The 2025 Boxing Day schedule breaks with tradition, offering FPL managers a unique challenge a single, high stakes Premier League fixture to start Gameweek 18. Instead of a day of full round rotation risks, the focus shifts entirely to the clash between Manchester United and Newcastle United and the subsequent high volume matches over the weekend. Boxing day is one of the best days for the Premier League but with just one match on boxing day the game is well and truly gone.
While we are complaining there is a silver lining for the players and staff at the clubs. For the 18 clubs not playing on December 26th, this schedule offers a rare and valuable opportunity players can spend a much more substantial and relaxed Christmas Day with their families. Normally, a full Boxing Day fixture list requires many teams to train on Christmas morning and then travel to their away destination that afternoon or evening. This cuts the family celebration short. Players and staff from the 18 non Boxing Day clubs can now enjoy Christmas evening without the pressure of an immediate match or a midnight check in at a team hotel. They can enjoy the holiday before reporting for training or travel on the 26th to prepare for their fixtures on the 27th and 28th.
Crucially, the Premier League has stated that this schedule, alongside other festive arrangements, is a commitment to player recovery. The league is ensuring that no club plays within 60 hours of another match between Rounds 18, 19, and 20. By moving the bulk of the Gameweek 18 fixtures to December 27th and 28th, the league has effectively given 18 of its clubs a guaranteed minimum of 48 hours of uninterrupted rest over the most frantic period of the season.
This focus on increased rest is a direct response to growing concerns from managers and player bodies about the intense demands of the festive period, especially with the expansion of European competitions leading to a more congested calendar overall. While the reduced schedule may disappoint us fans, it provides a much needed concession to the physical and mental well-being of the athletes.
So how does this affect our FPL planning during the busy festive period. With only one game on December 26th, the fantasy returns from this match will hold an outsized influence on the Gameweek. The deadline will be 6:30pm BST on December the 26th due to Manchester United vs Newcastle United taking place at 8PM given it is the festive period many managers may forget the deadline and could be an opportunity to gain rank on them. For those who gamble on an early transfer, the captaincy is a straight shootout between assets from these two teams. While the majority of managers will likely wait to captain a player from the weekend games, this fixture presents a massive Differential Captaincy opportunity.
If you are planning an early transfer, target a player from Man Utd or Newcastle who is highly secured for minutes. Given the heavy schedule immediately following, these two teams’ players are getting an extra day’s rest compared to the other teams playing on Saturday and Sunday. We will have 7 matches on Saturday with 6 teams getting the early kick off, an absolutely unheard of scenario.
The seven teams playing on Saturday will face a quick turnaround to Gameweek 19 (which starts as early as Tuesday, December 30th). This is where the biggest rotation risks of the festive period will hit. Plan for a full bench of players who are likely to appear off the bench or start in GW19. With only one game on Friday, you will have very less time to gather team news for the majority of the fixtures. Do not make your transfers until you have checked the injury and rotation news from the press conferences of the major clubs (Liverpool, Man City, Arsenal, Chelsea). The increased rest period between GW17 and GW18 means you might see fewer surprises on December 27th. However, the subsequent turnaround to Gameweek 19 (Dec 30/Jan 1) is now the pinch point. Prioritise 4.5m/5.0m Assets who can play a full 90 minutes. You need reliable players who can seamlessly step into your starting XI for GW19 when your premium assets are rested or eased back into the lineup.
By maintaining patience and focusing your transfers and captaincy on the strongest Saturday fixtures, you will effectively manage rotation risk and be perfectly positioned to exploit the points on offer throughout the entire Christmas to New Year period.
