Manchester United got hit with a wild schedule change for their trip to Crystal Palace, pushing their December 12 game to December 13 at 7 pm after TNT Sports scooped it up for live coverage. This isn’t just a minor tweak; it’s a direct consequence of Palace’s UEFA Europa Conference League commitments, giving them more time to recover after flying to Poland to face Jagiellonia Bialystok on December 10. For United, who are still absolutely desperate for their first away win of the season after that 1-1 draw with Leeds United on Sunday, this new kick-off slot just puts even more pressure on them to finally snag three points on the road.
Palace Gets a Breather, United Gets the Spotlight
The Eagles were originally set to host United on Saturday, December 12, at 12:30 pm, but that European trip meant something had to give. The move to Sunday night at 7 pm means Palace gets an extra day and a half to get their legs back under them before welcoming United to Selhurst Park. That’s a huge advantage when you’re talking about tired bodies and a grueling December schedule. For United, though, every single away game feels like a make-or-break moment right now. That draw against Leeds? Brutal. It just amps up the heat on them to show up and perform when they’re not playing at home. And let’s be real, the schedule doesn’t get any easier for them with more tough away trips to Newcastle United and Arsenal lined up before Christmas, both of which are also getting the live TV treatment. Talk about a gauntlet.
Elsewhere in the Premier League December Drama
It’s not just United getting their schedule shuffled. December is looking absolutely packed with must-watch matchups. The North London derby, Tottenham Hotspur vs. Arsenal, is now kicking off at 4:30 pm on December 6. Then you’ve got Manchester City hosting Chelsea at the Etihad Stadium on December 12, live on Sky Sports. Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea team is on an absolute tear, maintaining a perfect winning record after beating Ipswich Town on Saturday. Can they keep that incredible run going against City? That’s going to be huge.
TNT Sports also grabbed Liverpool’s away trip to Chelsea, and Liverpool’s home game against Tottenham is expected to be on Sky Sports too. Later in the month, mark down December 21 for Aston Villa’s visit to Chelsea. This one could be spicy because Emiliano Martinez, Nicolas Jackson, and Morgan Rogers could all be facing their old club. Especially Rogers, who joined Chelsea in a club-record £117 million move over the summer. Wild! Keep an eye on the EFL Cup, though, because if either Villa or Chelsea are still in it, that match could get bumped forward by 24 hours.
So, get ready, because December is going to be absolutely relentless. United needs to figure out their away form, Chelsea is chasing perfection, and there are some massive derby clashes and potential reunions on deck. You won’t want to miss a second of this action!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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