From August to May, the Premier League is a staple on the calendar for most football fans each and every weekend.
Aside from designated international breaks, it’s rare for EPL fans to turn on their televisions during regular match hours on a Saturday or Sunday and not find top-flight football to watch.
However, that is the case this coming weekend. There is now a gap in the Premier League schedule, spanning Thursday, January 8 — the day of Arsenal’s draw with Liverpool — until Saturday, January 17.
The Sporting News explains what the fixture list looks like, and when games will return.
MORE: Updated list of Premier League top goal scorers for the 2025/26 season
Why are there no Premier League games this weekend?
No, the Premier League is not taking a winter break. However, the English top-flight is pausing briefly to let another competition take the stage.
The weekend of January 9-11 features no Premier League matches because the FA Cup third round is takes place.
To make up for the missed time, the Premier League instead scheduled matches midweek, with 16 of the 20 teams playing a league match on Wednesday, plus one game on Tuesday and another on Thursday.
MORE: Full match schedule, round dates for the FA Cup
FA Cup schedule for weekend of January 9
The third round proper of the FA Cup is the stage when all Premier League teams are brought into the competition.
A total of 64 clubs are in the competition at this stage, having whittled down the competition from 747 participants through qualifying and the first two rounds proper.
All times Eastern.
Friday, January 9
- MK Dons vs. Oxford United (2:30 p.m.)
- Port Vale vs. Fleetwood Town (2:30 p.m.)
- Preston vs. Wigan (2:30 p.m.)
- Wrexham vs. Nottingham Forest (2:30 p.m.)
Saturday, January 10
- Wolves vs. Shrewsbury Town (7:15 a.m.)
- Macclesfield vs. Crystal Palace (7:15 a.m.)
- Everton vs. Sunderland (7:15 a.m.)
- Cheltenham Town vs. Leicester City (7:15 a.m.)
- Boreham Wood vs. Burton Albion (10 a.m.)
- Burnley vs. Millwall (10 a.m.)
- Doncaster Rovers vs. Southampton (10 a.m.)
- Fulham vs. Middlesbrough (10 a.m.)
- Ipswich Town vs. Blackpool (10 a.m.)
- Manchester City vs. Exeter City (10 a.m.)
- Newcastle vs. Bournemouth (10 a.m.)
- Salford City vs. Swindon Town (10 a.m.)
- Sheffield Wednesday vs. Brentford (10 a.m.)
- Stoke City vs. Coventry City (10 a.m.)
- Bristol City vs. Watford (12:45 p.m.)
- Cambridge United vs. Birmingham City (12:45 p.m.)
- Grimsby Town vs. Weston-super-Mare (12:45 p.m.)
- Tottenham vs. Aston Villa (12:45 p.m.)
- Charlton Athletic vs. Chelsea (3 p.m.)
Sunday, January 11
- Derby County vs. Leeds United (7 a.m.)
- Portsmouth vs. Arsenal (9 a.m.)
- Hull City vs. Blackburn Rovers (9:30 a.m.)
- Norwich City vs. Walsall (9:30 a.m.)
- Sheffield United vs. Mansfield Town (9:30 a.m.)
- Swansea City vs. West Brom (9:30 a.m.)
- West Ham vs. QPR (9:30 a.m.)
- Manchester United vs. Brighton & Hove Albion (11:30 a.m.)
Monday, January 12
- Liverpool vs. Barnsley (2:45 p.m.)
When is the Premier League back?
Following the Arsenal vs. Liverpool match on Thursday, January 8, the Premier League will return to the field on Saturday, January 17.
There will be seven matches on Saturday, plus two on Sunday and one on Monday for matchday 22.
The FA Cup will resume with the fourth round in mid-February, again occupying a weekend slot as most games will be scheduled for Valentine’s Day (February 14).
EPL Schedule for January 17-19
All times Eastern.
Saturday, January 17
- Manchester United vs. Manchester City (7:30 a.m.)
- Sunderland vs. Crystal Palace (10 a.m.)
- Chelsea vs. Brentford (10 a.m.)
- Liverpool vs. Burnley (10 a.m.)
- Tottenham vs. West Ham (10 a.m.)
- Leeds United vs. Fulham (10 a.m.)
- Nottingham Forest vs. Arsenal (12:30 p.m.)
Sunday, January 18
- Wolves vs. Newcastle United (9 a.m.)
- Aston Villa vs. Everton (11:30 a.m.)
Monday, January 19
- Brighton & Hove Albion vs. Bournemouth (3 p.m.)
