No Boxing Day fixture for the Reds
Manchester United will not play on Boxing Day, traditionally a feast of football, for the first time since 2009.
United's December fixtures announced
ArticleFind out when the Reds will be in action during the final month of 2021 and also our first date of 2022.
Back in 2009, United overcame Hull City 3-1 on 27 December, with strikers Wayne Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov adding to an own-goal by Michael Dawson.
The only other time we haven't played on the festive date since the inception of the Premier League came in 1995. Again, the game took place a day later, ironically against Newcastle, as goals from Andy Cole and Roy Keane earned three vital points on the way to pegging back Kevin Keegan's league leaders, with the Reds eventually not only overcoming the Magpies but securing the Double.
It had looked likely that United would meet Newcastle for the fourth time on Boxing Day since 2012.
There was a thrilling 4-3 victory that year, with Javier Hernandez scoring the winner, followed by a 3-1 success at Old Trafford two seasons later. As recently as 2019, we beat the Magpies 4-1 at home, the same scoreline as the victory this term, when Cristiano Ronaldo marked his second debut for the club with two goals.
Looking further ahead, despite the World Cup finals taking place in Qatar next year, the plan is reportedly for the 2022/23 Premier League to resume on Boxing Day.
The tournament will run from 21 November to 18 December, with the final being staged in Doha.
Although the full schedule will not be confirmed until next April, the league will obviously have to pause in mid-November.