Man United are on the road twice and Chelsea have a 293-mile round trip on Christmas Eve, while West Ham, Crystal Palace and Brentford don’t need to leave London!… How far will YOUR team travel over the Premier League’s festive period?

• All 20 Premier League clubs are set to face a busy schedule over Christmas
• Mail Sport takes a look at which clubs will travel the most over the festive period 
• Mikel Arteta booked again, other bosses getting yellows. If you are going to eradicate these ills, KEEP DOING IT, REFS! Listen to It’s All Kicking Off 

Christmas is a time for family, friends and food. Oh, and football. And this year the festive schedule is busier than ever.

From December 21 until January 2, there will be Premier League matches on all but two days – Christmas Day and December 29.

The majority of teams will be playing three games during this period, travelling up and down the country in a bid to pick up crucial points.

But who is travelling the furthest this time around?

Mail Sport looks through the fixtures for all 20 teams to see which clubs got lucky and who drew the short straw when it comes to travel over the festive period. 

All 20 Premier League clubs face busy schedules over the festive period once again this year

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ARSENAL – TOTAL MILES (ROUND TRIPS) = 439

The Gunners have a tricky trip to Anfield to face Liverpool on December 23, before hosting West Ham five days later and then travelling to Fulham on New Year’s Eve.

Getting to Liverpool and back is 418 miles in total, making this one of the lengthier journeys of their campaign, but they then have two London derbies.

It is only just over 10 miles to get down to Craven Cottage, meaning Arsenal’s players and fans will not have much travelling to do in the week after Christmas. 

Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal are set to have their title credentials tested when they travel to Anfield just before Christmas

ASTON VILLA – TOTAL MILES (ROUND TRIPS) = 170

High-flying Aston Villa have two home games against Sheffield United and Burnley either side of a tasty clash with Manchester United at Old Trafford on Boxing Day.

Unai Emery’s men have been perfect at home this season, but need to improve their away form if they are to stay in the top-four race and potentially even push for the title.

Old Trafford is just 85 miles away from Villa Park and can be reached in a little over an hour and a half, making it not the most daunting trip, and they should feel confident of picking up a result given United’s struggles on their home turf this season. 

BOURNEMOUTH – TOTAL MILES (ROUND TRIPS) = 627

Andoni Iraola’s Bournemouth face a 390-mile round trip when they play Nottingham Forest at the City Ground two days before Christmas.

A home clash with Fulham on Boxing Day follows, before they go on the road again to Tottenham on New Year’s Eve.

The pair of away days means there will be plenty of travel for the Cherries as they look to continue their strong form after a slow start to the campaign.

BRENTFORD – TOTAL MILES (ROUND TRIPS) = 35

Brentford are one of only two teams who will play just twice during this period due to Manchester City’s participation in the Club World Cup.

The Bees get to spend Christmas at home as they host Wolves on December 27, and then they have a London derby against Crystal Palace three days later.

The journey to Selhurst Park is a little over 17 miles, meaning there will be no trekking up and down the motorway around Christmas for Brentford this year. 

Thomas Frank’s Brentford do not need to leave London to play their three festive fixtures

BRIGHTON – TOTAL MILES (ROUND TRIPS) = 239

Brighton could have some fun away days in the New Year after booking their place in the last 16 of the Europa League, and they have some travelling to do around Christmas as well.

They start with a trip to Crystal Palace for the M23 derby on December 21, prior to hosting Tottenham on December 28 and then going into London again to take on West Ham on January 2.

Getting to Selhurst Park is a 92-mile round trip, while the journey to and from West Ham is a little further at 147 miles. Could be worse. 

BURNLEY – TOTAL MILES (ROUND TRIPS) = 714

Vincent Kompany’s men enter the Christmas period in the relegation zone, and they will need to start winning on the road if they want to get out of the bottom three.

They begin with a trip down to west London to face Fulham on December 23, and then welcome Liverpool to Turf Moor before hitting the road again to take on Aston Villa at Villa Park.

Craven Cottage is just shy of a 480-mile round trip, while getting to Villa Park and back will see Burnley rack up another 235 miles. 

CHELSEA – TOTAL MILES (ROUND TRIPS) = 387

Chelsea will be involved in the first top flight Christmas Eve fixture in 28 years. And, to make matters worse for them, it’s an away game against Wolves.

That 293-mile round trip just hours before Christmas Day is far from ideal, but at least they have a home clash with Crystal Palace on December 27.

They finish off the festive period with a visit to Luton, a mere 47 miles down the road. 

Chelsea’s players face a lengthy trip up to Molineux to face Wolves on Christmas Eve

CRYSTAL PALACE – TOTAL MILES (ROUND TRIPS) = 20

Roy Hodgson recently claimed Crystal Palace fans have been spoilt in recent times with what they’ve seen from their side on the pitch, and they can’t have too many complaints when it comes to their Christmas travel.

They have home matches with Brighton and Brentford either side of a short trip over to west London to play Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

That’s a whole 20 miles across their three games. What a result! 

All three of Crystal Palace’s festive matches will take place in the capital this year

EVERTON – TOTAL MILES (ROUND TRIPS) = 606

The Toffees have bounced back brilliantly from their 10-point deduction to climb out of the relegation zone, but have a testing schedule over Christmas.

They begin with a trip to Tottenham on December 23, then face champions Manchester City at Goodison Park four days later before going to Molineux to take on Wolves.

