The festive season is currently underway and particular and particularly in European football, the fixtures come thick and fast. With the league football reaching its business end, the clubs will have to keep their players motivated to get the best out of them. The Boxing Day fixtures over the years have a history of throwing surprises in terms of score-line and hence the fans have always had the penchant for football played on the 26th of December. Here is the complete guide for the biggest games played that day. Neymar Granted Permission to Begin Christmas Holidays Earlier.

Liverpool vs Newcastle United: League leaders Liverpool will welcome a resurgent Newcastle United who were once languishing in the relegation zone. Rafael Benitez will travel to Merseyside, a place where it all started for him in English football. Playing against one’s former is always a special occasion and the Spaniard will be motivated to do well. But playing against a high pressing Liverpool is never easy and Jurgen Klopp's team is unbeaten in the league so far. A home win looks the most likely outcome of the game as Liverpool look to march towards a first league title.

Manchester United vs Huddersfield Town: Manchester United have to make up for the disastrous first half of the season under former manager Jose Mourinho and grab points against teams below them. Huddersfield Town are one of the weeping boys of the league and the Red Devils will look to put them to the sword as they look to the bridge the huge gap that has emerged between them and the Champions League spots. It is also an opportunity for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to stamp his playing style on the players to pick up from.

Leicester City vs Manchester City: Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City loss at Chelsea meant he joined the chasing pack looking to overshadow Liverpool rather than leading the race. They are away to Leicester City who are always a strong side at home. The likes of Jamie Vardy and James Maddison are threatening on the counter and can rattle the best of defences. While City have their own firepower, the game should be a close contest especially with the home side looking to avenge the League Cup defeat.

Tottenham Hotspurs vs AFC Bournemouth: Tottenham Hotspurs are having a great season under the management of Mauricio Pochettino and in order to keep their faint title charge alive, they will need a win over Bournemouth. Eddie Howe’s side started off well but a series of defeat means they have lost their way in the league. Yet they are a threat to any side with the wealth of attacking players they have. Tottenham Hotspurs will be wary of their opposition’s strength and will look to grind them to submission. FIFA World Cup 2018 Shatter Viewership Record: Over 3.5 Billion People Watched the Mega Football WC Tournament in Russia

Brighton & Hove Albion vs Arsenal: Arsenal are known to capitulate in December during the busy footballing period and early signs are there it has come back to haunt them yet again. They play Brighton away and will need all three points as they look to put pressure on Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspurs for the Champions League spot. The future of Mesut Ozil is going to be an important discussion point for Arsenal fans and looks like he will not get much game time against Brighton too.

Watford vs Chelsea: Maurizo Sarris’ Chelsea travel to Watford a place where they were annihilated last season. Their away form has been a bit patchy this season and hence this fixture takes considerable importance. Chelsea knows any slip-ups gives the sides like Arsenal and Manchester United real hope of finishing fourth. Watford, on the other hand, are an unpredictable team and have the potential to shock big clubs.

Atlanta vs Juventus: Juventus are leading the Italian Serie A at the moment with their swashbuckling performances in the opening half of the season. They visit Atlanta next who are a decent team whose performances has moved them to the top half of the table. The arrival of Cristiano Ronaldo has empowered Juventus significantly and the Turin based club have been notching up easy wins domestically.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 22, 2018 05:04 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).