Premier League fixtures today - your guide to Saturday's games

After a brief day of rest on Friday, the Premier League returns with a Saturday stuffed full of fixtures.

For the first time since Christmas, no top-flight football was played in England on 29 December. There were 36 Football League matches to feast upon but the weekend brings a new slate of premium offerings featuring the likes of Chelsea, Aston Villa and both Manchester clubs.

Here's everything you need to know about what the final Saturday of 2023 has to offer.

Luton vs Chelsea

• Location: Luton, England
• Stadium: Kenilworth Road
• Date: Saturday 30 December
• Kick-off Time: 12:30 GMT / 07:30 ET / 04:30 PT
• Referee: Paul Tierney
• VAR: Jarred Gillett

In March 2022, Rob Edwards lost to Bradford in the fourth tier of English football while Mauricio Pochettino faced off against Real Madrid in the Champions League knockout stages.

Less than two years later, the two managers find themselves on equal footing.

One of the few convincing performances Pochettino has been able to coax out of Chelsea this season came against Luton in August. However, the Hatters have morphed into tricky foes on home turf over the intervening months, taking points off Liverpool and Newcastle United while pushing Arsenal and Manchester City close.

Aston Villa vs Burnley

• Location: Birmingham, England
• Stadium: Villa Park
• Date: Saturday 30 December
• Kick-off Time: 15:00 GMT / 10:00 ET / 07:00 PT
• Referee: Stuart Attwell
• VAR: Peter Bankes

Aston Villa had their miraculous winning run on home turf ended by Sheffield United when they last took to the Villa Park turf. Burnley finished ten points above the Blades in last season's Championship and have fared far better away from home upon their return to the top flight.

However, Burnley were comfortably beaten by Villa at Turf Moor in August and the upcoming hosts can call upon all of Unai Emery's grit and guile. Villa's boss is only 52 but began his managerial career back in 2004 while Burnley's incumbent Vincent Kompany was still a teenager.

Crystal Palace vs Brentford

• Location: London, England
• Stadium: Selhurst Park
• Date: Saturday 30 December
• Kick-off Time: 15:00 GMT / 10:00 ET / 07:00 PT
• Referee: Rob Jones
• VAR: John Brooks

One of the 42 London derbies that will take place in an increasingly capital-centric top flight, Crystal Palace and Brentford are two of the Big Smoke's relative strugglers. While relegation is not an impending threat for either side - just yet - both will be targeting a win in this fixture.

Brentford boss Thomas Frank hailed his Palace counterpart Roy Hodgson as "a legend" before the two sides played out a 1-1 draw in Hounslow earlier this season. In terms of sheer longevity, few would argue with Frank; Hodgson could be a top-flight manager in 2024 after beginning his coaching career in 1976.

Manchester City vs Sheffield United

• Location: Manchester, England
• Stadium: Etihad Stadium
• Date: Saturday 30 December
• Kick-off Time: 15:00 GMT / 10:00 ET / 07:00 PT
• Referee: David Coote
• VAR: Simon Hooper

Shortly before Chris Wilder was sacked by Sheffield United two years ago, Pep Guardiola leapt to his defence. "If he would be here, he would fight to be champion," the Manchester City manager argued. "If I was in Sheffield maybe I'd fight not to be relegated."

The amicable pair will be reunited on Saturday when Sheffield United travel to the Etihad. Despite Guardiola's warm praise, Wilder's teams have never beaten or scored a single goal against City in four meetings.

Wolves vs Everton

• Location: Wolverhampton, England
• Stadium: Molineux
• Date: Saturday 30 December
• Kick-off Time: 15:00 GMT / 10:00 ET / 07:00 PT
• Referee: Tom Bramall
• VAR: Michael Oliver

When Everton hosted Wolverhampton Wanderers in August, the Toffees were consigned to their third defeat in as many games. For the first time in Everton's storied history, they had begun a season with a trio of goalless losses.

Four months on and the picture on Merseyside is nowhere near as bleak despite a subsequent ten-point deduction. Sean Dyche has moulded his imposing outfit into one of the division's most competent travellers. Before narrowly losing to Tottenham in London last weekend, Everton had won four consecutive matches on the road.

Nottingham Forest vs Manchester United

• Location: Nottingham, England
• Stadium: The City Ground
• Date: Saturday 30 December
• Kick-off Time: 17:30 GMT / 12:30 ET / 09:30 PT
• Referee: Tim Robinson
• VAR: Michael Salisbury

The last time Nottingham Forest defeated Manchester United at the City Ground, Nigel Clough scored the game's only goal in the 90th minute and his legendary father Brian was in the City Ground dugout.

Three decades later, Nuno Espirito Santo will try to succeed where so many Forest bosses have failed. Fortunately for the manager who was sacked by Al Ittihad earlier this year, United have made a habit of hitting historic nadirs this season.

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