THE inaugural Premier League winter break is upon us and the players are making the most of their short time off to jet away on holiday.
Of the 20 top-flight teams, eight are in action this weekend including champions Manchester City.
Callum Hudson-Odoi is one of a long list of footballers to head to Dubai during the first Premier League winter breakCredit: Instagram / @calteck10
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang headed to Dubai with his family during his time offCredit: Instagram / @aubameyang97
But for the rest, including Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and champions-elect Liverpool do not play in the league until the following weekend.
And each side has made plans to give their players some well-earned rest after the hectic Christmas period and start to 2020.
SunSport rounds up who is going where and what the clubs are doing during their time off…
Arsenal
The players have been given a few days off but must be in Dubai on Friday to meet up for training. Mikel Arteta has encouraged the players to bring their families.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang took to Instagram to show pictures of him flying to Dubai and his kid playing in the sun.
David Luiz dons a stunning hat as he tops up the tan in DubaiCredit: Instagram
Lucas Torreira has returned to form with Arsenal but is relaxing during his time offCredit: Instagram
Aston Villa
Dean Smith has given his players the week off and will continue training on Monday ahead of their match with Tottenham.
Bournemouth*
The Cherries play Sheffield United on Sunday then players will have a reduced workload with no warm-weather training.
Brighton*
Another of the teams involved this weekend but the squad are not given extra time off – instead they will train as usual throughout their two weeks off.
Burnley
To stop them travelling too far, Sean Dyche has got his lads in for training on Friday and Saturday but given them the rest of the week, including Sunday, off.
Chelsea
It is good news for Chelsea – they have a good amount of time off before heading back to Cobham early next week.
Fikayo Tomori has been with Leicester’s Demarai Gray and Tammy Abraham in Dubai, Reece James is soaking up the sun, as is Callum Hudson-Odoi who is in Dubai.
Ross Barkley and Mason Mount, though, were among those to use the time off for some extra training.
Fikayo was also spotted with Leicester star Demarai GrayCredit: Instagram / @fikayotomori
Tammy Abraham and Fikayo Tomori are away togetherCredit: Instagram / @tammyabraham1
Jorginho jetted back to Brazil to spend time with friends in the country of his birthCredit: Instagram
No rest for Ross Barkley and Mason Mount who are working hard on the training groundCredit: Instagram / @rossbarkley
Crystal Palace*
Palace travel to Everton on Saturday but then have some time off next week with no training abroad booked.
Everton*
The Toffees players will get a few days off after the Palace game but then will have some extended training.
Leicester City
James Maddison, Gray and Ben Chilwell are all away already, making the most of their time off with no formal squad trip.
Liverpool
Klopp and his players skipped the FA Cup replay against Shrewsbury to ensure they got their winter break in full.
Adam Lallana, Joe Gomez and Trent Alexander-Arnold headed to the USA, Fabinho and Roberto Firmino both opted for the Maldives with their wives and Georginio Wijnaldum chose Dubai.
Manchester City*
The only one of the traditional ‘big six’ in action this weekend and then the players have four days off next week.
Pep Guardiola considered a training camp but decided to give players more time with families.
Gray and Ben Chilwell are close friends on and off the pitchCredit: Instagram / @demarai
Manchester United
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s have 16 days between the Wolves draw and the trip to Chelsea so are off until Saturday.
Then the Manchester United team head to Marbella for a week of training, with Qatar vetoed by the manager due to tensions in the Middle East.
Fred took his wife Monique on a second honeymoon while Marcus Rashford got away early due to injury so he could attend the Super Bowl.
Jesse Lingard meanwhile has been putting in the extra hard yards alongside Luke Shaw and Diogo Dalot.
Newcastle
After the Oxford FA Cup replay, the Magpies squad have been given five days off.
Norwich
For the Prem’s bottom side, it is business as usual and training will carry on.
Sheffield United*
The Blades are heading away together for a few days after the Bournemouth game but details have been kept private.
Southampton
Like most, Southampton’s players will enjoy a few days off before attention switches to focus on Burnley.
Tottenham
The players are set to be handed some time off after the Southampton FA Cup replay and are expected back in early next week.
Jesse Lingard, Diogo Dalot and Luke Shaw are putting in the extra yardsCredit: Instagram / @jesselingard
Fred and his wife Monique are enjoying some more down time in the MaldivesCredit: Instagram / @fred08oficial
Watford*
Watford face Brighton on Saturday but then Nigel Pearson will let them enjoy a few days to themselves.
West Ham*
The Times report that, despite having two weeks off after facing Manchester City on Saturday, the Hammers’ plans still haven’t been finalised.
Wolves
They headed to La Manga on Monday for warm-weather training and are due back on Friday.
Nuno Espirito Santo will give them the weekend off but training will resume as normal next week.
Jesse Lingard, Luke Shaw and Diogo Dalot head for Man Utd warm-weather training early and cut short winter break
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
