When does Premier League football return? January weekend fixture list explained

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

The Premier League is currently on a 15-day non-traditional international break as nations around the world catch-up on World Cup qualifiers that were postponed due to COVID-19.

This is the fourth break of the season meaning five pauses will be held during the 2021/22 season - the second time this has happened after the same instance occurred in the 2019/20 season.

Players from South America, North America and Asia have jetted off to represent their countries as they push for qualification for December’s Qatar World Cup.

The Africa Cup of Nations is now in its knock-out stages this international period but UEFA nations, including England, are not taking to the pitch this month meaning most of their players can have an unusual mid-season rest.