Arsenal and Liverpool could play each other on Christmas Eve in this year's festive 'Super Sunday' fixture

Alexandre Lacazette in action
Arsenal and Liverpool could meet on Christmas Eve Credit: GETTY IMAGES

Arsenal and Liverpool could play on Christmas Eve in only the second ‘Super Sunday’ fixture ever staged on that day, The Daily Telegraph can reveal.

Sky Sports is planning to announce next month that at least one Premier League match will be held on December 24, the first time for 22 years any top-flight game will have been scheduled then.

Sky is likely to want to select the best fixture of the weekend for broadcast on its flagship ‘Super Sunday’ programme, with Arsenal v Liverpool the standout clash.

The only previous Christmas Eve Premier League match was Leeds United v Manchester United in 1995, which also took place on a Sunday.

December 24 has only fallen on that day twice since, in 2000 and 2006, when a decision was taken not to switch games from the Saturday for live broadcast.

Sky held the exclusive rights to Premier League football back then and was able to show matches it would usually have picked on a Sunday on the previous day instead.

That switch is all but impossible under the current television contract, in which the broadcaster and BT Sport share the rights.

Sky owns the rights to three matches each weekend, one on a Saturday and two on a Sunday, while BT holds the contract for one Saturday game.

Unless Sky was prepared to give up its two Sunday picks - which it could not be expected to do having paid £11 million per game under the current deal - it has no choice but to go live on Christmas Eve this year.

Any Arsenal-Liverpool ‘Super Sunday’ clash could kick-off at 4pm, unlike the 1995 Leeds v Man United game which began at midday.

The last train from Euston Station to Liverpool Lime Street on Christmas Eve does not leave until 9.21pm, which should give away fans plenty of time to get home.

Arsene Wenger and Jurgen Klopp shake hands
Arsene Wenger and Jurgen Klopp shake hands Credit: REUTERS

Because of time differences, any December 24 match will even kick-off on Christmas Day itself in the Far East and beyond.

There is also currently a full Premier League programme on Boxing Day, although Arsenal’s game at Crystal Palace and Liverpool’s against Swansea City appear certain to be moved back to December 27 if they do meet on Christmas Eve.

That would remove the threat of both clubs having to play twice in 48 hours on two separate occasions during the festive period.

With this season ending a week earlier than last because of the World Cup, all Premier League clubs are currently scheduled to play on December 30 and again on New Year’s Day.

Christmas Eve will not fall on a Sunday again until 2023.

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