Premier League big-six selection headaches: Manchester City, United, Chelsea, Liverpool, Arsenal and Tottenham all have problems ahead of hectic festive fixture list

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The festive fixture list has been a point of contention for years when many managers complain they need a winter break - but there is no doubt that supporters love the glut of games as they indulge in the season's offerings.

For managers it can be the most testing time of the football calendar, for players it brings the greater risk of injury, for clubs coming out of 2017 and into the other side of the New Year can define the second half of their season.

For the top six Premier League clubs it will be a crucial period, so Sportsmail has assessed the headaches and challenges facing each of the men in charge.

Pep Guardiola is currently the man in charge of the Premier League title race, but all could change in the build-up to Christmas, and heading into the New Year, as fixtures pile up

MANCHESTER CITY

What is their main tactical/selection dilemma?

How do you fit all of those wonderful players into the same team? Pep Guardiola manages to circumvent the issue by tweaking his starting line-up regularly but not majorly.

Arguably the toughest call each week is deciding between Sergio Aguero and Gabriel Jesus — the older striker refusing to be pushed aside when it appeared that Guardiola preferred his young rival at the start of the season.

Guardiola has to work out how best to accommodate both Sergio Aguero and Gabriel Jesus

Which system and players have been most successful?

Any of them. City are winning big, they're winning small, they're taking care of the job early on or leaving it until late, regardless of who starts the match and who finishes it.

How good is their strength in depth?

Unrivalled. They have a world-class replacement in every outfield position. When Guardiola spent more than £100million on three full backs in the summer he completed his sets. Not even injuries, it seems, can stop them.

How difficult is their festive period?

Guardiola can allow his players an extra helping of pigs in blankets this Christmas. City's early December includes the Manchester Derby at Old Trafford and a visit of Spurs to the Etihad, but then matches against Bournemouth, Newcastle, Crystal Palace and Watford will ease them through to the New Year.

MANCHESTER UNITED

What is their main tactical/selection dilemma?

A congested midfield. Even playing with five against Arsenal - Antonio Valencia, Ashley Young, Paul Pogba, Jesse Lingard and Nemanja Matic - there was no room for Juan Mata or Ander Herrera. The vastly experienced Michael Carrick will soon be returning to action after recovering from an irregular heart rhythm. Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Marouane Fellaini are also in the mix.

Jose Mourinho must find a plan to cope without Paul Pogba after his red card at Arsenal

Which system and players have been most successful?

When Pogba has been on form this season he has started putting in performances to warrant his world-record transfer fee. Jose Mourinho often looks to Matic to anchor the midfield. Lingard is becoming increasingly difficult to leave out.

How good is their strength in depth?

No problems in attack or, as mentioned, midfield, through the middle and in the wide areas. But defensively they are a little thin and a few injuries could really weaken the side and start costing them points.

How difficult is their festive period?

Mourinho is likely to use the period as a time to rotate. The derby match with City arrives a fortnight before Christmas, but after that in the league they face Bournemouth, West Bromwich Albion, Leicester, Burnley, Southampton and, on New Year's Day, Everton. Mourinho will field a weakened team in the EFL Cup tie with Bristol City.

CHELSEA

What is their main tactical/selection dilemma?

Antonio Conte popularised the back-three-with-wing-backs system on his way to winning the Premier League, but even the Italian does not seem sure how best to deploy it with his squad this season. Does he play with Pedro in a front three? Or utilise Cesc Fabregas in an advanced role but slightly behind the forward line?

The creative gifts of Cesc Fabregas are providing Antonio Conte with a selection headache

Which system and players have been most successful?

Alvaro Morata is the pivot in Chelsea's attack. Eden Hazard needs slightly more consistency but is getting there. The pair, who combined for the three goals against Newcastle, have the potential to set Chelsea on the sort of run they need to have any chance of keeping in the title race.

How good is their strength in depth?

