Red Devils looking to extend traditional purple patch over Christmas fixtures

With a new manager and their biggest Premier League win in five years, things are looking up at Manchester United and if history, as well as new-found form, is anything to go by the festive period promises more joy.

Man Utd boast the best points returns from matches between 26 December and 4 January.

From 76 such matches, the Red Devils have won 48, losing only eight and averaging 2.16 points per match (ppm).

Liverpool threat

Their position at the top is safe but Arsenal's just below them is at threat from Liverpool, especially as the two meet at Anfield on 28 December.

The Gunners average 2.01ppm from festive matches, just one hundredth more than the Merseysiders, who are at the top of the Premier League table.

At the other end, Leicester City and Watford have traditionally struggled at this time of year, while Cardiff City, Huddersfield Town and Brighton & Hove Albion all enter their second festive period as Premier League clubs looking for a first win.

Festive records of 2018/19 teams

Team P W D L Pts PPM MUN 76 48 20 8 164 2.16 ARS 74 43 20 11 149 2.01 LIV 72 42 18 12 144 2.00 TOT 75 40 18 17 138 1.84 CHE 74 37 22 15 133 1.80 MCI 60 29 18 13 105 1.75 WHU 59 19 17 23 74 1.25 BOU 9 2 5 2 11 1.22 EVE 73 24 15 34 87 1.19 FUL 37 10 13 14 43 1.16 SOU 52 13 16 23 55 1.06 CRY 27 5 12 10 27 1.00 BUR 11 2 5 4 11 1.00 NEW 65 17 12 36 63 0.97 LEI 31 4 13 14 25 0.81 WOL 10 2 2 6 8 0.80 BHA 3 0 2 1 2 0.67 HUD 3 0 2 1 2 0.67 WAT 14 2 3 9 9 0.64 CAR 3 0 1 2 1 0.33

Also in this series

Part 2: Pellegrini defends league's best festive record

Part 3: Leaders aim to defy regular post-Christmas blues