Premier League: EPL fixtures, 26 December

Liverpool vs Newcastle – 17:00

Liverpool are out to preserve their four-point lead at the top of the Premier League when they face Newcastle at Anfield on Boxing Day.

The Reds have whizzed past reigning champions Manchester City at the summit, with last Friday’s 2-0 win at Wolves their latest success in an unbeaten, 18-game start to the campaign.

Toon boss Rafa Benitez is praying for a Christmas miracle with his bare-bones squad limping along in 15th place.

His men are at least unbeaten in two, having won at Huddersfield before being held to a goalless draw by bottom club Fulham last time out.

Manchester United vs Huddersfield – 17:00

Manchester United continue life under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer with another solid chance of three points at home to Huddersfield.

The popular interim boss made a dream start to life back at the club at the weekend, with his side soaring to a 5-1 win at Cardiff.

United remain sixth in the table, eight points adrift of Arsenal in fifth.

Huddersfield are in wretched form and have lost five in a row, leaving them level on 10 points with Fulham at the bottom of the EPL table.

The Terriers were beaten 3-1 at home by Southampton at the weekend at the John Smith’s Stadium.

Leicester vs Manchester City – 17:00

Manchester City travel to Leicester on Boxing Day, needing a win to keep them within reach of Liverpool at the top.

Pep Guardiola’s side have slipped off their supreme pace, losing two of their last three to leave the Reds as the only unbeaten club left in the EPL.

Crystal Palace came away from the Etihad with three points on Saturday after snatching a sensational 3-2 victory.

Leicester pulled off a similar feat to return to the top half of the table.

The Foxes snatched a 1-0 victory at Chelsea to sneak back into ninth ahead of their home tie with the reigning champions.

Watford vs Chelsea – 21:30

Chelsea make the short trip to Watford with three points needed to put them back in the top three picture.

The Blues suffered a shock 1-0 defeat at home to Leicester last weekend, slipping back to five points behind Tottenham in third in the process.

Watford enjoyed a solid 2-0 success across the capital at West Ham on Saturday.

It was a result that made it three unbeaten for Javi Gracia’s Hornets, who sit pretty in seventh in the Premier League table.

Brighton vs Arsenal – 19:15

Arsenal are down on the south coast to play Brighton on Boxing Day.

The Gunners bounced back from their shock loss at Southampton with a handsome home win over Burnley last Saturday.

Unai Emery’s men sit fifth in the midst of the festive period.

Brighton are on something of a downer following their meteoric rise up the EPL standings.

The Seagulls have lost three on the spin and were overturned by Bournemouth last weekend.

Tottenham vs Bournemouth – 17:00

Tottenham are going for five wins on the bounce when they host Bournemouth at Wembley.

Mauricio Pochettino’s side has emerged as title contenders following an imposing run of form that saw them most recently demolish Everton 6-2 at Goodison Park on Sunday.

Bournemouth are consistently inconsistent but did manage a 2-0 victory over Brighton in their last appointment.

Fulham vs Wolves – 14:30

Rock-bottom Fulham host Wolves in the Premier League on Boxing Day.

The Cottagers haven’t won in five EPL games during December so far, sitting dead last and level on 10 points with Huddersfield.

Wolves had won three in a row as they continued to improve under boss Nuno Espirito Santo, only to lose 2-0 against Liverpool at Molineux last Friday night.

Burnley vs Everton – 17:00

Everton and Burnley put their miserable runs of form up against each other at Turf Moor on Boxing Day.

Marco Silva’s Toffees are without a win in five, slipping off the European pace into 11th in the table.

The Clarets, meanwhile, are languishing in the relegation zone, with just 12 points to show for their efforts this season so far.

Crystal Palace vs Cardiff – 17:00

Crystal Palace takes on Cardiff at Selhurst Park, fresh from their sensational win last Saturday.

The Eagles clung on for a famous, 3-2 victory at Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium, taking them up to 14th in the table.

Neil Warnock’s visitors have lost back-to-back fixtures and sit just a place above the drop zone.