The Premier League is currently on an unusual 15-day international break, which has been introduced by FIFA for this season.
The only top-flight game that will take place within this period is Burnley against Watford on February 5 with a full matchday schedule due to return from February 8.
Sean Dyche’s men have played just 18 Premier League games so far this campaign - the fewest in the Premier League - and so are using the break to play catch-up having had this fixture postponed twice before this term.
And that is also the reason why the current international break has been implemented this month.
Nations in North America, South America and Asia are fulfilling World Cup qualifying fixtures that were postponed over the past two years due to the COVID-19 outbreak during this window as countries vie for a place in Qatar this December.
UEFA members are not involved while the Africa Cup of Nations progresses through its knock-out stages.
It means most players from Europe are taking a non-traditional winter break ahead of a busy returning week which will see FA Cup Fourth Round ties commence on February 4 before two rounds of Premier League fixtures within the proceeding seven days.
However, Chelsea’s involvement in the delayed 2021 FIFA Club World Cup means they will not return to league action until February 19, almost a month after their last Premier League outing.
This is currently the fourth break of the 2021/22 season with five to be taken in total, the second ever time this has happened after the break was first implemented during the 2019/20 season.
The final in-season pause will take place in late March when UEFA countries feature in World Cup play-offs, or otherwise friendlies.
England have already qualified for the tournament and so have friendlies against the Czech Republic and Ivory Coast lined up.
