Arsenal v Liverpool game in line for Christmas Eve

Arsenal could face Liverpool in the first top-flight fixture to be staged on Christmas Eve for 22 years, The Daily Telegraph can reveal.

Sky Sports is planning to announce next month that at least one Premier League match will be held on Dec 24.

Sky is likely to want to select the best fixture of the weekend for its flagship Super Sunday programme, with Arsenal v Liverpool the standout clash.

The only previous Christmas Eve Premier League match was Leeds United versus Manchester United in 1995, which also took place on a Sunday.

Dec 24 has only fallen on that day twice since, in 2000 and 2006, when a decision was taken not to switch games from the Saturday for live broadcast.

Sky held the exclusive rights to Premier League football back then and was able to show matches it would usually have picked on a Sunday on the previous day instead.

That switch is all but impossible under the current television contract, in which the broadcaster and BT Sport share the rights.

Sky owns the rights to three matches each weekend, one on a Saturday and two on a Sunday, while BT holds the contract for one Saturday game.

Unless Sky was prepared to give up its two Sunday picks – which it could not be expected to do, having paid £11million per game under the current deal – it has no choice but to go live on Christmas Eve this year.

Any Arsenal-liverpool Super Sunday match could kick-off at 4pm, unlike the 1995 Leeds United v Manchester United game, which began at midday.

The last train from Euston Station to Liverpool Lime Street on Christmas Eve does not leave until 9.21pm, which should give away fans plenty of time to get home.

There is also currently a full Premier League programme on Boxing Day, although Arsenal’s game at Crystal Palace and Liverpool’s against Swansea City appear certain to be moved back to Dec 27 if they do meet on Christmas Eve.

With this season ending a week earlier than last because of the World Cup, all Premier League clubs are currently scheduled to play on Dec 30 and again on New Year’s Day.