The Spurs match will see the squad travel comfortably over 400 miles, while to and from Molineux adds up to just under 180. 

FULHAM – TOTAL MILES (ROUND TRIPS) = 203

Marco Silva’s team have won their last two home league games 5-0 and they have two more opponents heading to Craven Cottage either side of Christmas in Burnley and Arsenal.

In between those matches they will make their way down to Bournemouth to face the Cherries on Boxing Day.

This works out at just over 200 miles of travel for the west London outfit.

LIVERPOOL – TOTAL MILES (ROUND TRIPS) = 104

The Reds have forced their way into the title race after a disappointing 2022-23 campaign largely thanks to their home form.

They will host Arsenal and Newcastle at Anfield over the festive period, while a trip to Burnley awaits on Boxing Day.

Turf Moor is just 52 miles from Anfield, meaning Jurgen Klopp’s side have been fairly fortunate with their travel schedule this Christmas. 

Jurgen Klopp will be pleased his Liverpool side don’t have to travel far for their games

LUTON – TOTAL MILES (ROUND TRIPS) = 255

Luton have struggled to pick up points in their first season in the Premier League, but still have a fighting chance of staying in the division.

If they are going to remain in the top flight, their home form will be crucial and they play Newcastle and Chelsea at Kenilworth Road to finish off 2023.

These games are either side of a clash with fellow strugglers Sheffield United at Bramall Lane, which is a round trip of a little over 250 miles. 

MAN CITY – TOTAL MILES (ROUND TRIPS) = 72

After getting back from the Club World Cup, Manchester City will get a brief rest over Christmas before returning to domestic action against Everton at Goodison Park on December 27.

They will end 2023 with a home match against Sheffield United.

City have won their last seven matches at Everton, and it is only a 36-mile journey for them to the Merseyside club.

Man City only have a short trip to Sheffield United once they return from the Club World Cup

MAN UNITED – TOTAL MILES (ROUND TRIPS) = 624

Erik ten Hag’s men have been dumped out of Europe and face a real fight to get back there after a dismal start to the season.

It will not get any easier for them over Christmas as they face tricky trips to West Ham and Nottingham Forest within the space of seven days, while also welcoming Aston Villa to Old Trafford on Boxing Day.

Getting down to the London Stadium and back will see them cover over 430 miles, while a round trip to the City Ground is also the best part of 200 miles.

Man United have two tough away trips plus a difficult home match against Aston Villa

NEWCASTLE – TOTAL MILES (ROUND TRIPS) = 845

Newcastle are another team that have had their European hopes dashed for this season, and they will need to improve their away form if they want another shot at the Champions League next term.

Luton and Liverpool are their two away fixtures over Christmas, while they are at home to Nottingham Forest in the early kick-off on Boxing Day.

A 500-mile round trip to Luton two days before Christmas might not be the most appealing for the club’s loyal fans, while the New Year’s Day clash with Liverpool will also see the Magpies clock up almost 350 miles. 

Newcastle will have to travel nearly 850 miles for their two away games over Christmas

NOTTINGHAM FOREST – TOTAL MILES (ROUND TRIPS) = 337

Nottingham Forest will be roared on by their home fans when they take on Bournemouth and Manchester United in their final two home games of the year.

It will be an early start for their travelling supporters when they play Newcastle at St James’ Park in the 12.30pm kick-off on Boxing Day, though. 

Those hitting the road to make their way to Tyneside will have a round trip of just under 340 miles. 

SHEFFIELD UNITED – TOTAL MILES (ROUND TRIPS) = 240

Chris Wilder has a huge job on his hands after returning to Sheffield United, and his side’s Christmas fixtures don’t make for particularly pleasant viewing.

Trips to title challengers Aston Villa and Manchester City lie in store, with a relegation six-pointer at home to Luton sandwiched in between.

The round trip to Villa Park is over 160 miles, but at least getting to the Etihad and back is fewer than 75. 

TOTTENHAM – TOTAL MILES (ROUND TRIPS) = 167

Ange Postecoglou’s side have created a party atmosphere at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this season, and will be hoping to end the year on a high when they face Everton and Bournemouth in front of their home fans.

Their only away game over Christmas comes at Brighton on December 28. 

The trip to and from the south coast is a little under 170 miles in total. 

WEST HAM – TOTAL MILES (ROUND TRIPS) = 11

West Ham have had to do their fair share of travelling in Europe already this season, but their players won’t need to leave London over Christmas.

Their only away match is against Arsenal, and they have home games with Manchester United and Brighton.

This means they will only clock up 11 miles. Happy days for the Hammers!

David Moyes’ West ham will travel just 11 miles to play their matches over the Christmas period

IT’S ALL KICKING OFF! 

It’s All Kicking Off is an exciting new podcast from Mail Sport that promises a different take on Premier League football, with a show every Monday and Thursday this season.

It is available on MailOnline, Mail+, YouTube , Apple Music and Spotify

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WOLVES – TOTAL MILES (ROUND TRIPS) = 282

Wolves face Chelsea at Molineux on Christmas Eve, looking to give the home crowd something to cheer about before they head home to tuck into their roast dinners the following day.

They will then travel to Brentford on December 27, before rounding off the year with a home match against Everton three days later.

The journey down to the capital will see Gary O’Neil’s men clock up just over 280 miles in travel. 

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