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. T.Henry14
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    2 FT & 0.4 ITB

    Ramsdale
    TAA, Cancelo, Chilwell*, White
    Salah, Son, Raphinha, Smith-Rowe
    Vardy, Toney

    (Foster - Antonio, D.Luiz, Obamidele)

    a) Chilwell ----- James & save second transfer for next week.
    b) Chilwell & Antonio ----- James & Jimenez

    1. Botman and Robben
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      a

    2. Shardlow
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      a

  2. Botman and Robben
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    If Foden is not fit, who to get?

    A. ESR
    B. Bilva

    1. TheBiffas
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      B of those

    2. Karhumies
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Jota

  3. shelvey33
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Need help! Current team:
    Ramsdale / Foster
    Cancelo Rudiger James White / Livra
    Salah Foden Raphina Gallagher / Mbeumo
    Jimmenez Kane / Antonio

    2FT, 0.4m ITB

    A) Rudiger Raphinha > TAA Norman
    B) White Foden > TAA Norman
    C) (-4) White Foden Raphina > TAA Norman BSilva
    D (-4) White Foden Raphina > TAA Brownhill Jota
    E) White Antonio > TAA + Gelhardt
    F) (-4) White Raphina Antonio > TAA ESR Dennis

    1. Back of the Garnett
      • 2 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      B or F for me, depends how willing to take a hit you are

    2. TheBiffas
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      B or D if u don't mind the hit

      1. shelvey33
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 4 months ago

        I don't like the hits... but i also like very much D!

  4. George James
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Best move?

    A) Chilwell >> James

    B) Chilwell + Foden >> James + Jota -4

    Sa
    TAA • Semedo • Chilwell
    Salah • Foden • Raph • Son
    Toney • Jimenez • Antonio

    Steele / Williams / Livra / Sissoko

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

      A

    2. Gunners in Haaland
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      A

    3. The FPL Units
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      B

  5. Gudjohnsen
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Chilwell, Foden to R.James, Jota for -4?

    1. The FPL Units
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Yes

  6. Gunners in Haaland
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    0.1 short of Chilwell to James 🙁
    Chilwell+Mbeumo -> James+Hojbjerg (-4)?

    1. TheBiffas
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      noooo lol.

    2. The FPL Units
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Nope

    3. Gunners in Haaland
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Cheers both

    4. Pompel
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      In the same situation, and considering Sissoko for Brownhill or Bissouma to raise those pesky £0.1m.
      But Alonso could be a nice differential, if more risky

  7. FPL Doctor
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    1FT 1.5ITB

    Ramsdale
    TAA Cancelo James
    Salah Son Raph Mbeumo Saka
    Toney Wilson

    Foster Antonio Duffy Livra

    1. TheBiffas
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      superb

    2. Gunners in Haaland
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      What seems to be the problem doctor?

      1. FPL Doctor
        • 9 Years
        2 years, 4 months ago

        See below… any transfer suggestions?

        ? Jota for Raph
        ? Regs for Duffy
        ? hold

  8. FPL Doctor
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    A) Raph —> Jota
    B) Duffy —> Livra
    C) Hold

    1. Gunners in Haaland
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      C

  9. Mane Mane Mane
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    No urgent changes to make and have two free transfers so don’t want to burn one. Is Rudiger to Alonso a good move?

    1. Kodap
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      I wouldn't make that move personally, Rudiger the most nailed on Chelsea defender and way too sideways imo.

      1. Mane Mane Mane
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 4 months ago

        If I already have Mendy does that change anything?

      2. Nate(U)dog(ie)
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 4 months ago

        Agreed, Rudiger also has been posting good attacking stats of late too, he loves to go forward and shoot as well as having threat from setpieces

    2. Toblerone52 - Zlatan Ibra-H…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Not a good move imo

    3. The FPL Units
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Nope

  10. Kodap
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Chilwell > James for free?

    or to Alonso, which one?

    1. Toblerone52 - Zlatan Ibra-H…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      James

    2. The FPL Units
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      James

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

    Antonio out on wildcard? Or if can get good teams out each week, then hold on assuming that he eventually gets his form back?