Chelsea's starting XI is a match for anyone, but beyond that the ready replacements are sparse. If Morata was injured long-term, for example, they do not have an ample striker to lead the line. Michy Batshuayi could step up - but that is not guaranteed. Conte has handed opportunities to a few young players this season, who it would fall on if major players were ruled out.

How difficult is their festive period?

Away to Everton two days before Christmas could prove tricky since Sam Allardyce took over and started with a win in his first match. A trip to the Emirates to face Arsenal in the New Year is another potential points-dropper. Certainly a harder run than their rivals above them in the league.

LIVERPOOL

What is their main tactical/selection dilemma?

Two of Jurgen Klopp's strongest players want to leave - so does he stick with them as January approaches? Emre Can is refusing to sign a new contract to extend his deal beyond next summer. Barcelona will surely put pressure on Philippe Coutinho to move once again. Daniel Sturridge is still struggling for starts when he will expect the right to start, given his record.

Emre Can (left) is a talented and versatile player but could be leaving Liverpool soon

Which system and players have been most successful?

Mohamed Salah has been the stand-out player for Liverpool - and possibly the Premier League. Roberto Firmino has also thrived under more responsibility this season. They are keeping talented players out of the Klopp's thinking.

How good is their strength in depth?

Fittingly for Klopp, going forward he has riches beyond clubs outside the top six. But the German was criticised for buying Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in the summer when they needed one decent centre half, if not two. That remains an issue.

How difficult is their festive period?

They are getting in a tough Merseyside derby early, on December 10. And the tie has been made that much tougher with Allardyce's arrival. A trip to Arsenal three days before Christmas is another tricky fixture Klopp will be wary of. The rest he will be expecting maximum points from.

ARSENAL

What is their main tactical/selection dilemma?

Melding two squads into one. Arsene Wenger has been fielding virtually two separate sides in the successful Europa League campaign and in the Premier League. It has kept those players in the European 'second team' relatively content but with that competition breaking for winter they will want to play and will be unhappy if they are not. Players such as Jack Wilshere, Olivier Giroud, Danny Welbeck and Theo Walcott are those vying to break into the league first-team.

Alexandre Lacazette (left) and Alexis Sanchez have suffered from inconsistency this season

Which system and players have been most successful?

The Europa League side have been more successful, but they have been playing against weaker teams. Alexis Sanchez, Mesut Ozil and Alexandre Lacazette have been inconsistent in the league. Wenger has his work cut out balancing his squad in December and early January.

How good is their strength in depth?

Very good, throughout the team. Wenger has so many players to chose from, but it feels as though he is unsure how they all fit together.

How difficult is their festive period?

A home run of four games from mid-December through to the end of the month will help Arsenal's cause. Drawing West Ham in the EFL Cup does not help, they could have done with a lower-league draw. Liverpool and Chelsea in the period will be the key tests, but again both come to the Emirates.

TOTTENHAM

What is their main tactical/selection dilemma?

Danny Rose or Ben Davies at left wing back has been the selection issue that has dominated discussions involving Spurs since the summer. Rose has been outspoken about his omission - and the general state of Spurs - since pre-season as he has recovered from long-term injury. In recent weeks Mauricio Pochettino has also deliberated between two up top, with Harry Kane and Heung-min Son, or playing a single striker, led by the England man.

Danny Rose's outspoken views on Tottenham have rocked the boat and form has suffered

Which system and players have been most successful?

When Kane, Dele Alli and Christian Eriksen are all firing Spurs are at their best. But Alli has been too quiet in too many matches this season and Kane has had injuries. Eriksen always ticks along steadily. Getting the trio combining has proved difficult.

How good is their strength in depth?

Largely fine, although with Toby Alderweireld out until after Christmas it forced Pochettino to pull Eric Dier into the back three, which upset the balance of the team.

How difficult is their festive period?

They travel to the Etihad on December 16 in by far the hardest much of the period. They host West Ham in the New Year, which is always a tasty encounter. Those aside, Pochettino will see it as an opportunity to regain their early-season form to avoid slipping too far behind.