the congested festive period ahead.
Chelsea will face Arsenal in the EFL Cup semi-finals after the Gunners edged past Crystal Palace on penalties. The all-London tie follows a dramatic quarter-final that finished 1-1 after 90 minutes, with Palace defender Maxence Lacroix missing the decisive kick in the shootout. The other semi-final sees Newcastle United take on Manchester City, with both ties scheduled for late January.
Harlequins have handed Welsh age-grade international Jonny Green his first senior contract following an impressive breakthrough season. The second row has made 17 first-team appearances including six in the Premiership, scoring on his debut for the Twickenham Stoop outfit. Green joins fellow academy graduates Ben Waghorn and Zach Carr in signing senior deals this season, with coach Jason Gilmore praising the 20-year-old’s commitment and growth. Green features on the bench for Harlequins’ Boxing Day clash at Sale Sharks, alongside returning captain Alex Dombrandt who’s back from injury.
Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has given his squad Christmas Day off ahead of their Saturday evening kick-off against Aston Villa, with the Italian manager expressing full trust in his players to enjoy themselves responsibly. Unlike Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola, who famously weighs his players after the festive break, Maresca insisted it’s not something he’s considered, backing his squad’s professionalism during the brief respite before a punishing schedule of three matches in six days.
Coming Up This Week
Friday 27 December – Thursday 1 January
Saturday, 27 December:
- West Ham United vs Fulham – Premier League, 3pm (London Stadium)
- Chelsea vs Aston Villa – Premier League, 5:30pm (Stamford Bridge, Sky Sports)
Sunday, 28 December:
- Sunderland vs Leeds United – Championship, 2pm (Stadium of Light, Sky Sports)
Tuesday, 30 December:
- Chelsea vs AFC Bournemouth – Premier League, 7:30pm (Stamford Bridge, Sky Sports)
Thursday, 1 January 2026:
- Crystal Palace vs Fulham – Premier League, 5:30pm (Selhurst Park, Sky Sports)
League One – Boxing Day (Thursday, 26 December):
- AFC Wimbledon vs Stevenage – League One, 3pm (Cherry Red Records Stadium)
Rugby – Premiership (Thursday, 26 December):
- Harlequins vs Sale Sharks – Gallagher Premiership, 5:30pm (CorpAcq Stadium)
Note: Chelsea Women and Fulham Women remain on winter break until 10-11 January. Harlequins Women return to action on 5 January against Trailfinders Women in PWR Round 12.
League Tables
As of Thursday, 25 December
Premier League
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arsenal | 17 | 12 | +21 | 39 |
| 2 | Man City | 17 | 12 | +25 | 37 |
| 3 | Aston Villa | 17 | 11 | +9 | 36 |
| 4 | Chelsea | 17 | 8 | +12 | 29 |
| … | … | … | … | … | … |
| 13 | Fulham | 17 | 7 | -2 | 23 |
League One
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cardiff City | 20 | 13 | +15 | 41 |
| 2 | Lincoln City | 21 | 11 | +8 | 38 |
| 3 | Bradford City | 20 | 10 | +9 | 37 |
| … | … | … | … | … | … |
| 13 | AFC Wimbledon | 20 | 8 | -5 | 27 |
What to Watch
The festive fixture pile-up brings three matches in six days for both Chelsea and Fulham, testing squad depth and rotation strategies to the limit. Chelsea face back-to-back home games at Stamford Bridge against top-six challengers Aston Villa and resurgent Bournemouth, while Fulham tackle two London derbies either side of the New Year. With Jiménez’s ice-cool penalty record and Maresca’s faith in his squad’s Christmas discipline, both west London clubs will be hoping the festive spirit translates into crucial points during English football’s most demanding period.
