London (dpa) - The Premier League's busy Christmas programme kicks
off this weekend with the two Manchester teams looking to extend
winning runs and keep pressure on leaders Chelsea.
While most leagues in Europe break for the holiday period, English teams
will play four games through New Year's Day and the hectic schedule can go a long way to determining the title challengers.
Chelsea lead Manchester City by three points with Manchester United a further five points back. Champions City have won five straight games and are unbeaten in seven, while United have run off six consecutive victories.
The contenders next face teams in the bottom half of the table and United striker Wayne Rooney knows three points will be the perfect holiday gift.
"Christmas is going to be a very important time for us," Rooney told United's website. "If we can keep picking up points and winning games, then hopefully the other teams will drop points and we can be right in there going into the second half of the season."
United visit Aston Villa on Saturday, while City are home to Crystal Palace. Chelsea play at Stoke on Monday.
If there has been one constant in the Premier League over the past two decades it's that Manchester United do not lose away to Aston Villa. The Red Devils are unbeaten in their last 20 league visits to Villa Park, winning 13 including the last three.
Manchester City has closed on Chelsea despite a growing injury list.
With strikers Sergio Aguero and Stevan Jovetic already out, the holders lost captain Vincent Kompany and forward Edin Dzeko last weekend with both not expected to return until the New Year.
With so many injuries, City manager Manuel Pellegrini is definitely one who could do without the crowded fixture list.
"I think the players play too many games during the year, especially the players of big teams, because when they have an international break they must continue for their national squad," he said.
"Last year I remember playing nine games in December and nine games in January. It's difficult for the players to keep the high pace, because in the Premier League the intensity of every game is very high."
City's holiday programme is the easiest of the three title contenders with all four opponents currently in the bottom seven. Chelsea, meanwhile, faces three teams in the top seven and midfielder Cesc Fabregas knows the Blues will be for the challenge.
"We have a very strong squad, not just the team, everyone performs really well," the Spaniard told the club's website. "Everyone is very focused and everyone is very professional.
"Now the next two or three weeks are really important in our season and we have to be up for it."
Arsenal visit Liverpool with both teams needing three points.
The Gunners are currently sixth, but trail Chelsea by 13 points. Liverpool are 11th and have already lost more games than all of last season when they finished second
Both are coming off victories, with Arsenal beating Newcastle 4-1 last weekend and Liverpool defeating Bournemouth 3-1 in the league cup on Wednesday.
"It has taken us a wee while to get going this season but hopefully we can kick on from that," Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers told the BBC after the victory. "We just need to keep this momentum going and push on."
Hull are home for Swansea, West Brom are at QPR, Southampton host Everton, Burnley visit Tottenham, West Ham are home for Leicester and Sunderland is at Newcastle in the other games.
While most leagues in Europe break for the holiday period, English teams
will play four games through New Year's Day and the hectic schedule can go a long way to determining the title challengers.
Chelsea lead Manchester City by three points with Manchester United a further five points back. Champions City have won five straight games and are unbeaten in seven, while United have run off six consecutive victories.
The contenders next face teams in the bottom half of the table and United striker Wayne Rooney knows three points will be the perfect holiday gift.
"Christmas is going to be a very important time for us," Rooney told United's website. "If we can keep picking up points and winning games, then hopefully the other teams will drop points and we can be right in there going into the second half of the season."
United visit Aston Villa on Saturday, while City are home to Crystal Palace. Chelsea play at Stoke on Monday.
If there has been one constant in the Premier League over the past two decades it's that Manchester United do not lose away to Aston Villa. The Red Devils are unbeaten in their last 20 league visits to Villa Park, winning 13 including the last three.
Manchester City has closed on Chelsea despite a growing injury list.
With strikers Sergio Aguero and Stevan Jovetic already out, the holders lost captain Vincent Kompany and forward Edin Dzeko last weekend with both not expected to return until the New Year.
With so many injuries, City manager Manuel Pellegrini is definitely one who could do without the crowded fixture list.
"I think the players play too many games during the year, especially the players of big teams, because when they have an international break they must continue for their national squad," he said.
"Last year I remember playing nine games in December and nine games in January. It's difficult for the players to keep the high pace, because in the Premier League the intensity of every game is very high."
City's holiday programme is the easiest of the three title contenders with all four opponents currently in the bottom seven. Chelsea, meanwhile, faces three teams in the top seven and midfielder Cesc Fabregas knows the Blues will be for the challenge.
"We have a very strong squad, not just the team, everyone performs really well," the Spaniard told the club's website. "Everyone is very focused and everyone is very professional.
"Now the next two or three weeks are really important in our season and we have to be up for it."
Arsenal visit Liverpool with both teams needing three points.
The Gunners are currently sixth, but trail Chelsea by 13 points. Liverpool are 11th and have already lost more games than all of last season when they finished second
Both are coming off victories, with Arsenal beating Newcastle 4-1 last weekend and Liverpool defeating Bournemouth 3-1 in the league cup on Wednesday.
"It has taken us a wee while to get going this season but hopefully we can kick on from that," Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers told the BBC after the victory. "We just need to keep this momentum going and push on."
Hull are home for Swansea, West Brom are at QPR, Southampton host Everton, Burnley visit Tottenham, West Ham are home for Leicester and Sunderland is at Newcastle in the other games.
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