Man Utd play six times in December but the fixture calendar has been kind to them and they should end the month in a strong position.
Manchester United celebrate winning at Crystal Palace
Manchester United have the chance to build up a head of steam during December
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This week presents a relatively unique experience for Manchester United, who for the first time since the end of August have a midweek game and a short turnaround between fixtures. The embarrassing Carabao Cup exit to Grimsby further cleared an already quiet schedule for a team not in Europe this year, and United have benefited from the lack of midweek games to drill down into Ruben Amorim's plans on the training pitches at Carrington.
They have played only 14 games this season, compared to the 20 contested by Manchester City, Arsenal, Chelsea and Newcastle. A gap of just four days between Sunday's win at Crystal Palace and Thursday's Old Trafford date with West Ham is unusual for a team that has become accustomed to the pattern of long lead-ins to games. They have had at least six days to prepare for every match since the start of September.
However, the fixture list is arguably still kind to United, who will play six games in December. At a time when their rivals are maxed out with midweek games, they still have plenty of recovery time. The quartet of City, Arsenal, Chelsea and Newcastle have a Carabao Cup quarter-final alongside their European commitments and can expect to be playing twice a week well into the New Year.
United's week could have been worse. After playing Palace on Sunday, they could have played on Wednesday night rather than Thursday. They could easily have played Wolves away on Sunday rather than on Monday night. In both instances, the live TV selections have given them an extra day of rest.
After the Monday night trip to Molinuex, United have another week off before the home game against Bournemouth. They then have six days until the pre-Christmas game against Aston Villa at Villa Park.
There are then five days until the Boxing Day game against Newcastle and four days until the game against Wolves. Both of those fixtures are at Old Trafford. The first game of 2026 comes five days later and is a dash over the Pennines to face Leeds.
Plenty of Premier League teams will have more draining and more demanding Decembers. Of United's six games, only two are away, and those trips are 75 miles to Wolves and 85 miles to Villa.
That's not to say United will be without their problems this month. They will likely lose Noussair Mazraoui, Amad and Bryan Mbeumo from the middle of December to the Africa Cup of Nations and will be one of the clubs most affected by AFCON call-ups.
However, Amorim's side should still view the next few weeks as an opportunity. While their rivals are playing in Europe and the Carabao Cup, they will have their feet up.
They also enter the run with momentum back onside. The shocking defeat to Everton is their only defeat in the last seven and with games against two of the bottom four up next, they really should be extending that streak.
They begin the month seventh in the Premier League table, but only three points behind Chelsea in third. United should really be looking to take advantage of the festive period and make sure 2026 dawns with them firmly in the race for a Champions League spot next season.