This is generally about the time that teams reassess their achievements and make new goals. For some, they are in the title race while others are thinking of next season's European competitions. There are also those that are just looking to stay in the top league.

The results of the festive season could determine if any of the goals are met.

Two of the three teams that were relegated a year ago (West Brom and Swansea City) lost both of these matchups, and Stoke, the other relegated side, managed to win one and draw another. It is helpful that Stoke's opponents included West Brom. None of the teams currently in the relegation zone will play against one another, but Southampton and Huddersfield as well as Crystal Palace and Cardiff will have major implications for the relegation battle.

Manchester City, last year's title title winners, won both of their matches in this stretch by a combined 5-0 score. The current first place team, Liverpool, will have only one match on a main slate, but they have a favorable matchup against Newcastle. Manchester City are only a point behind Liverpool and face two teams in the lower half of the table, so the Citizens, per usual, will be popular.

For these slates, matchups and form are important on FanDuel, and the results could have plenty of real-world implications moving forward.