Long-time rivals Jose Mourinho of Manchester United and Arsenal's Arsene Wenger have both questioned the Premier League's Christmas schedule.

Each top-flight side will play three games between December 26 and January 4, yet the breaks between fixtures varies from club to club.

"The busy period is for some clubs, not for everyone," Mourinho said.

"If you analyse the fixtures there are clubs where there is no congestion for them. It looks like the fixtures are chosen to give rest for some and to create problems to others.

"But we are used to it because we are in the Europa League and the Europa League is the competition that creates more difficulties - we know that, Southampton know that, Tottenham will know that later. It's very difficult so for us it's just more of the same."

And Mourinho was, for once, joined in his sense of injustice by bitter rival Wenger as the Arsenal boss questioned how the festive calendar had been handled after they were assigned games on January 1 and 3.

"It's a bit surprising this year because I don't completely understand the organisation of the fixtures this season," the Frenchman said.

"Last week, after the Champions League, we played two games so that's three games a week. This week we have eight days without a game.

"After that, some teams play on the 26th and the 1st so they have a complete week's break over Christmas which is unusual.

"Then suddenly you play on the 1st and then the 3rd, just 48 hours later. I don't whether it's the television companies or the Premier League who have decided that, but it's completely unusual. It looks less congested than it did before."