Little rest for EPL clubs over holidays

There will be little rest for the weary when the English Premier League's busy holiday schedule reaches its high point this weekend.

Nine games will be played on Sunday, just two days after the popular Boxing Day program. It's the shortest break in a period when teams play three games in six days that truly test a squad.

"It's the period that is very important," Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said ahead of Friday's 2-1 win over QPR. "There are three games in a very short period of time and we can make points.

"Our opponents will think that as well, but let's just put the performances in and capitalise on it. The consistency in that period is what will matter."

Three Sunday games feature teams in the hunt for a top-four finish and a place in the Champions League.

Manchester United, sitting third, visit seventh-placed Tottenham and West Ham host Arsenal in a meeting of the fifth and sixth-placed clubs.

The highlight of the day will be in Southampton, where the fourth-placed Saints welcome leaders Chelsea.

Chelsea hold a three-point lead over defending champions Manchester City after both were easy Boxing Day victors. The Blues beat West Ham 2-0, while City won 3-1 in the snow at West Brom.

Southampton beat Crystal Palace 3-1 to jump over West Ham into fourth - their second straight victory after a five-match winless run.

Manager Ronald Koeman is ready for the challenge of playing the leaders.

"For everybody, Chelsea are the biggest test," Koeman said. "In my opinion, they are the best team in the Premier League until now, but we believe in ourselves and it will be a great game."

Manchester City should have it easier than Chelsea as they host Burnley, who are 19th.

City scored all three goals against West Brom in the first half before battling the elements after the intermission.

It was their seventh straight league win and ninth consecutive victory overall and was again accomplished without a recognised striker due to injuries.

"It shows our strength of depth to win with so many missing," midfielder James Milner said.

"Chelsea go about their business - we just take care of ours and make sure we get the points which we did today."

The race for the top four isn't the only close one on the table.

Things are just as tight at the bottom with six teams in the relegation fight.

Four of them meet on Sunday as Leicester take on Hull and QPR host Crystal Palace.

Leicester sit last with 10 points, five behind Burnley and Crystal Palace above them. However, manager Nigel Pearson isn't ready to throw in the towel, even with his team winless in 13.

"We will keep going," he said after Friday's 2-1 loss to Tottenham.

"You can never submit to the negativity from external avenues.

"At the moment, we are finding life very tough because the margins are so tight. That is the harsh realities of the Premier League. To stay here, we have to up our level and resilience and I have every faith in the players to do that."

Sunderland are away to Aston Villa, Stoke play West Brom and Newcastle host Everton in Sunday's other games, while Liverpool host Swansea on Monday to wrap up the weekend fixtures.