I think in this instance, we may actually be doing things right for once, while some clubs may have been back training for a while, others are heading/already are playing/training in warmer climates, we’re training in the cold British climate getting the players used to being back in those conditions in the run up to the game
Looking at other clubs and what they’ve done/doing
Arsenal - lost to Watford, played 2 games in Dubai and play Juve on Saturday
Villa - lost to Cardiff at the end of November, drew with Brighton, beat Chelsea in Abu Dhabi, play Villarreal tomorrow
Brentford - lost to Bordeaux and Celta Vigo, play Wolfsburg on Saturday
Bournemouth - haven’t played since beating us before the break, next game is Newcastle in the League Cup on Tuesday
Brighton - drew with Villa, next game is LC v Charlton next Wednesday
Chelsea - lost to Villa, next game is 27th in league v Bournemouth
Crystal Palace - drew with Botafogo and Trabzonspor, lost to Napoli, play Valladolid on Friday
Fulham - haven’t played since losing to United before the break, play West Ham on Saturday
Leeds - beat Elche, play Sociadad on Friday and Monaco next Wednesday
Leicester - drew with Troyes, next game is LC v MK Dons on Tuesday
Liverpool - lost to Lyon in Dubai, play Milan there on Friday
Man City - haven’t played since losing to Brentford before the break, play Girona on Saturday
Man Utd - lost to Cadiz and Betis, next game is Burnley in LC on Wednesday
Newcastle - beat Al-hilal in Saudi Arabia, next game is Vallecano on Saturday
Nottingham Forest - lost to Stoke, Atromitos and Olympiacos, play Valencia on Friday
Tottenham - beat Motherwell, next game is Nice next Wednesday
Wolves - drew with Empoli, beat Cadiz, next game is Gillingham in LC on Tuesday
Southampton - haven’t played since losing to Liverpool before break, next game is Lincoln in LC on Tuesday
West Ham - beat Cambridge and Udinese, next game is Fulham on Saturday