Why Liverpool are not playing on Boxing Day – only ONE Premier League game on

Boxing Day football is a much-loved tradition in the UK, but Liverpool won’t be playing on December 26 this year. This isn’t a permanent change, however.

While lower league fans will still be able to watch their teams on Boxing Day, supporters of Premier League clubs will have to wait until the day after, unless they follow Man United or Newcastle.

Man United vs. Newcastle is the only Premier League fixture taking place on Boxing Day in 2025, with the match kicking off at 8pm (GMT).

This breaks the tradition of having a full top-flight fixture list on December 26, and will be the first year Liverpool haven’t played on the date since 2021.

Instead, the Reds host Wolves on December 27 in the Saturday 3pm kick-off slot.

The reason Liverpool are not playing on Boxing Day

The Premier League have said this is down to “several challenges” that are “rooted in the expansion of European club competitions.”

The Premier League‘s statement read:

“The Premier League would like to acknowledge the circumstances that have led to a reduced number of matches on Boxing Day this season – impacting an important tradition in English football.

“There are now several challenges to Premier League fixture scheduling rooted in the expansion of European club competitions – which led to a revision of our domestic calendar ahead of last season, including changes to the FA Cup.

“This ultimately left the Premier League as a 33-weekend competition – fewer than previous seasons, despite being a 380-match competition since 1995.

“With fewer weekends to work with, the League is bound by how the calendar falls. The League can give an assurance that next season there will be more Premier League matches on Boxing Day – as the date falls on a Saturday.

“As with previous years, and in keeping with our commitment to clubs, special arrangements have been made to allow more time between games played across the festive period.

“This will allow greater time for players to recover with the rest periods between rounds 18, 19 and 20 being increased to ensure that no club plays within 60 hours of another match.”

As long as Boxing Day football remains from 2028 (next year it falls on a Saturday anyway), football fans will accept this year’s change.

However, what is worse is the broadcaster’s decision to place Newcastle‘s trip to Old Trafford on the evening of Boxing Day.

The Football Supporters’ Association (FSA) said: “The Premier League‘s TV selections for [Christmas and New Year] have finally been announced a fortnight after they were supposed to be.

“Newcastle‘s game at Old Trafford – the longest trip of that gameweek – has been selected for a ridiculous 8pm kick-off on Boxing Day. Thoughtless.”