    Jiménez's fixtures turn in a few weeks and he's probably be 1st choice replacement followed by maybe Benteke

  12. chaser123
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Foden to Jota is a no brainier, right?

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

      My concern is if he returns to false 9

    2. The FPL Units
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      No brainer

    3. Nate(U)dog(ie)
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Not for me at all, he might miss this weekend (even then there's a 4 day gap between last night's game and West Ham, and Pep said he had been training) but look at their next fixtures:

      Villa
      Watford
      Wolves
      Leeds
      Newcastle
      Leicester
      Brentford

      It seems a popular move / idea here but personally I think it's recency bias in full flow. Even with Foden going into the Everton game with a knock and having to go off and him spending the game out wide, he was by far their main threat going forward.

      1. chaser123
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 4 months ago

        Hmm yeh fair enough. But I could buy him back with my Jimenez money in a couple of weeks?

        1. Nate(U)dog(ie)
          • 3 Years
          2 years, 4 months ago

          It's your call, I'd definitely wait to see what the pressers say (although I know Pep is notoriously cagey with info most of the time) but I think he's worth holding if it's not a big injury

      2. Ze_Austin
        • 5 Years
        2 years, 4 months ago

        Hello again, Nate with the logic 🙂

        1. Nate(U)dog(ie)
          • 3 Years
          2 years, 4 months ago

          We have to stop meeting like this!

    4. Ze_Austin
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Not to me, it isn't

      Everything said about Foden sounds like a minor knock that had him less than 100% fit for the PSG game, not for the weekend

      I'd wait for Pep's presser tomorrow. If he's out for the weekend but back in midweek, I'll go Chilwell to Reguilon this week for cover, then Livra to Alonso next GW... All while holding Foden: GWs 14 to 20 are perfect, even if benched for one

      Jota only comes in for a hit for me if Foden is confirmed out for more than 2 GWs, as the cons of Foden's future benching will then outweigh the pros of his fixture run. Jota is still heavily dependent on Firmino's fitness, and is still annoyingly wasteful with few assists, so he's not a priority move for me

  13. Jonesfromthere
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Any further Chilwell update apart from Tuchel’s initial assessment?

    1. hustler7
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      ACL injury rumoured and so out for remainder of 2021, how true it is I don't know

  14. Gandalf
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Why is ESR seemingly unpopular again? Has been getting hauls in recent home matches and seems a good 1st sub for tougher fixtures

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

      You know how this place is, he blanked therefore is useless

    2. Nate(U)dog(ie)
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      He's still a good option but yeah what Noquarternt says, one blank people here would sell their whole team that a few days ago was going to have them set up for the season. Arsenal have nice fixtures and he's been a good attacking threat

  15. Lanley Staurel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Any Chilwell owners going down to Alonso as opposed to straight to R James?

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

      Just seen same question posted higher up. Obvs a common query. As a James owner Im now pondering on doubling up with Alonso.

    2. pBelck
      • 2 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Unless money is tight, I'd say James is the safer pick, while Alonso is more a fun differential

    3. Nate(U)dog(ie)
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      I'm going for Alonso, I feel he should technically be a little more nailed than James (and I've been burned with Chilwell and James three times now this season so definitely silly bias in there too)

  16. pBelck
    • 2 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Any status on Raphinha?

    I can afford to swap him out for Jota, so if hes out its a no-brainer

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

      So hard to tell. Hes like the hokey cokey.

    2. Nate(U)dog(ie)
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      He trained a few days ago as normal with the group, as did Rodrigo and Shackleton. Bamford and Koch are back on the grass and doing ball work too so they might be back in the next few weeks

  17. TheBiffas
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    1ft 0itb

    Ramsdale

    TAA - James - Cancelo - Lamptey

    Salah - Son - Raphinha

    Antonio - Jesus - Vardy

    (Foster - Livra - Brownhill - D Luiz)

    a) Raphinha > Cornet
    b) suggestions?

