Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso faces a hectic December as the Premier League has announced changes to four of the club’s fixtures during the festive period.

According to a report published by Football London on Monday, 19 October 2026, several Chelsea matches have been moved to accommodate live television broadcasts in the United Kingdom. The adjustments will further increase the demands of an already busy schedule shaped by the club’s involvement in European competitions.

Chelsea’s December programme will begin with a home encounter against Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday, 2 December. The match is scheduled for a 7:30pm kick-off and will be broadcast live on Sky Sports.

The Blues will face another tough test three days later when they host Liverpool on Saturday, 5 December. The game will start at 12:30pm, with TNT Sports providing live coverage.

Chelsea will subsequently travel to the Etihad Stadium to take on Manchester City on Saturday, 12 December. Kick-off is scheduled for 5:30pm, and Sky Sports will televise the contest.

The report notes that the match will be particularly significant because Chelsea will reunite with former manager Enzo Maresca and midfielder Enzo Fernandez.

Alonso’s side are also scheduled to entertain Aston Villa at Stamford Bridge on Monday, 21 December, with the match set to begin at 8pm.

Nevertheless, the fixture could be rescheduled for Saturday, 19 December, at 8pm if either Chelsea or Aston Villa reaches the latter stages of the Carabao Cup.

These changes add to Alonso’s responsibilities as he looks to guide Chelsea through an important phase of the campaign. The combination of domestic fixtures and European football means the manager will need to manage his squad carefully to minimise fatigue and ensure his players remain competitive.

Alonso has previously emphasised the challenges associated with English football’s demanding schedule, especially during the Christmas period when matches come thick and fast.

Speaking about Chelsea’s preparations last month, the Spanish coach explained: "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."

The Chelsea manager also reflected on the intensity of the Premier League while playing for Bayern Munich in October 2015.

During his comments, he drew attention to the differences between English football and other European leagues, stressing the physical and scheduling demands placed on Premier League teams.

He said: "But it is a fact that the Premier League is very demanding compared to other leagues."