We are now well into the second half of the Premier League season and are entering the final week of the January transfer window in what is set to be a hectic week in the English top flight.
And following the latest round of Premier League fixtures, the race for the top four, as well as the relegation battle, certainly took a few twists and turns as the pressure starts to mount on certain clubs.
But over the next two weeks the top flight presses the pause button on all of that drama as we enter this season’s enforced winter break, in order to allow clubs a breather following a hectic winter schedule.
This will be the second time that this two-week break will be used in the Premier League, following its introduction during the 2019-20 season, while it was scrapped last year due to the delayed start of the 2020-21 campaign.
Here is all you need to know about this season’s Premier League winter break, including key dates and the first fixtures back.
Should the Premier League allow postponed fixtures to be played during the winter break? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.
When is the Premier League winter break?
The Premier League’s winter break is scheduled to take place between January 24-February 8, with no action taking place for 15 days in order to give players a rest following the mid-way point of the season.
However, an exception has been made for Watford vs Burnley to take place on February 5, due to the game having already been postponed twice this season.
When do Premier League clubs return?
Premier League games do not resume until February 8 but those still left in the FA Cup will play their Fourth Round fixtures a few days earlier over the weekend of February 4-6.
There are still 14 top flight clubs left in the competition, including Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham.
When is the next round of Premier League fixtures?
The next round of Premier League fixtures will be Matchday 24, which is a midweek set of fixtures due to take place between Tuesday, February 8 to Thursday, February 10.
Matchday 25 will also take place a few days after that, between February 12-13, when the weekend action will resume as normal.
What are the first Premier League fixtures back?
All fixtures will kick off at 7:45pm unless stated.
Tuesday, February 8
West Ham vs Watford
Burnley vs Man Utd (8pm)
Wednesday, February 9
Norwich vs Crystal Palace
Tottenham vs Southampton
Man City vs Brentford
Aston Villa vs Leeds (8pm)
Thursday, February 10
Liverpool vs Leicester
What about Chelsea?
Due to Chelsea’s involvement in the postponed 2021 FIFA Club World Cup, they will not return to Premier League action until February 19 when they visit Crystal Palace.
The Blues rescheduled their fixture vs Brighton on February 8 to January 18, when they were held to a 1-1 draw at the AMEX Stadium.
Their clash with Arsenal, due to take place on February 12, has yet to find a new date as things stand.