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

      Keep Raphina imo

  18. Tshelby
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    G2g?

    1ft and 0.0 itb - Still got my WC

    Sanchez
    TAA, Cancelo, Christensen
    Salah, Son, raphina, Jota
    Jimenez, Wilson, Antonio

    Foster, White, Gilmour, Livra

    1. TheBiffas
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      That team with WC intact? Well played sir

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

        Argh I don't know.. Overall Rank: 412.238
        Not really a great season..

      2. fplkuksy
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 4 months ago

        Yeah, impressive.

  19. fplkuksy
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Thanks Fantasy Football Scout for making this article available for free. Important Stuff!

  20. Tom
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Bit of a goalkeeper benching headache this week. Would you play;

    A. Guaita (AVL)
    B. Ramsdale (NEW)

    1. Nate(U)dog(ie)
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      I'd go B, I'd probably expect both may concede but I think Newcastle posted the most shots of the last gameweek so he should pick up some saves

    2. Tonyawesome69
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Bookies CS odds
      Arsenal 42%
      Palace 36%

      1. Tom
        • 11 Years
        2 years, 4 months ago

        Thanks chaps, good to know!

    3. Gandalf
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      B - EO for Ramsdale high so would be damaging if get it wrong

    4. fplkuksy
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Hmmm....... Dicey one, however I think Ramsdale just edges it.
      Villa have won 1 away game(@Man U)and scored 2 away goals @ Watford. Newcastle haven't won a game(neva mind away) though there's the caveat of a new manager bounce? So I think Ramsdale should have an easier game than Guaita.
      Cheers.

  21. Kodap
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Would you say this is G2G? Done Chilwell to James and now just trying to figure out who to bench, Rudiger or Antonio?

    Sanchez
    TAA - Cancelo - James - Rudiger
    Salah (c) - Son - Jota - ESR
    Jesus - Toney

    Steele - Antonio - Livra - Sissoko

    1. Kodap
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Or, do I downgrade Rudiger to bench Fodder and then use that money to upgrade ESR to Gallagher?

      For example: Rudiger > White & ESR > Gallagher.

    2. Nate(U)dog(ie)
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      ESR over Gallagher is fine IMO, looks like Milivojevic is going to be back in the team and that hinders Gallagher a bit and he may be further impacted by Eze's return from injury too, definitely keep Rudiger, he'll be a vital asset through the busy period as I'd say he's unlikely to be rotated much (or at all) while I'd expect all other Chelsea defenders to have their share of rotation

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

    Thoughts? Got 1 FT and 0.5 itb

    Sanchez
    TAA - James - Cancelo
    Salah - Son - Gallagher - Bernardo - ESR
    Wilson - Toney

    Bench: Steele - Duffy - Jansson - Antonio

  23. Gudjohnsen
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Anyone managed to have a team with
    TAA, Cancelo, Chilwell, R.James
    Foden, Jota, Salah
    One premium forward?

    1. Fitzy.
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Should be very easy

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

    Guys what about foden, chilly and Omo to Alonso & reguilion & foden? I can do these transfers over GW13 &14 without a hit.

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

      Sorry to Alonso, reguilion & SILVA!

  25. Back of the Garnett
    • 2 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Start Antonio or Livra? Both looking likely to have a pretty rough time… is the sensible choice Antonio?

    Ramsdale
    TAA - James - Rudiger - Cancelo - (Livra)
    Salah - Son - Raph
    Wilson - Toney - (Antonio)

    Cheers!

    1. Fitzy.
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Yes it is

  26. CiCi 3.0
    • 2 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Def = TAA, Dias, Rudy, Cancello, Duffy

    Dias -> James ??

    1. CiCi 3.0
      • 2 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      In GW14….

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

    Mbuemo to Gallagher for free?

    1. hustler7
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Everton been very poor and can see Mbuemo finally scoring

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

    Manchester United are close to appointing Ralf Rangnick as interim manager on a six-month contract.

  29. YNWA74
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 2 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    This is a tricky one - will replace Chillwell for either James or Cancelo.
    Who is most likely to be rested for the mid-week fixture?