Statistics

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

15 Dec 2022

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

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.

Position Pos	Club	Played Pl	GD	Points Pts
1	Manchester City MCI	38	+61	89
2	Arsenal ARS	38	+45	84
3	Manchester United MUN	38	+15	75
4	Newcastle United NEW	38	+35	71
5	Liverpool LIV	38	+28	67
6	Brighton & Hove Albion BHA	38	+19	62

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.