Why Liverpool is not playing on Boxing Day as Wolves game moved by Premier League

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Liverpool vs has been rescheduled from Boxing Day to December 27 with Arne Slot's men returning to action as they look to continue their good recent form after a difficult start

Liverpool will be aiming to continue its winning run(Image: Getty Images)

For the first time in over a decade, the customary Boxing Day bonanza has been significantly pared down. In an unprecedented move, the Premier League has scheduled just one match for December 26.

Manchester United and Newcastle United will face off at Old Trafford with an 8pm kick-off GMT (3pm ET) but there will be no bumper fixture list for the rest of the top flight with Liverpool among those not in action, alongside league leaders Arsenal and Manchester City.

The Reds will take on Wolves at Anfield on Saturday with a 3pm kick-off (10am ET). This break from tradition isn't due to a single reason, but rather a "perfect storm" of scheduling conflicts.

The Premier League is contractually bound to provide broadcasters with 33 full weekends of fixtures and five midweek rounds. As Boxing Day lands on a Friday this year, the league needed to utilize the following Saturday and Sunday (December 27-28) to count as a weekend round for TV rights.

A key priority this season was ensuring no team plays two matches within 60 hours of each other. By shifting the majority of the games to the 27th, the league safeguards players ahead of the next round of matches, which kicks off on 30th December.

The launch of new, expanded formats for the UEFA Champions League and Europa League has squeezed the domestic calendar. This results in fewer midweek slots being available and compels the Premier League to be stricter with its weekend scheduling.

Arne Slot and some of his Liverpool coaches look on during a training session.(Image: Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

Liverpool goes into the game against bottom-place Wolves as huge favorites, with the visitors yet to win this season and managing just two points.

Ahead of the game, Arne Slot said: "Every game in the Premier League is a dangerous game or a difficult game.

"But I see the same as what you were just saying that their results throughout the whole season haven't been what they were hoping for but they come closer and closer to results – especially Arsenal away, of course, where they were very close to a result over there.

"As always, there's a challenge in every Premier League game and that's the same for this one."

Liverpool is without a host of players for the game with Mohamed Salah at AFCON and Alexander Isak ruled out for an extended period with a broken leg.

Slot is hopeful that Cody Gakpo and Conor Bradley could return to action as the Reds look to boost their top four push.