Premier League: How far will YOUR staff really need to journey over Christmas and the New 12 months?
Household, meals, festivities… for a lot of, soccer is way from a very powerful factor happening over Christmas and the New 12 months.
However for followers, the traditional festive fixture pile-up can mean gruelling and expensive trips to all corners of England within the house of just some days, with die-hard supporters pressured to deal with inclement climate and transport points.
Although the schedule has been barely eased after the Qatar World Cup – which completed on December 18 – with groups enjoying three fixtures unfold throughout from Boxing Day to January 5 fairly than New 12 months’s Day, it’s going to nonetheless be a squeeze.
Three video games within the house of a week-and-a-half can spell loads of travelling for followers, whereas there must also be a thought for gamers, regardless of their big salaries, given these with a extra taxing schedule will see valuable time with households lower down.
Newcastle, primarily based within the north-east, are going through not far off 1,000 miles of journey time, title contenders Manchester Metropolis and Liverpool are getting ready for 2 away clashes, whereas Brentford need to go simply 34 miles.
Beneath, Sportsmail‘s Max Mathews provides you the rundown of which staff’s followers and gamers shall be travelling the furthest and the least over the festive interval.
Christmas is arising, which means a busy festive interval of fixtures forward for followers and gamers – and beneath, Sportsmail provides you the rundown of which groups are travelling essentially the most and least
Newcastle are going through not far off 1,000 miles of journey time, title contenders Manchester Metropolis and Liverpool are getting ready for 2 away clashes, whereas Brentford need to go simply 34 miles
ARSENAL – TOTAL MILES (ROUND TRIPS) = 156
Mikel Arteta’s Premier League leaders, 5 factors clear on the prime of the desk, have two video games over the festive interval.
They host West Ham and Newcastle, sandwiched by a visit to the south coast to tackle Brighton.
Arteta shall be notably happy that Newcastle match is dwelling fairly than away!
Gunners’ festive fixtures: 26/12: West Ham (H), 31/12: Brighton (A), 03/01: Newcastle (H)
ASTON VILLA – TOTAL MILES (ROUND TRIPS) = 232
Once more, just one away sport for Aston Villa, on New 12 months’s Day, with dwelling matches towards Liverpool and struggling Wolves.
Nevertheless, that away fixture is towards Tottenham, which means a journey right down to North London from the Midlands.
With Villa 5 factors away from the relegation zone, successive losses towards the Reds and Spurs might make it a pressurised sport towards Wolves, twentieth on the time of writing, on January 4.
Villans’ festive fixtures: 26/12: Liverpool (H), 01/01: Tottenham (A), 04/01: Wolves (H)
BOURNEMOUTH – TOTAL MILES (ROUND TRIPS) = 706
A reasonably thorny set of fixtures for promoted Bournemouth, who journey the second-most within the league.
With Gary O’Neil’s caretaker function made everlasting in November, the Cherries shall be hoping to drag additional away from their relegation rivals within the subsequent three video games.
However they face powerful journeys to Chelsea and Manchester United – the latter a protracted journey from the south coast – which means a house conflict with Crystal Palace takes on additional significance.
Cherries’ festive fixtures: 27/12: Chelsea (A), 31/12: Crystal Palace (H), 03/01: Manchester United (A)
Brentford shall be happy they’ve two dwelling video games and one brief away journey throughout London
BRENTFORD – TOTAL MILES (ROUND TRIPS) = 34
Thomas Frank and his gamers have to be thanking their fortunate stars.
Two dwelling video games and a brief hop throughout London to face West Ham on December 30 means Brentford solely need to journey 34 miles over the festive interval – the bottom complete within the division.
That might imply rather more time with households and youngsters for Bees gamers – no less than in comparison with some gamers on this checklist.
Bees’ festive fixtures: 26/12: Tottenham (H), 30/12: West Ham (A), 02/01: Liverpool (H)
BRIGHTON – TOTAL MILES (ROUND TRIPS) = 673.6
These fixtures aren’t the very best by any stretch of the creativeness, with solely Newcastle and Bournemouth travelling additional.
Southampton away won’t be too far a journey for the Seagulls, however a visit as much as Merseyside to face Everton – historically a lot stronger at dwelling – shall be one Roberto De Zerbi would fairly have prevented.
That bumps their journey distance as much as 673 miles.
Seagulls’ festive fixtures: 26/12: Southampton (A), 31/12: Arsenal (H), 03/01: Everton (A)
CHELSEA – TOTAL MILES (ROUND TRIPS) = 264
The Blues have two video games at Stamford Bridge, which is able to come as a lift to Graham Potter and his facet.
