Statistics

Man City hunting Man Utd's record for best festive form

15 Dec 2022
Man Utd v Man City

See which teams have historically fared best in the Premier League across the turn of the year

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How much does your club enjoy Christmas?

As the Manchester clubs attempt to make up ground in the title and the top-four races, they will find comfort from the fact that they are entering a festive period where they both tend to thrive.

The top six

Position Pos Club Played Pl GD Points Pts
1 Man City MCI 38 +61 89
2 Arsenal ARS 38 +45 84
3 Man Utd MUN 38 +15 75
4 Newcastle NEW 38 +35 71
5 Liverpool LIV 38 +28 67
6 Brighton BHA 38 +19 62
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Manchester United have the best Christmas record of all Premier League clubs past and present, averaging 2.16 points per match (ppm) in fixtures played between 26 December and 4 January.

Their upcoming matches could help them improve that league-leading figure.

The Red Devils face two of the bottom three sides next up, hosting Nottingham Forest on 27 December before visiting Wolverhampton Wanderers on New Year's Eve.

They then welcome AFC Bournemouth to Old Trafford on 3 January.

Best festive records 26 Dec-4 Jan*
Club Played Pts Pts/match
MUN 88 190 2.16
ARS 85 169 1.99
LIV 83 162 1.95
MCI 71 132 1.86
BLB 49 91 1.86
TOT 86 159 1.85
CHE 86 150 1.74
SHW 21 35 1.67
CHA 22 34 1.55
COV 23 35 1.52

*Minimum 20 matches

League leaders Arsenal have the next-best festive record over the history of the Premier League, averaging 1.99ppm.

See: How every 2022/23 club have fared at Christmas

The Gunners host West Ham United on Boxing Day, before a New Year’s Eve trip to Brighton & Hove Albion and then a home match against third-placed Newcastle United on 3 January.

However, the last 10 years have been dominated by Man Utd's local rivals and Arsenal's title challengers Manchester City.

The Citizens have won 22 of their 29 festive fixtures since the 2012/13 season, averaging 2.38ppm.

Top clubs for festive points/match since 2012
Club Played Pts Pts/match
MCI 29 69 2.38
TOT 29 67 2.31
MUN 30 64 2.13
ARS 28 57 2.04
LIV 29 56 1.93
CHE 30 54 1.80
FUL 10 15 1.50
LEI 23 33 1.43
BHA 15 20 1.33
WHU 29 38 1.31

Seeking to maintain that status, Pep Guardiola's side will back themselves to win at Leeds United on 28 December and at home against Everton on 31 December.

Their third match of the festive period, at Chelsea, is later than usual on 5 January.

If the defending champions slip up, Tottenham Hotspur could replace them as the best-performing side over the last decade, having collected only two points fewer.

Antonio Conte's side face three bottom-half teams over the turn of the year.

Spurs visit Brentford on Boxing Day, having stayed unbeaten across their last 15 league matches on 26 December.

A home match against Aston Villa on New Year's Day is then followed by a second London derby in the space of 10 days, at Crystal Palace on 4 January.

Also in this series

Part 1: Does being Christmas No 1 lead to the title?
Part 3: How much does your club enjoy Christmas?
Part 4: Promoted clubs target rare hat-trick in bid to stay up
Part 5: Festive duels can shape relegation battle
Part 6: Kane targets goal records for Boxing Day and festive period
Part 7: League leaders set for tough festive schedule

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