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Manchester City will get a slight advantage on table-topping Premier League rivals Liverpool during the upcoming winter break. Clubs across the top-flight are set to sit out one of the next two matchdays in order to recharge their batteries for what is shaping up to be an exciting run-in this season.
After a busy schedule in December (at home and), City had only 4 games scheduled for January, with their Premier League break pre-arranged between January 20-21. By beating Huddersfield in the FA Cup at the Etihad Stadium, it means they will also have no part in a third-round replay.
That is also the case for Liverpool after they defeated Arsenal in the world-famous competition. However, due to their involvement in the Carabao Cup – and slightly reduced Premier League break – the Reds will not get quite as much time to put their feet up as City this month.
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Seven top-flight clubs – namely Brentford, Crystal Palace, Everton, Luton Town, Nottingham Forest, West Ham and Wolves – have an extra game to contend with as they each face an FA Cup replay. That has reduced the respective breaks they were looking forward to.
Chelsea, Fulham and Liverpool, the three Premier League groups still battling for the Carabao Cup, will also have less free time due to their midweek semi-finals. Liverpool have 11 days between their last four games against Fulham and their return to Premier League action against AFC Bournemouth.
These two matches are scheduled for January 10 and 21 respectively. City, whose break comes a week before Liverpool, have 14 days between their Premier League match against Newcastle United (Jan. 13) and an FA Cup fourth-round draw against Tottenham (Jan. 27).
With dates for FA Cup third round replays yet to be confirmed, some teams do not know how much time they will have off the pitch in January, but with holding dates in mind the average comes in at 12.65 days. City’s is above that and Liverpool’s below – with Arsenal and Tottenham both having a 13-day break.