We are on the cusp of entering the frantic festive football period, and here at FST, we’ve been busy gift wrapping you a present that we just know you’ll love.
To help you get the most out of the holiday season, we’ve put together a comprehensive Festive Football Guide for our followers and readers.
This Christmas bonus is packed with tons of useful stocking fillers including: the big matches to look out for, where you can watch them live, our exclusive betting tips, along with the best betting offers around and plenty of predictions chucked in for good measure.
We’re so sure you’ll love this gift that we haven’t even left the receipt in the bag….
Check out our Festive Football Guide below.
FST Football Predictions
The big games come thick and fast during the Festive Football Period, and we’ve got you covered with a stocking full of football predictions, betting tips and comprehensive match previews.
From the Premier League and English lower leagues to the major and minor divisions on the continent, Freesupertips’ coverage is extensive, and you can keep up with all of our latest predictions and free betting tips in our continually updated match previews section.
Where to Watch the Festive Football
In between the dozens of showings of Indiana Jones, Home Alone and Die Hard reruns, there are numerous exciting live football fixtures to watch or stream on your TV and other devices.
BT Sport and Sky Sports are offering the most extensive coverage this December, but they’re not the only services showing exciting football action. Amazon Prime have got their hands on a number of Premier League fixtures, including those highly coveted Boxing Day clashes, while BBC are broadcasting the Club World Cup in its entirety from 11th December.
On our bang up to date Live Football Schedule, we’ll provide detailed listings of all the football fixtures you can catch live and where and when you can watch them.
Football Betting Offers
To complement the jam-packed Festive Football schedule, bookmakers will be churning out more special offers, bonuses and promotions that you can shake your tinsel at.
From enhanced odds offers to match specific specials – FST will continue to deliver the best and most lucrative bookmaker offers to you during the Festive Football period. Want to get your hands on some free bets right away? bet365 are bringing Christmas to the party every day with their ongoing offer of up to £100 in bet credits for new customers!
You can check out the latest and best bookmakers’ offers on our dedicated Free Bets page.
Sunday 1st December – 888Sport
It hasn’t taken long for a special offer to come hurtling down FST’s chimney, with 888Sport offering a huge price boost on Leicester vs Everton on the first day of the Festive Football Calendar. You can get 40/1 on a Leicester win or 100/1 on an Everton win. This is for new customers who deposit £10 or more only, with a maximum stake of £1 and all extra winnings paid out in free bets. You can find out more about the deal (plus 888Sport’s other offers) right here.
Festive Football Calendar
During the notoriously competitive Festive Football period, the battle for Premier League points and places really begins to intensify.
Here’s a rundown of what you can look forward to this December, and the action isn’t just limited to the Premier League either!
Overview
Supporters have a full round of midweek Premier League action to unwrap between Tuesday and Thursday during week one of the Festive Period, with Man Utd’s Old Trafford tussle with Tottenham and the first Merseyside Derby of the season between Liverpool and Everton the highlights.
Following those midweek exertions, 18 of the 20 Premier League clubs return to the pitch between Saturday and Sunday for another feast of football with all the trimmings with Everton’s meeting with Chelsea and the Manchester Derby between City and United the pick of the action.
Big Match Forecast
Manchester City vs Manchester United (Dec 7th)
All eyes will be on the Etihad Stadium for the Manchester Derby on December 7th, and the Citizens will again enter the local feud as overwhelming favourites to win.
Counter-attacking experts United have the tools to ruffle City’s feathers however, and the pacey forwards at Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s disposal could find joy and room to manoeuvre in behind their host’s notoriously high defensive line.
Nevertheless, with three wins from four, City’s recent record against United is excellent, and anything other than a home win in the 179th Manchester Derby would be a huge surprise.
Keep right on top of the action with our exclusive English football betting tips and match previews on our Premier League predictions page.
What else is on?
The first week in December offers us a host of action outside the Premier League. There’s midweek action in Ligue 1 as French high-flyers Lyon and Lille square off before we head off for Italy for a Serie A clash between Inter Milan and AS Roma.
The weekend proper includes a handful of Bundesliga fixtures shown live on BT Sport, and sticking with BT Sport we can catch the eagerly anticipated Old Firm Derby as Celtic and Rangers meet in the Scottish League Cup Final.
Fixtures to look out for
Manchester United vs Tottenham (Dec 4th)
Liverpool vs Everton (Dec 4th)
Everton vs Chelsea (Dec 7th)
Man City vs Man Utd (Dec 7th)
Rangers vs Celtic (Dec 8th)
Overview
Week 2 of the Festive Football Season delivers more holiday goodwill and good games by the sackful between the 9th and 15th of December.
On Monday the 9th, West Ham and Arsenal get the ball rolling with a floodlit London Derby in Stratford, though supporters will have to wait until the following Saturday to further satisfy their Premier League cravings.
