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The month of December is often pivotal in shaping the Premier League season. While the other leagues break towards for Christmas and New Year towards the end of the year and at the start of the next year, fixtures come in thick and fast in England. The last round of matches in the European competitions, seven Premier League fixtures in December and a few more in early January before the FA Cup also kicks into action places a heavy workload on the players. This also means that the managers will have to be calculative in rotating their squads to ensure that their top stars don't suffer a burnout.
Seven gameweeks are bound to provide interesting clashes between the top sides that will shape the top end of the table and also provide momentum for the teams in pursuit of their respective ambitions. With games being played with hardly any breathing time, it is important that these sides win and keep up the momentum through this festive period.
When the top sides face each other in crucial six-pointers, a win either way could completely shift the balance in the table and hence it's essential that they head into these games in the best shape to win and carry on that form into the rest of the season.
In this article, we take a look at the five biggest Premier League clashes in the month of December:
#1 Arsenal vs Tottenham - 2nd December
This is one of Premier League's fiercest and most entertaining derbies. The North London Derby is a clash that never fails to live up to expectations, as a bucket full of goals are always guaranteed in this fixture.
Tottenham come into this fixture in fine form and at the back of an impressive victory against Inter Milan. They have also climbed to third on the table and are just five points behind the runaway leaders, Manchester City. Arsenal come into this game having drawn three of their last four league games, but the Unai Emery revolution is starting to take shape.
This was a fixture that Arsenal used to boss in the previous decade, but the power has shifted over the previous few seasons. Arsenal have won only one their last eight league matches with Tottenham, which was in the same fixture last season.
Spurs also have the bragging rights over Arsenal as they have finished above their illustrious rivals in the previous two seasons. However, the worry for Tottenham is that have won just one of their last 25 away league games against the Gunners.
One man who would be licking his lips is Spurs skipper Harry Kane. Kane has scored seven goals in seven Premier League games against Arsenal, only failing to score in one of those games – the same fixture which Arsenal won 2-0 last season.
All this points to an interesting battle at the Emirates Stadium.
#2 Manchester Utd vs Arsenal - 5th December
It's been a season of turmoil at Old Trafford. Manchester United's slow and unimaginative style of play has angered and frustrated fans, and they are starting to grow impatient on Jose Mourinho.
The Red Devils have won only six of their thirteen matches, not befitting a club of their stature. They trail their noisy neighbours by fourteen points already and are closer to the relegation zone than they are to the leaders.
However, they have made it a habit of winning games despite playing badly. Comeback wins against Newcastle and Bournemouth have saved Mourinho's job for now and they have secured qualification to the second round of the Champions League after scraping wins against Juventus and Young Boys.
Arsenal, for some reason, have struggled to get into games in the first half this season and only switch gears after falling behind in games. They haven't been ahead in any of the thirteen games this season and have only scored seven of the 24 goals have been scored in the first half.
Arsenal have always struggled during their travels to Old Trafford as the last time they won a league fixture here was way back in September 2006. However, things could change this time with Mourinho's men struggling to find the net on a regular basis. This could turn out to be a battle of which team plays the second half better.
#3 Chelsea vs Manchester City - 8th December
The fixture between to these two sides could be a pivotal one in the title race. Chelsea looked to be firm contenders for the title before they slipped up against Everton and got thrashed by a rampant Spurs side. Manchester City meanwhile have only dropped points against Wolves and at Anfield against Liverpool.
The way things are going at the moment, life seems too easy for Pep Guardiola and his rampaging City side. Despite missing the likes of talisman Kevin de Bruyne, Bernardo Silva and Benjamin Mendy, they are brushing aside teams with ease. A fixture at Stamford Bridge would, however, prove to be a stern test for Guardiola's men. A stunning goal from de Bruyne was the difference between these sides in the same fixture last season.
Maurizio Sarri has problems to address after a horrendous showing at Wembley. His defence was ripped apart by an energetic Spurs unit and the overdependence on talisman Eden Hazard for goals is beginning to show. They would need a more collective performance to have a chance of beating this City side.
The Cityzens have already beaten Chelsea once this season, in the Community Shield. Guardiola also has the upper-hand over Sarri in Head to Head fixtures. Having already beaten Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium and Tottenham at Wembley and a draw at Anfield mean this could be the final frontier for Guardiola's men. A win here would mean that the title would most likely remain at the Etihad Stadium next season too.
#3 Liverpool vs Manchester United - 16th December
Liverpool and Manchester United are just 30 miles apart, but they've rarely been good neighbours. This is arguably the biggest fixture in English football. Fortunes have oscillated between the two sides. Liverpool were the kings in the pre-Premier League era and Manchester United dominated the Premier League under Sir Alex Ferguson leaving the Merseysiders behind. Since his retirement though, Liverpool have closed the gap on the Red Devils and in fact, sneaked above them. Yet trophies and success in this fixture continues to desert them.
Liverpool are flying high in the Premier League this season but are struggling to secure qualification into the second round after being handed a tough group containing PSG, Napoli and Red Star Belgrade. Manchester United meanwhile, have safely secured their place in the next round with a game in hand but are stuttering domestically.
Liverpool are the ones chasing Manchester City and could come into this fixture level or even ahead of them depending on the result at Stamford Bridge.
But they will also come into this fixture after having played a must-win Champions League match against Napoli, while Manchester United will travel to Valencia knowing that they're already through and hence could also rest a few of their key players.
A lot will depend on Liverpool's result against the Italians as elimination from the Champions League could mean that Manchester United would have a clear upper-hand over Liverpool mentally. A result in Liverpool's favour would mean they would head into this fixture upbeat and raring to go.
Klopp vs Mourinho has always been an interesting clash of attack vs defence with Mourinho always taking the safer route and hoping to hit Liverpool on the break. Liverpool meanwhile have struggled to get past the massive wall of David de Gea in front of them. It's a clash in which neither team can afford to play for a draw and this will see tempers flare in a feisty clash.
#5 Liverpool vs Arsenal - 29th December
Another fixture that always provides entertainment and yields goals. These are two teams that enjoy attacking and have pacy attacking units that are bound to thrill their fans. This fixture has always remained one of the most watchable for the neutrals. They played out a 1-1 draw when they faced off at the Emirates Stadium earlier this year.
With games coming thick and fast it will be important for both these sides to come out victorious, with Liverpool chasing leaders Manchester City and the Gunners chasing city-rivals Tottenham and Chelsea in the Top 4 race.
When these two sides met during the festive period last season, they played out an entertaining 3-3 draw in a pulsating encounter. We could see a similarly high scoring fixture if the likes of Mohamed Salah, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Mesut Ozil, Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino and Alexandre Lacazette are in full flow.
Arsenal haven't beaten Liverpool in the last seven clashes between the two sides and have drawn two and lost three in their last five visits to Anfield. This indicates that the Reds will have the advantage over the Gunners. This is most definitely a must-win game for Liverpool before they travel to Etihad Stadium to face Manchester City in their first fixture of the new year.
