Premier League TV picks for December - Boxing Day triple bill headlines BT Sport's jam-packed Christmas coverage

Nine Premier League games exclusively live on BT Sport is our early Christmas present to you, as we'll show coverage featuring teams from both ends of the table during a pivotal festive period in the top division.

Our coverage kicks off on the first weekend as lowly Burnley welcome Everton to Turf Moor in the lunchtime game on Saturday 5 December, before we head straight to the Etihad Stadium as Manchester City face Fulham.

A week later we have a mouth-watering Midlands derby between Wolves and Aston Villa ahead of Everton v Chelsea, as Carlo Ancelotti prepares to lock horns with his former charge Frank Lampard at Goodison Park.

Saturday 19 December sees Liverpool head to Selhurst Park as they continue the defence of their crown against Crystal Palace, with another Midlands derby heading your way 24 hours later when West Brom welcome Aston Villa.

And our 2020 Premier League coverage reaches its conclusion on Boxing Day, when we've got a cracking triple-header starting at Old Trafford when Leicester City visit Manchester United.

Later that day you'll be spoilt for choice, as Man City play host to Newcastle and Everton travel to Sheffield United as part of a busy evening of live action on BT Sport.

Relegation battlers Burnley look set for a long, hard slog this season after picking up just one win from their first eight games - although that did come on Matchday 9 against Crystal Palace.

Early Premier League pacesetters Everton will be the team travelling to Turf Moor seeking to inflict further misery on Sean Dyche's men on Saturday 5 December, but the Toffees have fallen away from the upper reaches of the table in recent weeks with some disappointing performances.

Later that day we'll have coverage of Scott Parker's first trip to the Etihad Stadium as Fulham boss, with the Cottagers eyeing a shock victory that could help kick start their relegation battle.

The following weekend, we'll treat you to a cracking double-header beginning with an eagerly-anticipated Midlands derby between Wolves and Aston Villa.

Separated by merely a few points in the table, there will be more than local pride on the line with both managers keen to keep up their early season momentum in search of a top-half finish.

And Everton will be back on BT Sport screens later that day in a fascinating clash against Chelsea, pitting ex-Blues boss Carlo Ancelotti against one of his former players, Frank Lampard.

Chelsea look to have turned around their early season inconsistencies and will aim to bolster their title credentials during a hectic festive period - but Everton are more than capable of derailing Lampard's momentum and will be confident the in-form Dominic Calvert-Lewin can do the damage.

We'll have more action from the top of the table on Saturday 19 December when Liverpool travel to Selhurst Park to face Crystal Palace.

Former Reds boss Roy Hodgson has overseen a summer of transition in south London with recruitment notably focused on youth through the likes of Nathan Ferguson and Ebere Eze.

Palace have performed to expectation so far as they sit soundly mid-table - but they will be desperate to take points from a Liverpool side against whom they have enjoyed mild success in previous years.

Jurgen Klopp's men, meanwhile, have had the kitchen sink thrown at them so far this season, navigating a busy fixture list with an injury-ravaged squad that might have sent any other side into a tailspin.

Not this Liverpool team though, who remain firmly in title contention after producing a statement performance during a 3-0 win over Leicester on Matchday 9.

Villa then face another Midlands derby in front of the BT Sport cameras, this time they travel to the Hawthorns to face newly-promoted West Brom.

The Baggies have shown a good account of themselves thus far but failed to translate that into all-important points.

If they are to emulate the Villains and survive on their return to the top flight, a morale-boosting derby win might be just want they need to get string a run of results together.

To soothe those post-Christmas blues, we have a Boxing Day Premier League triple-header beginning with Leicester v Man Utd.

The mood around both clubs could not be more contrasting. United are languishing in mid-table as they stutter in the league.

By contrast the Foxes are dreaming of another top four - if not title- charge having already recorded eye-catching victories over Arsenal, Man City and Leeds.

Following that, Pep Guardiola's Man City return to BT Sport against recent bogey team Newcastle United.

Steve Bruce's men have managed to frustrate their free-flowing rivals a number of times in recent seasons but their record at the Etihad leaves a lot to be desired. 

Can the Mags produce a belated Christmas miracle or will it be business as usual in the blue half of Manchester?

Kicking off at the same time, Everton fans will be treated to their third appearance on BT Sport inside a month when they travel to struggling Sheffield United seeking to heap pressure on Chris Wilder's winless Blades.

The infamous second season struggles have struck venomously at Bramall Lane with Wilder's men joining West Brom as the only sides still yet to win in the league this season.

But their poor form can't last forever - can it? - as they seek to pick up momentum during a festive fixture flurry that could see them take huge strides towards Premier League safety.