According to a report by Football London on Monday, October 19, 2026, Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso is facing a demanding festive period after the Premier League confirmed changes to four of the club’s fixtures in December.

The league has selected four Chelsea matches for live television coverage in the United Kingdom, with the revised schedule adding to the challenges facing the Blues during a busy period of the season.

Chelsea will host Crystal Palace on Wednesday, December 2, at 19:30, with Sky Sports broadcasting the match. The Blues will then welcome Liverpool to Stamford Bridge on Saturday, December 5, with kick-off scheduled for 12:30 and TNT Sports showing the encounter.

Alonso’s side will travel to the Etihad Stadium to face Manchester City on Saturday, December 12. The match is scheduled to begin at 17:30 and will be shown live on Sky Sports.

Chelsea will also host Aston Villa on Monday, December 21, at 20:00. However, the fixture remains subject to possible changes depending on the Carabao Cup schedule.

The revised dates come as Premier League clubs prepare for a congested calendar involving domestic competitions and European commitments, potentially leaving Alonso with limited opportunities to rest key players.

Speaking to reporters last month, the Chelsea manager acknowledged the importance of spending time with his squad during the demanding period.

"We have spent already some time together, and we will have more time to spend together."

He added: "There is no Christmas break here, so we will be together during Christmas as well. There will be plenty of games, so we have taken some steps forward and many more to take forward."

Alonso has previously highlighted the intensity of English football. Speaking in October 2015 while playing for Bayern Munich, he said, as quoted by the Mirror: "Every country and every league is different, but the Premier League has so many games and so much intensity."

He also described the league as "very demanding compared to other leagues", pointing to the benefits of having a winter break.