Liverpool will not be playing on Boxing Day this year with only one Premier League fixture to be held on December 26 – while three Reds games have been moved for TV.

In a break from tradition, there will be only one Premier League fixture held on Boxing Day this year due to an issue with the league’s broadcasting agreement.

With Boxing Day falling on a Friday this year, a full slate of games was not possible.

Man United vs. Newcastle will be the only fixture taking place on December 26, with the remaining nine fixtures spread across the weekend as usual.

That means Liverpool’s home clash with Wolves is still a 3pm kickoff on Saturday, December 27 and will not be broadcast live in the UK.

3 games moved – including Arsenal away

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, October 19, 2025: Liverpool's players form a pre-match huddle before the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Manchester United FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

However the Premier League champions’ three other fixtures at the start of January having all been moved for TV coverage.

Arne Slot‘s side will play on New Year’s Day, with Leeds visiting Anfield for a 5.30pm kickoff on Thursday, January 1.

The trip to Fulham is now due to be a 3pm kickoff on Sunday, January 4 and the away clash with Arsenal is set for Thursday, January 8 at 8pm.

All three of those fixtures will be shown live on Sky Sports in the UK.

Liverpool fixtures December and early January

LONDON, ENGLAND - Saturday, August 10, 2024: Liverpool's name etched on the The FA Premier League trophy in between four successive years of alleged financially doped victories by Manchester City on display before the FA Community Shield match between Crystal Palace FC and Liverpool FC at Wembley Stadium. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

• Sunderland (H) – Premier League – Wednesday, December 3, 8.15pm
• Leeds (A) – Premier League – Saturday, December 6, 5.30pm
• Inter Milan (A) – Champions League – Tuesday, December 9, 8pm
• Brighton (H) – Premier League – Saturday, December 13, 3pm
• Tottenham (A) – Premier League – Saturday, December 20, 5.30pm
• Wolves (H) – Premier League – Saturday, December 27, 3pm
• Leeds (H) – Premier League – Thursday, January 1, 5.30pm
• Fulham (A) – Premier League – Sunday, January 4, 3pm
• Arsenal (A) – Premier League – Thursday, January 8, 8pm

* All times GMT.

Why Premier League had to break Boxing Day tradition

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Monday, December 6, 2010: Liverpool supporters wearing LFC Christmas hats see their side take on Aston Villa in the Premiership match at Anfield. (Photo by: David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

It is tradition for a full slate of fixtures to be scheduled for December 26 and broadcasting agreements suggested wall-to-wall coverage would be possible this year.

But it transpires that the Premier League could only hold one fixture on Boxing Day as they are contractually obliged to make 33 weekends of football available to broadcasters in a season.

The expansion of the Champions League and the FA Cup being moved exclusively to weekends left the Premier League struggling to find an alternative to offer.

Boxing Day will fall on a Saturday in 2026 and therefore order will be restored, with this year considered an unavoidable anomaly.

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, December 14, 2024: Liverpool's Curtis Jones celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Fulham FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Liverpool have played – and won – on Boxing Day in each of the last three years, with victories over Aston Villa (2022), Burnley (2023) and Leicester (2024).

They were due to play Leeds on the same date in 2021 but that fixture was postponed three days prior due to an outbreak of COVID-19 in the opponents’ squad.

The last time Liverpool were not scheduled a Boxing Day game was in 2020, instead drawing 1-1 with West Brom on December 27 of that year.