Fixtures

FPL festive fixture schedule: When might Premier League sides rotate the most?

The first of nine Gameweeks in the space of 36 days takes place this weekend and we’re readying ourselves for the festive fixture frenzy ahead of Saturday’s Fantasy Premier League (FPL) deadline.

Visits from the extended family, a Mrs Brown’s Boys special, bin collection day mayhem: there’s lots to dread about the Christmas period and top of the naughty list for FPL managers is rotation.

This is traditionally the period when starting XI changes ramp up a gear, with the matches coming thick and fast not just in the Premier League but also in cup competitions at home and abroad.

We’ll be looking at which players stand the best chance of avoiding a benching or two in a separate piece but it’s the fixture calendar itself that we’re focusing on here.

We’ll assess the clubs with the tightest and most generous turnarounds in this article, using moderator Legomane’s rather excellent ‘Fixture Crush’ matrix.

Our thanks go to him for allowing us to use this graphic as the focal point of this feature.

FPL FIXTURE OVERVIEW

(click the above image to expand)

CLUBS WITH THE MOST MATCHES FROM GAMEWEEKS 13-21

Chelsea, Leicester City, Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham United12 (nine league matches, two European ties, one EFL Cup quarter-final)
Manchester City, Manchester United11 (nine league matches, two European ties)
Arsenal, Brentford10 (nine league matches, one EFL Cup quarter-final)
Aston Villa, Brighton and Hove Albion, Burnley, Crystal Palace, Everton, Leeds United, Newcastle United, Norwich City, Southampton, Watford, Wolverhampton Wanderers9 (all league matches)

CLUBS WITH THE TIGHTEST TURNAROUNDS

In this table, we look at the clubs who have the highest number of ‘tight’ turnarounds from the Wednesday before Gameweek 13 onwards. For this, we’re taking tight to mean two recovery days or fewer (eg Saturday-Tuesday, Thursday-Sunday etc).

West Ham United7
Chelsea, Leicester City, Liverpool, Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur6
Burnley, Manchester United5
Brigthon and Hove Albion, Crystal Palace, Newcastle United, Watford4
Arsenal, Everton, Leeds United, Norwich City, Southampton3
Aston Villa, Brentford, Wolverhampton Wanderers2

It’s no surprise to see the clubs involved in European competition up there at the top, with West Ham United leading the way – a bit of a concern for owners of Michail Antonio (£8.2m), perhaps, although David Moyes can at least afford the luxury of resting him in the Europa League with qualification to the knockout rounds assured.

Manchester United’s non-involvement in the EFL Cup means that they have a full seven days of rest in between Gameweeks 18 and 19, which represents the longest recovery time given to any top-flight team throughout the period studied.

Tottenham Hotspur, by contrast, don’t have more than three days of rest, playing Thursday-Sunday for the next month and then having an EFL Cup clash with West Ham ahead of a three-game week between Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.

Aston Villa, Brentford and Wolves have been dealt the best hands if we follow the table above, with the Bees even afforded an extra day of rest between Gameweeks 19 and 20 (more of which below).

Arsenal deserve a mention, too: they might be in EFL Cup quarter-final action in between Gameweeks 18 and 19 but they have been gifted a home draw against League One side Sunderland, so there’ll surely be a few breathers handed out to some key personnel in that tie.

TIGHTEST TURNAROUNDS FROM GAMEWEEKS 19 TO 20

The tightest of all the tight turnarounds comes between Gameweeks 19 and 20, with FPL managers faced with two deadlines in the space of 48 hours.

The clubs’ recovery time in between these two Gameweeks are detailed below (hours are given between full-time and kick-off, rounded up to the nearest half-hour):

TeamHours between GW19-20
Arsenal43.5
Aston Villa, Crystal Palace, Norwich City, Southampton, Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham United, Wolverhampton Wanderers46
Watford48.5
Leeds United, Leicester City51
Liverpool53.5
Brighton and Hove Albion, Newcastle United69.5
Brentford, Manchester United70.5
Chelsea72
Manchester City75.5
Everton98.5
Burnley99.5

Arsenal are the worst hit: they are in action at the traditional 3pm kick-off time on Boxing Day and then have a lunchtime match against Wolverhampton Wanderers on December 28.

Seven clubs’ fixtures kick off at the same time, two days apart, in Gameweeks 19 and 20, affording them less than 48 hours of recovery.

Burnley and Everton are on easy street by comparison, with matches on Boxing Day and December 30.

Chelsea and the two Manchester clubs also get off relatively lightly, with around three days of recuperation time in between their respective games.

CLUBS WITH SUCCESSIVE ‘RED ZONE’ TURNAROUNDS – AND WHEN THEY FALL

The below table looks at when Premier League clubs have successive ‘red zone’ turnarounds – that is, when there are only two recovery days between matches.

The game ranges in italics indicate that one of the three consecutive fixtures is a cup tie, so rotation could theoretically be more widespread outside of the league matches involved.

