Christmas in the Premier League
Christmas in the Premier League
In the UK, many Premier League fans will be taking a break because the festive season has arrived, but for players, managers and everybody connected to the Premier League it is the busiest time of year. Between the 26th of December and the 3rd of January there will be 30 Premier League matches! To celebrate we have a new competition for you, and you can win a Premier League shirt of your choice! Continue reading to find out what you have to do and read more about Christmas in the Premier League.
What is the competition?
The competition is called 'Premier League Predictions' and you have to predict the correct results for six Premier League matches played during the holiday season. Look at the Premier League matches, and decide which team will win each match and what the score will be. Write your answers in the comments section at the bottom of the page and we will add your information to the league table. You get one point for predicting the correct result and three points if you predict the correct score. If you can beat Jack and Rich (whose predictions are normally terrible!) and our other users from around the world, you will be our Prediction Champion and will win a Premier League shirt of your choice! Good luck!
Why does the Premier League carry on?
Many of the big European leagues take a break at this time of year. The leagues in Germany, France and Spain all take a winter break, but the Premier League continues playing. Traditionally, there have always been football matches in the UK during the Christmas holidays. For many years, there were matches on Christmas Day, when teams would usually play local rivals. Most fans are on holiday and don't have to work at this time, so it's easier for them to get to matches and they are usually the most popular of the year. Many managers complain about the festive schedule being too busy, but in the past, teams would play on Christmas Day (the 25th of December) and Boxing Day (the 26th).
What do fans do at this time of year?
If you go to a match or watch a match on TV at this time of year, you will often see some fans in fancy dress looking like snowmen or Santa Claus. The two Norwich City fans you can see in this photo are great examples of fans in fancy dress. Many fans also buy a jumper in their club colours because the weather is often cold and windy in December. You can often see these on sale in the club shops. 
Which would you prefer to buy from the club shop? A football shirt or the jumper with a reindeer on it? Fans also have special songs they sing at this time of year, they often change the lyrics of traditional songs to suit their team. You may hear this one from Arsenal fans:
Jingle bells, Jingle bells
Jingle all the way,
Oh what fun it is to see,
Arsenal win away. Hey!
What do players do at this time of year?
Christmas is a very busy time for Premier League players and it is something they may find difficult to get used to. When many families in the UK are enjoying a traditional Christmas dinner of turkey and vegetables, players usually have to train, as they have important matches during the festive period. The weather conditions can also be a problem. It is always cold at this time of year and there is often rain, snow and hail. The Premier League even uses a yellow ball during the winter months to make it easier for players and fans to see, in case there is snow on the pitch. Premier League players from all clubs often make visits to local hospitals at this time of year. 
They usually visit children who are sick and have to stay in hospital over Christmas and they give out presents to cheer them up. For a young football fan to meet their Premier League players is an amazing experience for them.
Don't forget our Premier League Prediction competition!
Click on the tab below on Premier League Predictions to enter our new competition. You need to write all your predictions before the 23rd of December if you want to enter!
Agreeing and Disagreeing and Making Predictions
My prediction about the Arsenal-Manchester City game is 4-1 for Manchester City. AleksanderR from Montenegro.
I disagree with Rich prediction and I think I'm going to go for a Leicester win. Tokomoney from Georgia.
I predict Leicester win 2-0. Abdallah from Kuwait.
I think that game will end in a score Leicester City 3-1 Chelsea! Heaton 555 from Armenia.
I expect the Leicester's win against Chelsea by 3:2. Ruslanjon from Uzbekistan.
This week I am going to bet for a draw. So, my final score is: Leicester City 1-1 Chelsea. SalvaGH from Spain.
