HOW ARE THE FIXTURES COMPILED?
The full fixture list is produced by veteran compiler Glenn Thompson, of Atos, who has fulfilled the role since the Premier League’s inception in 1992.
Speaking to
PremierLeague.com, he explained that clubs can submit specific requests and are sent a form asking them if there are any dates they don’t wish to be at home, which club they want to pair with and if there are any teams they don’t wish to play at home on Boxing Day.
He added that most clubs have a partner club they cannot clash with, so United cannot play at home on the same day as cross-city rivals Manchester City.
There are also “golden rules” in terms of sequencing matches, where in any block of five matches, each club should play three at home and two away, or vice versa. However, the fixture list is also determined by FIFA’s international calendar, UEFA’s European calendar and dates from the Football Association and EFL for domestic cup competitions, as well as input from broadcasters and police when it comes to scheduling and kick-off times.