When is Premier League winter break? Fixture dates and kick-off times for new mid-season rest
Next month will see the Premier League take its first ever winter break.
Managers and players have lamented their workloads over the hectic festive schedule with teams playing a host of games in quick succession.
To help combat fatigue, the league will break for a weekend off in February, giving each club some time off.
It will be a brand new feature of the Premier League season and here’s what it’ll mean for the top-flight’s teams.
When is the mid-season break?
For the first time in top-flight history, the Premier League is set for a mid-season break this term.
The decision for this was taken after consultations between the Premier League, the Football Association and the Football League in June 2018.
There were initial fears that a winter break would take place during the long-held tradition of the packed Christmas schedule but those worries haven’t come to fruition with the slight hiatus happening later in the year.
It will instead be held over two weekends in February 2020.
Premier League winter break dates 2019/20
- Everton v Crystal Palace – Saturday, February 8, 12:30pm
- Brighton v Watford – Saturday, February 8, 5:30pm
- Sheffield United v Bournemouth – Sunday, February 9, 2pm
- Man City v West Ham – Sunday, February 9, 4:30pm
- Wolves v Leicester City – Friday, February 14, 8pm
- Southampton v Burnley – Saturday, February 15, 12:30pm
- Norwich City v Liverpool – Saturday, February 15, 5:30pm
- Aston Villa v Tottenham – Sunday, February 16, 2pm
- Arsenal v Newcastle United – Sunday, February 16, 4:30pm
- Chelsea v Manchester United – Monday, February 17, 8pm
How long does it last for?
Most top-flight leagues across Europe stop for a winter or have a mid-season break of some kind.
While the Premier League has held off for years, pressure from players and clubs about workload has led to the decision to roll out a new-look February rest.
Instead of all football stopping for a two week period, the set of fixtures will be split across two weekends.
There will be four games played on Saturday 8 and 9 with the remaining six fixtures held the weekend after.
The break will culminate with Chelsea vs Manchester United on Monday, February 17.
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