Fury over Christmas Eve game

ARSENAL and Liverpool will be powerless if their fixture at the Emirates Stadium is switched to Christmas Eve. One of the highest-profile games of the festive season is scheduled for Saturday, December 23 but there is an increasing likelihood that it will be put back 24 hours so it can be broadcast on TV, with a probable 3pm kick-off. Sky Sports will announce in October the schedule for the next round of televised matches and it is likely they will schedule a game on Christmas Eve for the first time since December 1995. The prospect of switching the fixture has left both clubs furious. Liverpool are strongly arguing against the idea of changing the game’s date and believe it would be prohibitive for fans to travel to London, particularly with issues revolving around travel by rail and road over the festive period. There is also the prospect of stewarding issues with people unwilling to work that day. Both clubs will continue talks with the Premier League — who have not responded to calls from

Sportsmail on the matter — and will argue their position in the hope that the kick-off remains on its current date. However, if Sky do switch the game there would be nothing either club could do. Such a move would be greeted with fury by supporters and officials alike.