Every season at least a handful of managers bemoan the Christmas schedule facing Premier League teams and fans do so as well, although usually in hindsight depending on results.
In the first round of 11 fixtures in the Premier League, clubs get 87 days to complete them in. The next 11 take place in just 47 days.
Managers such as Jurgen Klopp, Sam Allardyce and Jose Mourinho have bemoaned the schedule in recent years but there is something about it fans still love.
But for those teams at the top end of the league, who really does have the hardest schedule this Christmas?
Manchester City
As well as being top of the table, it would seem City have the most favourable run of fixtures over the festive period.
From December 10, Pep Guardiola’s side face only two of the top six over Christmas - Manchester United away and Tottenham Hotspur at home.
After that, other than an away trip to Newcastle on December 27, City play sides in the bottom half of the table as well as taking on Leicester at the King Power Stadium in the League Cup quarter finals.
Manchester United
Manchester United have a marginally tougher set of matches to come than any of their rivals, with the obvious start against and Manchester City as well some testing away trips to mid-table sides.
As well as a trip to Championship high flyers Bristol City in the League Cup, the reds face Leicester & WBA away before ending the year with home games against Burnley & Southampton.
Chelsea
Chelsea enjoy a relatively kind schedule, with Antonio Conte's side benefitting from their New Year's Day fixture against the Gunners being pushed back to 3 January.
Trips to West Ham and Everton are he stand out fixtures for the reigning champions, with four home matches against beatable opposition. A home tie against Bournemouth in the League Cup quarter finals should also be a formality.
Tottenham Hotspur
The only side in the current top four without a League Cup quarter to play star the festive period with two home ties before a tricky trip to The Etihad is followed up by a tough trip to Turf Moor. But it is in that week that Spurs get seven days to recover so many will feel it evens itself out for Mauricio Pochettino’s men.
They finish the year with home games against Southampton and West Ham.