Prediction Table
| Name | Country | 26/12/2015 AVL v WHU Result: 1-1 |
28/12/2015 MUN v CHE Result: 0-0 |
29/12/2015 LEI v MCI Result: 0-0 |
30/12/2015 SUN v LIV Result: 0-1 |
02/01/2016 ARS v NEW Result: 1-0 |
03/01/2013 EVE v TOT Result: 1-1 |
Points |
| Rich |  |
1-1 | 1-0 | 1-2 | 0-2 | 3-0 | 2-1 | 5 |
| Jack |  |
0-2 | 3-1 | 2-2 | 0-0 | 5-1 | 2-2 | 3 |
| Nikosonris |  |
0-0 | 0-2 | 2-3 | 1-0 | 2-0 | 1-2 | 2 |
| Rema |  |
1-2 | 1-1 | 1-3 | 2-3 | 4-1 | 3-1 | 3 |
| Ana1 | |
3-1 | 2-1 | 1-3 | 0-1 | 1-0 | 2-2 | 7 |
| Aragorn1986 |  |
2-1 | 1-0 | 1-1 | 1-2 | 3-1 | 2-1 | 3 |
| Mugemanyi |  |
0-2 | 0-0 | 1-3 | 0-1 | 4-0 | 1-1 | 10 |
| Abdallah |  |
0-2 | 1-1 | 2-1 | 0-2 | 2-0 | 1-1 | 6 |
| Alex_from_Ukraine | |
1-1 | 2-0 | 2-1 | 1-2 | 3-0 | 1-1 | 8 |
| AlexsandarR | |
0-2 | 2-1 | 1-3 | 1-2 | 3-3 | 1-1 | 4 |
| Elghoul |  |
1-0 | 2-2 | 1-0 | 1-3 | 4-0 | 1-1 | 6 |
| 1teacher | |
0-1 | 1-1 | 0-3 | 2-1 | 3-0 | 0-0 | 3 |
| Michelterzikhan |  |
0-1 | 1-2 | 1-1 | 0-1 | 1-0 | 2-2 | 8 |
| Amaral |  |
2-1 | 1-2 | 2-2 | 0-1 | 3-0 | 2-1 | 5 |
| Kwesimanifest |  |
0-2 | 2-1 | 1-2 | 1-2 | 2-0 | 1-1 | 5 |
| SalvaGH | |
1-0 | 1-1 | 1-2 | 0-1 | 3-1 | 2-2 | 6 |
| Liubomyr | |
1-1 | 2-1 | 1-1 | 3-1 | 4-1 | 3-2 | 5 |
| Bohdan | |
1-2 | 2-0 | 1-2 | 2-2 | 3-0 | 2-1 | 1 |
| Mirko | |
1-2 | 2-2 | 2-3 | 1-2 | 3-1 | 2-2 | 4 |
| Heaton555 | |
1-2 | 0-1 | 2-2 | 0-3 | 2-1 | 2-2 | 4 |
| Elistondo88 |  |
1-0 | 0-0 | 1-1 | 1-2 | 3-1 | 2-1 | 6 |
| Safwan20000 |  |
2-1 | 2-2 | 2-0 | 0-2 | 2-1 | 2-1 | 3 |
| Fofo2015 | |
3-2 | 2-2 | 0-0 | 1-1 | 1-0 | 1-3 | 7 |
| Rasha Nahas | |
2-1 | 1-2 | 1-1 | 2-0 | 0-1 | 0-2 | 1 |
| Gugo | |
0-2 | 1-1 | 1-2 | 0-3 | 3-1 | 0-1 | 3 |
| Aleksandr |  |
1-2 | 0-1 | 1-2 | 1-3 | 1-1 | 1-2 | 1 |
| LilitGh | |
2-1 | 2-0 | 1-2 | 1-3 | 3-0 | 2-3 | 2 |
| grigor25 | |
0-0 | 1-1 | 1-1 | 1-3 | 3-1 | 2-2 | 6 |
| sergiii | |
1-1 | 0-2 | 2-1 | 1-0 | 2-0 | 1-2 | 4 |
| AlexC | |
3-1 | 3-0 | 0-0 | 0-2 | 2-0 | 2-1 | 5 |
| Nikens |  |
0-1 | 2-2 | 1-2 | 0-2 | 3-0 | 1-3 | 3 |
| Ferhat.dxer | |
4-2 | 1-1 | 1-2 | 2-2 | 1-3 | 1-1 | 4 |
| Nyinyi |  |
0-2 | 2-1 | 2-1 | 0-1 | 2-1 | 1-3 | 4 |
| Hideko Furukawa |  |
0-0 | 0-3 | 0-2 | 1-1 | 2-0 | 0-2 | 2 |
| Katemorozova | |
0-2 | 0-1 | 1-1 | 1-3 | 2-1 | 0-1 | 3 |
| Chriswar |  |
1-1 | 2-2 | 2-1 | 2-2 | 2-0 | 2-1 | 5 |
| Tiko1992 | |
0-1 | 0-0 | 1-2 | 1-2 | 2-0 | 2-1 | 5 |
| Ruslanjon | |
2-2 | 2-1 | 3-1 | 0-3 | 4-1 | 1-1 | 6 |
| Polevoy2000 |  |
1-2 | 1-1 | 2-3 | 1-3 | 3-1 | 1-3 | 3 |
| Besian |  |
0-3 | 2-2 | 1-0 | 1-3 | 3-0 | 1-2 | 3 |
| Goeh999 |  |
1-2 | 1-1 | 1-0 | 0-1 | 2-0 | 1-0 | 5 |
| mudanep5 |  |
1-2 | 1-1 | 1-1 | 0-2 | 3-1 | 1-2 | 4 |
| Michael | |
2-1 | 2-2 | 1-3 | 2-2 | 2-2 | 1-1 | 4 |
What do you think?
