Boxing day. A great day for supporters, a lot less for players and managers. Anyway, for all of us, it is a day full of action. So, let’s get to the point.
Tottenham – Brighton
Heung-Min Son is missing for the hosts through suspension. Tottenham have no reason to worry. In the last seven Premier League home games Spurs have only one defeat, and Brighton have a single victory in the last eight matches in all competitions. Moreover, Tottenham are without a loss in the last 13 Premier League Boxing Day clashes, and their new boss Mourinho has never lost a top-tier game on Boxing Day. Brighton are without a holiday win since 2011.
Bournemouth – Arsenal
Diego Rico is absent due to suspension for the hosts, while Arsenal will be weakened by the unavailability of Calum Chambers for the same reason. Bournemouth have even six defeats in the last seven games and have been defeated in the last three home matches. Arsenal have won the last 3 matches against Bournemouth in all competitions, and never failed to score against this rival.
Aston Villa – Norwich
Both sides are without a win in the last five Premier League matches, and both are in the relegation zone on the table. What is interesting, in all five Norwich games both teams scored at least once, and that was the case in the four of the last five Aston Villa clashes (both rivals scored in 12 of Lion’s 16 matches in all competitions). Norwich have won only 1 of their last 13 league matches.
Chelsea – Southampton
Chelsea are without a loss in the last 14 Boxing Day Premier League games, more precisely since 2003. Southampton have only one defeat in six Boxing Day matches. The Blues have won seven of the last eight league games against this rival. The Saints managed to score in the last eight league away games, and both sides scored in eight of their nine clashes in all competitions.
Crystal Palace – West Ham
Plenty of absences on both sides. Palace without Andros Townsend, Gary Cahill, Jeffrey Schlupp and Joel Ward, The Hammers without suspended Ryan Fredericks, with several players who are questionable. The Eagles lost the last league clash, after four games without a loss, but have scored only once in the last three matches. Hosts are known for games with a small number of goals, especially at the home ground where they played under 2.5 goals nine times in the last ten matches. West Ham have only 2 wins in the last 12 games in all competitions. Hosts won only one Boxing Day clash from seven played.
Everton – Burnley
Burnley is without suspended Jeff Hendrick, while Everton have to play without injured Alex Iwobi, Morgan Schneiderlin, Theo Walcott… Hosts won only once in the last six Premier League matches, and Burnley come to Goodison Park with two consecutive wins. But guests are still without a win on Boxing Day in the top-flight, and they had four attempts. In the end, the most interesting: none of 11 mutual duels between Everton and Burnley have finished with a draw.
Sheffield United – Watford
Abdoulaye Doucoure can’t play for the guests due to suspension. For the first time this season Sheffield United have three consecutive wins (against Norwich City, Aston Villa and Brighton). Not counting the last Premier League round (a surprising win against Manchester United), Watford have only one point from five games, in which he scored only one goal. Watford are without a loss in the last four league clashes against this rival, but The Hornets are winless in the last seven Boxing Day games on the road.
Manchester United – Newcastle
The Red Devils have no special staffing concerns, while Newcastle have injured Allan Saint-Maximin, Ciaran Clark, Jamaal Lascelles and probably Paul Dummett. Guests are out of luck on Boxing Day and have only two wins and even six losses. United are in a series of 12 home games without defeat, and Newcastle have five loses in the last seven away matches in all competitions. Hosts have lost only one meeting with Newcastle in the last 34 league games.
Leicester – Liverpool
Not counting the loss in the League Cup clash with Aston Villa, nine days ago, in which Club World Champions played with their reserves, The Reds are without a defeat in the last 21 games in all competitions, with only two draws. Leicester’s series of eight Premier League wins ended in the penultimate round with a draw against Norwich, which was followed by a loss against Manchester City. The Foxes are unbeaten in the last 11 home games, or in 20 of the last 23 duels in all competitions. On the other hand, Liverpool have lost only one of the last 54 league matches. Liverpool won in the last two visits to Leicester, but have never won three consecutive away games against this rival.
What is Boxing Day?
Boxing Day is a holiday, the first day after Christmas, and it is always on the 26th of December. Boxing Day was originally related to the United Kingdom, which now is a public holiday. There are several theories about the origin of Boxing Day and the most accepted is the one related to the tradition of giving a Christmas gift. The term “Christmas box” dates back to the 17th century and presents gratefulness given at Christmas.
When it comes to sports, it is a tradition in the United Kingdom that all the best leagues have a full programme of football matches on Boxing Day. And not to forget sports betting, because a Boxing Day is one of the favourite days for all football gamblers, especially for United Kingdom, United States, Australia and Canada sports betting lovers.
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Explanation: player statistics (a/b c)
a - games played this season
b - goals scored
c - team position (d - defender, m - midfielder, f - forward, g - goalkeeper).
