Manchester rivals have chance to make their move over festive period

The fixture computer has been kind to the Man City boss for Christmas

Everyone enjoys the festive period but will it be the two Manchester clubs who'll enjoy it most this year?

The festive programme sees the Premier League action come thick and fast as there is a hectic period of four games in only 12 days.

But who can look forward to a healthy 12-point haul during this busy period and who will be heading into 2015 on the back of a dismal run of form?

After winning six Premier League matches in a row, Manchester United are suddenly being talked about as possible title contenders and, with a reasonable set of fixtures coming up, they could be in an even better position at the start of January.

United have beaten Crystal Palace, Arsenal, Hull City, Stoke City, Southampton and Liverpool since losing the Manchester derby at the beginning of November.

They face Aston Villa this weekend before coming up against Newcastle United, Stoke and Tottenham - all winnable matches considering the recent excellent form of Louis van Gaal's side.

With no European distractions to contend with in the second half of the season, United can use a healthy points haul over the festive period as a springboard for a surprise title push.

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Manchester City's fixtures over Christmas and New Year do not look too taxing either but their current injury problems could see them dropping some unwanted points.

Sergio Aguero's absence will be particularly crucial during this stage of the season, although injuries to Vincent Kompany, Stevan Jovetic and Edin Dzeko have certainly not helped City's cause.

However, they are in a rich vein of form and, since losing 2-1 at home to CSKA Moscow in the Champions League, have remained unbeaten, winning their last seven matches in all competitions.

Momentum is on their side and there is every possibility that they could pick up 12 points from their festive programme, which includes home games against Crystal Palace, Burnley and Sunderland, as well as a visit to West Brom.

It may not have been a great season for Liverpool so far but their fixture programme in the next three weeks should lift the gloom that has descended on Anfield.

Brendan Rodgers' side have a visit to Burnley to look forward to while home games against Arsenal, Swansea and Leicester are all winnable.

Of the teams currently embroiled in a relegation dogfight, Hull City appear to have the best chance of securing a big points haul in the next four games.

Steve Bruce's side may have tumbled into the bottom three after a dismal win-less sequence of nine matches since they beat Crystal Palace 2-0 at the start of October, but they have the chance to end that run.

They have three matches at the KC Stadium to look forward to, against mid-table Swansea City and Everton, as well as a crunch clash against rock-bottom Leicester City and a visit to draw specialists Sunderland.

However, several teams undoubtedly have a difficult set of fixtures coming up and Chelsea's is one of the toughest.

By the time the FA Cup third round is played on the first weekend in January, Jose Mourinho's side may no longer be at the top of the Premier League table.

Mourinho has managed to juggle the demands of domestic and European football extremely well in the first four months of the season but the Blues have three away games to negotiate over the festive period.

They come up against a Stoke side that beat Arsenal 3-2 earlier this month, Ronald Koeman's Southampton team that, despite a poor recent run, continues to play attractive and impressive football, and inconsistent Tottenham, who finally appear to be hitting form.

A Stamford Bridge clash against West Ham could also prove to be a difficult encounter, so well are Sam Allardyce's side playing this season.

Mourinho has kept his squad rotation to a minimum so far this season, so it will be interesting to see whether fatigue among his regular starters is a factor as the games continue to come thick and fast.

Arsenal fans may have been placated by the recent victories against Borussia Dortmund, Galatasaray and Newcastle, and the luck they received in being drawn against shot-shy Monaco in the last 16 of the Champions League, but the grumbling Gunners faithful may have cause to make their voices heard again very soon.

Memories of that dismal first-half display at Stoke are still strong and Wenger's side face three tough away games in the next two weeks, against fellow top-four challengers Liverpool, West Ham and Southampton.

A home derby against a QPR side that has lost every game away from Loftus Road so far this season should at least result in three points for the Gunners but the three away matches are all potentially tricky fixtures.

Everton's form in the Premier League has been mixed and the boos that greeted the final whistle after the grim 1-1 draw against Hull City recently signalled that all may not be well for Roberto Martinez.

Life is not expected to get much easier for the Spaniard either as Everton have three away games over the festive period and may struggle to win any of them - against Southampton, Newcastle United and Hull City.

A Goodison Park fixture against Stoke City is certainly not a home-banker and Everton fans may be contemplating life in the bottom half of the Premier League table at the start of January.

Finally, Burnley fans may be on a high at the moment after watching their side win three of their last six matches to move out of the bottom three, but if they take a look at the Clarets' forthcoming fixtures, they may be ready to return to reality.

Sean Dyche's side face trips to Tottenham, Manchester City and Newcastle United and entertain Liverpool in their next four matches.

It appears as though they need a miracle if they are not to be back in the relegation zone by New Year's Day.