However – there is a full complement of midweek Champions and Europa League fixtures to tide you over until the Premier League kicks back into gear with Liverpool’s lunchtime meeting with Watford.
Across the rest of the weekend there are plenty more cuts of prime Premier League excitement to sink your teeth into with Arsenal’s trip to play reigning champions Man City at the Etihad on Sunday the 15th one to watch out for.
Big Match Forecast
Arsenal vs Manchester City (Dec 15th)
Arsenal’s recent head-to-head record from games against Manchester City doesn’t make for pleasant reading for Gunners fans.
The Citizens turned Arsenal over in each of their last six meetings with them, running up an aggregate score of 14-2 in the process, and ahead of their latest encounter, the chances of the Gunners reversing the trend seem slim.
Having been given the dreaded vote of confidence by the Arsenal board, Unai Emery will know that a heavy defeat against City could be a catalyst for change in the dugout, though his team look ill equipped to stop that from happening.
What Else Is On?
Alongside a glut of Championship fixtures, supports have dozens of Champions and Europa League games to pick from between Tuesday the 10th and Thursday the 12th, including Ajax showdown with Valencia and Lyon’s meeting with RB Leipzig.
Over the weekend falling on December 14th and 15th, there is a full club football programme across Europe’s major leagues to consume, with more Bundesliga action beamed to your screens by BT Sport.
Fixtures to look out for
Inter vs Barcelona (Dec 10th)
RB Salzburg vs Liverpool (Dec 10th)
Bayern Munich vs Tottenham (Dec 11th)
Arsenal vs Man City (Dec 15th)
Wolfsburg vs Borussia Monchengladbach (Dec 15th)
Overview
The Festive Football period is the gift that keeps on giving, and there is another sleigh-full of fixtures for supporters to look forward to between December 16th and 22nd.
There is top-level action to enjoy on each of the seven days during Week 3 of the Festive Football period, starting with Crystal Palace’s fascinating looking duel against Brighton and Hove Albion on Monday the 16th.
On Tuesday the 17th and Wednesday the 18th, the 2019/20 Carabao Cup resumes at the competition’s Quarter Finals before the Premier League returns a couple of days later to keep your days merry and bright.
Big Match Forecast
Manchester City vs Leicester City (Dec 21st)
Two of the Premier League’s top four meet at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday December 21st, when defending champions Manchester City take on a hugely improved Leicester City side.
The Citizens have looked vulnerable defensively for much of the season, and with the Foxes’ exciting front six continuing to sparkle, the battle of the Cities promises to be keenly fought.
Man City needed a freak long-range screamer from former skipper Vincent Kompany to beat Leicester the last time the teams met at the Etihad, though Leicester turned the title holders over in the reverse Premier League fixture between the pair last term.
The club’s latest skirmish just three days before Christmas also promises to be a cracker.
What Else Is On?
Away from the thrills and spills of the English Premier League, there are plenty of alternative football treats to fill your stockings with.
On Tuesday the 17th and Wednesday the 18th, there is a full progamme of Bundesliga fixtures to choose from across BT Sport’s extensive package, with Championship and Scottish Premiership action to keep you busy a couple of days later on Friday the 20th.
On Saturday and Sunday (21st and 22nd), there are full fixture schedules to explore across all of Europe’s major leagues, including Serie A, La Liga, Bundesliga and Ligue 1.
Fixtures to look out for
Aston Villa vs Liverpool (Dec 17th)
Hibernian vs Rangers (Dec 20th)
Man City vs Leicester City (Dec 21st)
Everton vs Arsenal (Dec 21st)
Tottenham vs Chelsea (Dec 22nd)
Overview
The weather outside might be frightful, but the football is still delightful during week 4 of the festive football period between the 23rd and the 29th of December.
Once the formalities of the are out of the way in the early part of the week, the football comes dashing through the snow at a rate of knots, starting with the traditionally thrilling Premier League Boxing Day programme.
There is in fact, Premier League action to consume every day from Thursday the 26th right through to Sunday the 29th during week 4 of the festive football period – so make sure to clear your schedule!
Big Match Forecast
Arsenal vs Chelsea (Dec 29th)
Arsenal meet their Europe League Final conquerors Chelsea at the Emirates on Sunday December 29th, in a London Derby that is sure to have the capital vibrating with anticipative excitement.
With zero wins from their last five trips to the Emirates, Chelsea’s recent record against the Gunners in North London is relatively poor, though the Blues’ will feel that they have wonderful opportunity to change their fortunes at that venue on the cusp of the new year.
Arsenal remain in a state of flux, while Chelsea look to be on a steep upward trajectory under Frank Lampard, and the former England international’s youthful side will come into the game as favourites.
What Else Is On?
There is plenty of other live football to check out away from the Premier League in week 4 of the festive football period.
Between Monday, December 23rd and Tuesday, the 24th Championship aficionados can choose from 13 live fixtures via Sky Sports Football and the channel’s red button service.
