In the middle of the season, the premier league takes a six week break as the World Cup takes place.

The league won't be back until 26 December.

The final of the World Cup will take place on December 18th.

Who has the most players going to Qatar and who needs this break in the English top flight?

How it looks at the top

Premier League's top 10

They will be top at Christmas for the first time in six years, and they're five points ahead of Manchester City.

They scored 37 points from 14 games. The teams that won 12 of their first 14 games won the title.

The team that topped the table on Christmas Day have gone on to win the title in 10 of the last 13 years.

The last five times Mikel Arteta's side have been top on Christmas, they have failed to stay there.

The last time they were top on both days was in 1947.

They have been in control of most of the games they have played this season according to Ian Wright. The goal was four.

Because teams will not play as many games on Christmas Day, City will still want to make up the deficit on the other side.

The third-place team is seven points behind the first place team.

This is the first time in a decade that they have occupied one of the spots on Christmas. They were the top team that year.

"They are so organised and there is an understanding as a team of each other's jobs - when to press, when to sit off, and their reaction when they lose the ball," said Shearer.

Eddie Howe is doing a great job at the club. They go into the break in third position and perform well.

Shearer said his old team won't win the title this season.

The top four are completed by Howe's side and Spurs. Manchester United andLiverpool are both in the top six.

Graham Potter's team has not won a game in the league. They will enjoy the chance to take a break.

The constant changing of the formation is the main concern of the fans. No team in the top half has scored less than 17 goals.

We've seen what Arteta is doing with time and they need to give Graham Potter time. Hopefully he will be able to do that.

And at the bottom

Premier League's bottom 10

They can consider themselves to be in the bottom half of the table.

The two teams are separated by six points in the 18th and ninth places.

What are Wolves' odds of survival?

Half of the teams in the first three seasons of the league stayed up at Christmas.

The last team to avoid being demoted wasLeicester City, who went on to win the title.

A few good weeks can take you up to mid-table as the in-form Foxes demonstrated just before the break.

What could change over the break?

Two teams have made managerial changes just before Christmas.

The next few weeks will be very similar to Julen's pre-season.

Nathan Jones took charge of their final game before the break, a 3-1 loss at the hands of the Reds.

Frank Lampard is the bookmaker's favourite to lose his job in the near future. The team is one point above the bottom of the table.

The players went over to the away section at the end of the game to calm some fans who were upset about the loss.

"As good as the fans are for us, with the welcomes they gave us last year and the praise they gave us after the Crystal Palace game, you have to accept that they have a right to speak their mind." They traveled to Bournemouth to do that.

David Moyes is the other boss who is under scrutiny.

Fans were allowed to leave early and boo in Saturday's 2-0 loss to the Foxes. The captain of the team said it was nonsense. How he's brought us back from where we've been is what you should look at.

Brendan Rodgers and Jesse Marsch were under a lot of pressure a few weeks ago, but good form means they shouldn't worry.

Mark Schwarzer is a former goalkeeper in the premier league.

"There will be a number of clubs who will be looking at the situation of having pretty much a month off and having the ability then to make a decision on whether or not to sign a new manager."

"If they want to bring in a new manager, I could see one or two clubs considering doing that."

Which teams will be worst affected by World Cup?

Kyle Walker, John Stones, Kevin de Bruyne and Jack Grealish
Kyle Walker, John Stones, Kevin de Bruyne and Jack Grealish are four of Manchester City's 16 World Cup-bound players
  • Check out every World Cup squad

Manchester City have the most players going to the World Cup with 16 and 10 of the starting 11 for Saturday's defeat by Brentford will head to the World Cup.

Erling Haaland, the top scorer in the premier league, is not from Norway. He might be able to take advantage of tired legs by the end of the year.

If Hannibal Mejbri makes the Tunisia squad, Manchester United will have 15 players going to Qatar, with 12 for them and 11 for other teams.

Ten players from the leaders will be at the tournament.

The team that beat Wolves on Saturday are staying home.

  • Fifpro says players 'pushed past acceptable limits'

If they are in the title race, they could benefit from any World Cup fatigue as they only have five players leaving.

Only three of the 10 goals they have scored this season have come from players going toQatar. Egypt did not make the playoffs.

The teams with the most players going are Bournemouth, who have Chris Mepham and Kieffer Moore in the Wales squad, and Saints, who have Germany's Armel Bella-Kotchap. The other two teams have three apiece.

  • Meet England's World Cup squad
  • Watch guide to England and Wales' squads

When are Premier League teams next in action?

The premier league is back on December 26th. Some top-flight teams could play a game a day or two after the World Cup.

The fourth round of the Carabao Cup is on the 19th of December.

Most of the games end up on the Tuesday or Wednesday, although Manchester City will play on the 22nd.

Other teams in that round include Wolves,Southampton,Nottingham Forest, Bournemouth, Manchester United,Leicester, andBrighton.

Watch: Ros Atkins on… How Qatar got to host the World Cup