Stuffed with turkey leftovers and very much in the festive spirit, there are few things better than taking in a game on December 26th. Apart from celebrating a certain someone’s birthday, it’s what Christmas is all about.
And if we’re really lucky, we’re treated to a gift-wrapped classic. A game made all-the-more memorable by taking place over Yuletide. Here are five Boxing Day bangers from the Premier League era...
Manchester City 5 Hull 1, 2008
At first glance there’s not a lot to see here. City steamroller an inferior opponent at the Etihad, racking up a hatful of goals in the process. Down the years that’s been a common enough occurrence.
But this was the winter of 2008 and their transformative takeover had only just been completed.
Granted, it had afforded them the Brazilian superstar Robinho but the Blues were decidedly ordinary back then and indeed went into this languishing in the drop-zone. Hull were a heady sixth. It was a different time.
Subverting their league positions, the hosts came out firing on all cylinders, putting four past the stunned Tigers before the break. And then it happened.
Furious at his team’s capitulation, manager Phil Brown ordered his team to stay on the pitch at half-time, hauling them down to the away end whereupon he lectured them like schoolchildren.
Perhaps his intention to humiliate did the trick. It was after all 1-1 in the second period.
Arsenal 6 Leicester 1, 2000
Having already put five past Charlton, Manchester City and Newcastle at Highbury earlier in the season, the Gunners went one better and treated a capacity crowd to six of the best against a perfectly decent Foxes line-up.
Amidst an exhibition of flowing, imaginative Wenger-ball it was Thierry Henry who stole the plaudits, bagging his first hat-trick in North London and doing so in some style.
Arsenal fans went home that chilly afternoon believing their team would be champions come May and the Premier League winner betting odds agreed. Eighteen months later, they were, soon after becoming invincible.
Bournemouth 3 West Ham 3, 2017
Getting fully into the spirit of the season six years ago, the Cherries and the Hammers decided to put on a pantomime, for the final ten minutes at least.
Until then, it was pretty standard fare, with Bournemouth coming from behind and looking sure to secure the points.
Only then Asmir Begovic in nets fumbled horribly, gifting Marko Arnautovic the simplest of simple tap-ins. The ball is behind you Asmir. Oh yes it is.
A last-minute Arnautovic strike then appeared to seal an impressive away win.
Step forward, referee Bobby Madley, in his role as villain of the piece. Boo!
Deep into stoppage-time, Callum Wilson clearly used his hand to divert the ball over the line, an infringement witnessed by the entire ground, not to mention the linesman.
Yet bizarrely, Madley over-ruled his assistant, pointing to the centre-circle. Oh no he didn’t. Oh yes he did.
Manchester United 4 Newcastle 3, 2012
While the Reds were favourites in the Premier League betting to secure a 13th title, the Magpies were enduring a season to forget.
Nobody therefore gave them a hope of getting anything from their Boxing Day trip to Old Trafford. Just three days later they travelled to Arsenal and were thumped 7-3.
To Newcastle’s enormous credit however they managed to take the lead on three separate occasions, each time finding themselves pegged back amidst a constant onslaught of home attacks.
In the final minute Christmas’ cruel streak struck, with Javier Hernandez poaching in trademark fashion.
Chelsea 4 Aston Villa 4, 2007
An outrageous 90 minutes of end-to-end football at Stamford Bridge certainly livened up the cold spectators, and moreover provided top-notch entertainment for those tuning in to Match of the Day that evening, scoffing their hundredth mince pie.
Viewed beforehand as sacrificial lambs, Villa were heading into the break 2-1 up but were undone when Zak Knight saw red. Andrei Shevchenko scored from the resulting pen.
The Brazilian Alex put the Blues in front on the hour-mark only for a resilient Villa to strike back via Martin Laursen. Soon after, Chelsea were also a man down, Ricardo Carvalho the offender.
In the game’s final moments Michael Ballack converted a wonderful free-kick and surely that concluded matters? It didn’t. Well into injury-time Ashley Cole handled on the line – duly seeing red for his troubles – and Gareth Barry slotted home a last-gasp spot-kick.
Eight goals, three red cards, and an unlikely draw. Football over Christmas really is the best.
*Credit for all of the photos in this article belongs to Alamy*