Between Friday 27th and Sunday 29th, Scottish football rivalries are the theme, with the Dundee Derby acting as the appetiser on BT Sport, before Sunday’s Old Firm main course between Rangers and Celtic on Sky Sports Football at 12:30.
Fixtures to look out for
Leicester City vs Liverpool (Dec 26th)
Wolves vs Man City (Dec 27th)
Liverpool vs Wolves (Dec 29th)
Arsenal vs Chelsea (Dec 29th)
Rangers vs Celtic (Dec 29th)
FST Predicts the Big Winners and Losers of the Festive Season
It’s often said that the league really starts to take shape during the Festive Football period, and with so many points on offer inside such a short space of time, teams have the chance to turn their entire campaign around before their turkey has been fully digested.
Let’s take a closer look at some of the clubs that face favourable or nightmare runs during the holiday season.
Big Winners
Chelsea
Frank Lampard and Chelsea have already confounded plenty of critics this season by playing some electrifying attacking football while simultaneously blooding plenty of home-grown talent.
The Blues look good to maintain a strong push for a top 4 finish in the Premier League this term, and their quest for more Champions League football could be aided by what looks a favourable run of games during the festive period.
Home games against Aston Villa, Bournemouth and Southampton look eminently winnable, while trips to play Everton, Tottenham and Arsenal don’t look as daunting as they might have in other seasons.
Crystal Palace
At the time of writing, Crystal Palace’s festive football schedule contains just one opponent from the Premier League’s top ten, and the Eagles kind run of games could present them with an opportunity to soar up the table before the New Year.
Games at Selhurst Park against Bournemouth, Brighton and West Ham are interspersed with trips to play struggling Watford, Newcastle and Southampton – games that offer plenty of encouragement and point winning possibilities.
Palace collected eight points from the corresponding set of fixtures in 2018/19, however, Roy Hodgson will back his squad to gather a double figure haul this time around.
Sheffield United
Sheffield United have been one of the season’s biggest success stories in 2019/20, and the uber-competitive Blades can scythe their way through the holiday period in style with a potentially bountiful run of festive fixtures.
Chris Wilder’s expertly drilled outfit will love the look of a home programme that lines up Newcastle, Aston Villa and Watford at Bramall Lane, while their away day schedule that includes trips to Norwich and Brighton won’t hold any fear.
Sheffield United finish the year with something of a free hit against Man City at the Etihad, though it would be typical of Wilder’s warriors if the Blades carved out another positive against the odds result for themselves in Manchester.
Big Losers
Arsenal
With dissent still simmering on the Emirates terraces, anti-Emery sentiment on the rise and a fractured dressing room to content with, Arsenal could have done with a relatively straightforward festive football programme.
Unfortunately for the Gunners, their fixture list between early December and the New Year has a heavy dusting of tricky games and potential pitfalls, with trips to West Ham, Everton and Bournemouth to navigate along with big home tests against Man City and Chelsea.
Any top four aspirations Arsenal hold could be shattered by the time the champagne corks are popping on December 31st, and the Gunners could conceivably be entering 2020 as a mid-table club.
Everton
Everton have been hovering near the lower reaches of the Premier League table for the majority of the season, and a glance at their festive football season suggest that the Toffees could find it extremely difficult to gather enough points to pull clear of trouble during December.
Marco Silva’s men start the period in hugely challenging fashion with a trip to play Liverpool at Anfield in the Merseyside Derby, before a home match with high-flying Chelsea beckons.
Directly after that Goodison Park assignment, Everton are back on the road where they head to Old Trafford to take on a rejuvenated Manchester United.
Arsenal are the next visitors to Goodison Park in the first of successive home fixtures, with Burnley making the short hop from Lancashire on Boxing Day.
Everton close their tricky sequence with one final away fixture against a dogged Newcastle team at St. James’ Park on December 28th.
Burnley
Burnley’s have had more ups and downs than a leaf caught in a Lancashire breeze this season, and Clarets’ manager Sean Dyche will be eyeing his team’s festive football calendar with trepidation ahead of a potentially problematic run of games.
Burnley kick off their holiday progamme with a home match against defending champions Manchester City, before the Clarets pack their bags for three away games in four, taking them to London, to the south coast and back up to Merseyside in the space of a couple of weeks.
After an extensive period of ground hopping, Burnley finish the year in more familiar surroundings with a game against Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s Manchester United at Turf Moor.
Predicted Premier League Table for December
Useful Festive Football Links
Premier League predictions – find all of our latest EPL match previews for the festive period with betting tips and features all in one place.
Free Bets – find the latest special offers, promotions and welcome bonuses from a huge range of bookmakers here.
News – read all of our news, betting guides, team and player specials/features here.
Live TV listings – comprehensive listings of where and when you can watch live football on TV and online.
Accumulator Betting Tips – here you can find our daily and weekly acca tips and predictions
The post FST’s Ultimate Guide to the Festive Football appeared first on Free Football Tips.