For example, Liverpool have three fixtures between December 1-7 – but the last one of those is a Champions League against Milan, so with qualification for the knockout rounds assured, Klopp may look to rest some key players in Italy.

Manchester United have also secured top spot in their Champions League group, so the home fixture against Young Boys in between Gameweeks 15-16 allows whoever is in charge to run wild with the starting XI alterations and focus on the four Premier League matches around it.

TeamSuccessive ‘red zone’ Gameweek turnarounds
Manchester CityGW13-15 (plus UCL after GW15)
GW19-21
Manchester UnitedGW14-17 (UCL in between GW15-16)
LiverpoolGW14-15 (plus UCL after GW15)
GW17-18 (plus EFL Cup after GW18)
ChelseaGW13-15
GW17-18 (plus EFL Cup after GW18)
Leicester CityGW13-14 (plus UEL before GW13)
GW17-18 (plus EFL Cup after GW18)
West Ham UnitedGW13-15 (plus UEL before GW13)
GW16-18 (plus UEL before GW16)
Tottenham HotspurGW17-18 (plus EFL Cup after GW18)
ArsenalGW17-18 (plus EFL Cup after GW18)
Newcastle UnitedGW19-21
Crystal PalaceGW16-18
Brighton and Hove AlbonGW16-18
BurnleyGW13-15, GW16-18
WatfordGW13-15

Manchester City, Chelsea and West Ham are three of five clubs who play Sunday-Wednesday-Saturday in Gameweeks 13-15, which may set alarm bells ringing for FPL managers who own players from any of those teams. Burnley and Watford are the other two sides with the same schedule.

The Hammers have exactly the same timetable in Gameweeks 16-18, along with Crystal Palace, Brighton and Burnley.

The spectre of Pep rotation then rears its head again from Gameweeks 19-21, when the Citizens once more have to negotiate league fixtures on the Sunday, Wednesday and Saturday. Newcastle United are also on a tight turnaround from December 27 to January 2 inclusive.

Ready those FPL benches…

1,097 Comments Post a Comment
  1. THE SHEEP HUNTERS
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    SALAHHhhhhhh

    1. syke63
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Take him off now

      1. DycheDycheBaby
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 4 months ago

        You got your wish

        1. syke63
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          2 years, 4 months ago

          Two more?

  2. DycheDycheBaby
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Classy goal from Mo

  3. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Mane & Salah off on 71.

  4. Hy liverpool
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    The best in the world

    1. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Agree, great pass from Tyler Morton.

  5. RamaJama
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Cancelo likely to be rested?

  6. F4L
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Jesus!

  7. Silecro
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Jesus goal and assist, haul for owners

  8. THE SHEEP HUNTERS
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    BILVAAAAAAAAAAAAaaaa

    1. THE SHEEP HUNTERS
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Correction:
      JESUSsssssssssssssssssss

  9. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Jesus essential for Xmas! G&A...

    1. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Bernardo too good!

    2. Stranger Mings
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Hope he doesn’t use up all his goals and assists tonight though and then back to blanking in PL!

  10. Freshy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    BSilva is such a sly dog

    1. F4L
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      what a touch

  11. syke63
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    City ahead

  12. DycheDycheBaby
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    That was a lovely assist from Bilva

  13. Salah’s Sonnet
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    I died if Bilva was a good option a girl bit ago on here, was given so many reasons not to get, so I left. Not blaming anyone, my own decision, but wished I'd of him got him now.

    I may have to bring him in this week instead of Jota

    1. Salah’s Sonnet
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Asked*
      Lol

    2. FPL Pillars
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      When I last had him I took him out my team and that week he scored a hat trick 😆

      1. Salah’s Sonnet
        • 12 Years
        2 years, 4 months ago

        Ouch man! He's turned into a little wizard hasn't he lately

    3. Stranger Mings
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Silva good option but can we trust pep not to now bench him ?

      1. Salah’s Sonnet
        • 12 Years
        2 years, 4 months ago

        I think we can as he's to name in a big part of how they tick at the moment

        1. Tomerick
          • 9 Years
          2 years, 4 months ago

          You’re kidding yourself if you think you can trust Pep on this.

          Last season he outright said Bilva was undroppable because he was so important to the play style and then benched him more or less the next week.

          Impossible to predict

  14. F4L
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    City could top the group tonight, rests galore vs Leipzig...

  15. HD7
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    1FT, 0.5 ITB
    Any bright ideas, mates?
    Chilwell to Alonso, Reguilon or maybe Chilwell, Raph to Cancelo, Gallagher (-4)?

    Do we have any update on Raph actually?

    Ramsdale
    Trent Rudi Chilwell* James
    Salah Raph* Saka Cornet
    Kane Vardy

    Steele Livra Sissoko Scarlett

    1. Stranger Mings
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      I read that he trained today

    2. Baps hunter
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Chilly to Alonso, wouldn't take a hit to sell Raphinha, but your bench is a bit weak.