These video games bookend an away match towards Nottingham Forest, which offers all of the travelling time for Chelsea.
Potter will hope for 2 wins to take the strain off earlier than going through title contenders Man Metropolis within the new 12 months.
Blues’ festive fixtures: 27/12: Bournemouth (H), 01/01: Nottingham Forest (A), 05/01: Manchester Metropolis (H)
CRYSTAL PALACE – TOTAL MILES (ROUND TRIPS): 232
An honest scenario once more for Palace, who travelled the least over the festive interval final season.
There are dwelling video games towards London rivals Fulham and Tottenham – which would not have added a lot to the journey instances even when they had been away – with an away match at Bournemouth.
Patrick Vieira’s Eagles needs to be concentrating on no less than 4 factors from the beneath video games.
Eagles’ festive fixtures: 26/12: Fulham (H), 31/12: Bournemouth (A), 04/01: Tottenham (H)
EVERTON – TOTAL MILES (ROUND TRIPS) = 76
Not dangerous in any respect, no less than by way of journey time, for Frank Lampard’s males.
They face Wolves at dwelling, Manchester Metropolis away earlier than internet hosting Brighton, with their complete of 76 miles to journey the third-lowest within the league.
However Wolves shall be battling desperately towards relegation, Metropolis are Metropolis, and Brighton will show a tricky check. Everton could possibly be within the backside three after the subsequent three video games.
Toffees’ festive fixtures: 26/12: Wolves (H), 31/12: Manchester Metropolis (A), 03/01: Brighton (H)
FULHAM – TOTAL MILES (ROUND TRIPS) = 228.4
An away sport at Selhurst Park after which a house match towards Southampton will not present too many points for Fulham.
However their away fixture with Leicester bumps up their journey time to 228 miles.
They’re all winnable video games for Marco Silva’s males – and the comparatively form fixture schedule might assist them in that objective.
Cottagers’ festive fixtures: 26/12: Crystal Palace (A), 31/12: Southampton (H), 03/01: Leicester (A)
LEEDS – TOTAL MILES (ROUND TRIPS) = 206
For many groups, Newcastle away is the one fixture they dread over Christmas and the New 12 months.
But it surely’s solely 206 miles away from Leeds, which – all issues thought-about – could possibly be lots worse.
Residence video games towards Metropolis, a free hit, and struggling West Ham, in entrance of a baying Elland Street help, shall be a lift for Jesse Marsch.
Whites’ festive fixtures: 28/12: Manchester Metropolis (H), 31/12: Newcastle (A), 04/01: West Ham (H)
Liverpool supervisor Jurgen Klopp has beforehand complained about fixture scheduling – and could also be sad once more given his facet should journey 626.2 miles to Aston Villa after which Brentford
Pep Guardiola’s Manchester Metropolis, in the meantime, journey virtually 500 miles to Leeds and Chelsea
LEICESTER – TOTAL MILES (ROUND TRIPS) = 274
One other staff which shall be glad they don’t seem to be going as much as St James’ Park this Christmas.
A visit to Anfield provides 274 miles to Leicester’s schedule however they’ve a house sport both facet of that so cannot complain an excessive amount of.
Tough video games for Brendan Rodgers and his males, although – remember they’re solely 4 factors above the relegation zone.
Foxes’ festive fixtures: 26/12: Newcastle (H), 30/12: Liverpool (A), 03/01: Fulham (H)
LIVERPOOL – TOTAL MILES (ROUND TRIPS) = 626.2
Reds supervisor Jurgen Klopp is rarely shy of a criticism, particularly when he perceives issues to not be going his facet’s manner.
Solely three groups out of 20 going through extra journey time over the festive interval will likely anger the irascible German.
A visit to the Midlands to face Villa on Boxing Day is not too dangerous, however Liverpool will rack up a good few miles travelling to Brentford on January 2. A minimum of they get New 12 months’s Day to recuperate from a cheeky drink at midnight on December 31?
Reds’ festive fixtures: 26/12: Aston Villa (A), 30/12: Leicester (H), 02/01: Brentford (A)
MANCHESTER CITY – TOTAL MILES (ROUND TRIPS) = 497.4
Practically 500 miles of travelling to Leeds after which Chelsea is not best.
Pep Guardiola opined last week that he only has ‘four or five’ senior players available to him forward of their Carabao Cup conflict with Liverpool, simply 4 days after the World Cup remaining – though, admittedly, they duly received it 3-2.
Nonetheless, English soccer chiefs, who he sarcastically quipped are the ‘huge brains’ of soccer, most likely will not be on Pep’s Christmas card checklist.