Will you win a Premier League shirt?
Can you finish top of our prediction league?
Can you beat Rich, Jack and all our users from around the world!
Leave a comment
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Comments
18/12/2015
points
Hi Nikosonris
Thanks as always for your invaluable proofreading. I have corrected the mistakes - I'm not sure what was supposed to happen on the links - we should be able to link to the stages of these lesson pages, but for some reason it hasn't happened.
Jack
18/12/2015 12:07
Arsenal
560
Hi Nikosonris
Thanks as always for your invaluable proofreading. I have corrected the mistakes - I'm not sure what was supposed to happen on the links - we should be able to link to the stages of these lesson pages, but for some reason it hasn't happened.
Jack
18/12/2015
points
Really great idea about the Prediction Competition!)) Strongly support! As long as you have set the deadline before the 23rd December, I will use this opportunity to watch the games this weekend (some tactical changes might happen considering recent developments in the PL) and write my predictions on Monday, 21st December. But I am in :)
18/12/2015 07:46
Arsenal
2453
Really great idea about the Prediction Competition!)) Strongly support! As long as you have set the deadline before the 23rd December, I will use this opportunity to watch the games this weekend (some tactical changes might happen considering recent developments in the PL) and write my predictions on Monday, 21st December. But I am in :)
18/12/2015
points
I couldn't agree more ;)
18/12/2015 16:42
West Ham United
538
I couldn't agree more ;)
18/12/2015
points
That's a very good English football tradition I must admit. The eyes of all fans across the globe will be enthralled to the PL matches.
18/12/2015 07:42
Arsenal
2453
That's a very good English football tradition I must admit. The eyes of all fans across the globe will be enthralled to the PL matches.
18/12/2015
points
Aston Villa 1 : 1 West Ham
Man United 2 : 0 Chelsea
Leicester 2 : 1 Man City
Sunderland 1 : 2 Liverpool
Arsenal 3 : 0 Newcastle
Everton 1 : 1 Tottenham
Lucky Christmas to all ! :-)
18/12/2015 02:47
Liverpool
6285
Aston Villa 1 : 1 West Ham
Man United 2 : 0 Chelsea
Leicester 2 : 1 Man City
Sunderland 1 : 2 Liverpool
Arsenal 3 : 0 Newcastle
Everton 1 : 1 Tottenham
Lucky Christmas to all ! :-)
18/12/2015
points
Good luck to you as well, Alex. I've put you on our table... let's see how you do.
Still waiting for predictions from your compatriot Nikosonris - What do you reckon? Do you think you can do better?
18/12/2015 12:35
Arsenal
560
Good luck to you as well, Alex. I've put you on our table... let's see how you do.
Still waiting for predictions from your compatriot Nikosonris - What do you reckon? Do you think you can do better?
19/12/2015
points
Let's live & see ! :-)
19/12/2015 04:35
Liverpool
6285
Let's live & see ! :-)
21/12/2015
points
I would not mind one of the Ukrainians winning the main prize:))
21/12/2015 17:33
Arsenal
2453
I would not mind one of the Ukrainians winning the main prize:))
17/12/2015
points
1- 0/2
2- 1/1
3- 2/1
4- 0/2
5- 2/0
6- 1/1
17/12/2015 21:33
Chelsea
1814
1- 0/2
2- 1/1
3- 2/1
4- 0/2
5- 2/0
6- 1/1