  16. Stranger Mings
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Foden to silva not such a bad move

  17. TheTinman
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    So Jota was on the bench but unused, guess that means we can bring him in now

    1. syke63
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Thinking the same with Gray dropping.

    2. Baps hunter
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      I'd say so.

  18. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    No Jota this evening.

    Flag should be lifted.

    1. Baps hunter
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Tomorrow I guess. But yes.

  19. Peter Ouch
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Sorry guys but what the latest news on foden

    1. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Had a knock before Everton, got a knock vs Everton & now "short of match fitness".

      1. Stranger Mings
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 4 months ago

        I do think that he is more likely to play now be benched if rested today

        1. Stranger Mings
          • 3 Years
          2 years, 4 months ago

          *than be benched !

      2. Peter Ouch
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        2 years, 4 months ago

        Thanks laaaaaddddd

  20. Hy liverpool
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    PSG are bunch of overrated players

  21. Stranger Mings
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    James on 85% so assume won’t go up tonight ?

    1. FPL Pillars
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Unlikely

      1. Baps hunter
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 4 months ago

        Probably not, but many may have waited to see that Salah is fit for example, si I don't see any reason, except Alonso to get hin in now if that is the plan. Waiting for tomorrow won't probably change anything.

  22. Hansel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Best way to improve this team? WC left so looking at the next 4 gws or so. 1.3m ITB, 1FT.

    A) White -> Alonso
    B) Rudiger -> James, next week White -> Reguilon or Mbuemo -> Gallagher
    C) Armstrong -> Pukki, next week A or B

    Sanchez
    Trent Cancelo Rudiger White
    Salah Jota Raphinha Mbuemo
    Kane Antonio

    Steele Gilmour Armstrong Omo

    1. Hansel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      In C I’d play Pukki over Antonio

    2. Stranger Mings
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      D) Antonio to benteke?

      1. Hansel
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        2 years, 4 months ago

        Been considering it yes

        1. Stranger Mings
          • 3 Years
          2 years, 4 months ago

          Helps to free up funds

          1. Hansel
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 13 Years
            2 years, 4 months ago

            Yes, can get James for Omo that way! Benteke for Armstrong possible too as I think I want to hold Antonio/get him back soon

            1. Stranger Mings
              • 3 Years
              2 years, 4 months ago

              I have Omo and Antonio but sadly can’t get James & benteke for them

    3. HonestBlatter
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      C

  23. Hy liverpool
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Milaaaaan goal
    Yeeees

    1. panda07
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Klopp should play the kids against Milan to knock Athletico out

      1. Hy liverpool
        • 10 Years
        2 years, 4 months ago

        I hope so

      2. panda07
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        2 years, 4 months ago

        *Atletico

      3. Il Capitano
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 4 months ago

        Yes please

  24. HD7
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Trent James Rudi Chilwell* Livra

    Not enough money for Cancelo so its Dias, Reguilon or Alonso with a Ft.

    Any bright ideas, mates?

    1. Green Arrow
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Alonso

    2. Baps hunter
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Alonso out of those

  25. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    City guaranteed top spot.

    Cancelo should finally get his rest on the 7th of December...

  26. Sharkytect
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    I have two free transfers and using both on defenders. One is to get TAA - I had planned that transfer in for this week several weeks ago; had to just stomach all those assists hr racked up recently.

    But I am more excited about the enabler - brining in tariq lamptey. That guy was the ultimate FPL troll for me last season, but he is so great to watch. Can't wait to be trolled again.

    1. FPL Pillars
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Lamprey over Xmas is a recipe the grinch would serve

      1. Baps hunter
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 4 months ago

        He is nice to watch, just like Saka, but the lack of end product (historical) and his minutes managed are a concern.

      2. Sharkytect
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        2 years, 4 months ago

        He is gonna be on my bench along with livramento nearly every week - hopefully enough cover

  27. AD2110
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Best option out of these?

    A) Chilwell —> Alonso
    B) Chilwell + Raphina —> James + Gallagher (-4)

    Sanchez, Steele
    TAA, Chilwell*, Cancelo, White, Livra
    Salah, Son, Foden, Jota, Raphina
    Antonio, Jiminez, 4.5

    1. Stranger Mings
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      A as surely raphinha plays

  28. lilmessipran
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Planning on moving out Foden after pressers and more news with my ft, who would you get?

    A Jota
    B Bilva
    C Keep Foden

    1. FPL Pillars
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      A

    2. Stranger Mings
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      A

    3. drughi
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      A

  29. Naby K8a
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Kostas Tsimikas:

    - 8 starts.
    - 8 clean sheets.
    - 8 wins.

    1. POGON 1948
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 2 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      -8 inches.

      1. Naby K8a
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 4 months ago

        Inside your m...

  30. POGON 1948
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 2 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    That James Milner false 9 shades of another Liverpoolian #7

    1. POGON 1948
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 2 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Liverpudlian