Leeds United's recent history in the traditional Boxing Day fixture makes for pleasant reading from a Whites' perspective. The team have won three and drawn two of their last five post-Christmas clashes, which bodes well for their game against Burnley tomorrow.
Originally scheduled to have been played today, television commitments mean Leeds United will now take on Sean Dyche's men at Elland Road at lunchtime tomorrow.
While some sides can be guilty of over-indulging over the Christmas period, Leeds United cannot be criticised of that in recent years if their results are anything to go by.
Since 2015, they are unbeaten in each game immediately following Christmas, suggesting Leeds' preparation has been spot on.
Rather surprisingly, every encounter of the past five years has included two or more goals, with Leeds playing out five-goal thrillers on two occasions.
Fans will need little reminder of Kemar Roofe's late double on Boxing Day two years ago, snatching victory from the jaws of defeat at home to Blackburn Rovers.
Roofe notched twice in added time at the end of the second half to send Leeds supporters home jubilant.
It was the third year in a row Roofe had scored for United on Boxing Day. Two years prior, he scored Leeds' opener in a 4-1 demolition job of Preston North End, a game which saw Jermaine Beckford sent off.
In 2017, he also found the net against Burton Albion which proved to be the winning goal after Pablo Hernandez had drawn level.
It is standard practice for professional teams to train on Christmas Day amidst a busy festive football schedule, but over the past couple of years especially, Leeds seem to have made sure they maintain their professionalism and have kept their levels as high as possible.
Marcelo Bielsa can ill-afford to drop points in winnable contests against Burnley and West Bromwich Albion on the 27th and 29th respectively.
He may even be spending his Christmas Day poring over the Baggies and the Clarets' games from earlier this season, such is his obsession with diligence and preparedness.
Given Dyche's recent comments and the perception from the Burnley camp, it seems as though the Clarets will not be changing their approach for anyone. Whether that pays off or comes back to haunt them will be decided tomorrow.