Cityzens’ festive fixtures: 28/12: Leeds (A), 31/12: Everton (H), 05/01: Chelsea (A)
MANCHESTER UNITED – TOTAL MILES (ROUND TRIPS) = 151
Erik ten Hag can file these fixtures beneath ‘quietly pleasing’ – like a lot of his tenure up to now.
Forest are a far totally different prospect at dwelling so going through them at Outdated Trafford is a lift, it isn’t too far down the street to bottom-of-the-table Wolves, earlier than internet hosting Bournemouth once more on January 3.
The Dutchman have to be on Santa’s good checklist.
Crimson Devils’ festive fixtures: 27/12: Nottingham Forest (H), 31/12: Wolves (A), 03/01: Bournemouth (H)
Newcastle, positioned within the north-east of England, face 934 miles of journey throughout the nation
NEWCASTLE UNITED – TOTAL MILES (ROUND TRIPS) = 934
Newcastle, located within the distant (in comparison with virtually all over the place else) north-east of England, are likely to have a tough deal presently of 12 months.
They’re miles away from all over the place else, and should journey 934 miles in journeys to Leicester and Arsenal, both facet of a house conflict with Leeds.
As soon as once more, like final 12 months (and possibly subsequent 12 months), they face essentially the most journey of any staff within the league. Perhaps it is karmic punishment for his or her Saudi Arabian homeowners’ quite a few human rights abuses.
Magpies’ festive fixtures: 26/12: Leicester (A), 31/12: Leeds (H), 03/01: Arsenal (A)
NOTTINGHAM FOREST – TOTAL MILES (ROUND TRIPS) = 488
The Forest devoted roared them to a slim, controversial, VAR-influenced win towards Crystal Palace of their final sport earlier than the World Cup.
Nevertheless, they solely have one dwelling sport within the subsequent three, towards Chelsea, who will present a stern check.
Additionally they journey to Manchester to face United, earlier than a protracted journey to Southampton on the coast. Steve Cooper will know issues might have turned out higher for his facet. That conflict at St Mary’s on January 4 is an actual relegation six-pointer.
Tough Timber’ festive fixtures: 27/12: Manchester United (A), 01/01: Chelsea (H), 04/01: Southampton (A)
SOUTHAMPTON – TOTAL MILES (ROUND TRIPS) = 153.8
The Saints are in a a lot better place than fellow strugglers Forest, who face greater than 3 times as a lot travelling.
They host Brighton, hop as much as west London to face Fulham, earlier than that essential encounter with Cooper’s facet.
New boss Nathan Jones having loads of time over the World Cup to embed his concepts over the World Cup break was a boon – that is one other.
Saints’ festive fixtures: 26/12: Brighton (H), 31/12: Fulham (A), 04/01: Nottingham Forest (H)
Tottenham have two away video games within the festive interval – however each are shut by in London
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR – TOTAL MILES (ROUND TRIPS) = 67.6
The luckiest staff within the league with these fixtures? Tottenham even have two away video games over the festive interval, both facet of a house conflict with Aston Villa.
Nevertheless, each of them are in London, which means they’ve the second-least quantity to journey within the division.
Solely Brentford, who they face on Boxing Day, have much less. Spurs journey to Crystal Palace on January 4, albeit they misplaced 3-0 at Selhurst Park final season.
Spurs’ festive fixtures: 26/12: Brentford (A), 01/01: Aston Villa (H), 04/01: Crystal Palace (A)
WEST HAM – TOTAL MILES (ROUND TRIPS) = 414.6
David Moyes will not be too up or too down about these fixtures.
A visit from east to north London to face Arsenal on Boxing Day is pretty manageable, as is a house sport on the soulless taxpayer-funded dome of artificiality also referred to as the London Stadium.
Going through Leeds up at Elland Street – the ambiance is prone to be tasty for this one, I reckon – offers a lot of the extra than-400 miles over the festive interval.
Hammers’ festive fixtures: 26/12: Arsenal (A), 30/12: Brentford (H), 04/01: Leeds (A)
WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS – TOTAL MILES (ROUND TRIPS) = 215.8
Wolves are one other facet to have maybe lucked out.
Going through United at Molineux shall be powerful by way of opponent however requires no journey away from dwelling, whereas two away video games at Everton and fellow Midlands facet Aston Villa solely add as much as 215.8 miles’ value of journeys.
Nevertheless, new supervisor Julen Lopetegui has a tricky job in re-energising a younger and sparse squad at the moment mendacity backside of the Premier League. He might prioritise factors towards Everton and Villa.
Wolves’ festive fixtures: 26/12: Everton (A), 31/12: Manchester United (H), 04/01: Aston Villa (A)
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