Not many days in football history can rival Boxing Day 1963. That isn’t the only time the 26th December has provided footballing drama, however.
The Christmas period is a notoriously tricky spell in English football, such is the frequency of matches. Slip ups are to be expected, and matches have often bordered on the unbelievable.
Football betting can become treacherous around the festivities. Whether that’s to be blamed on players enjoying too many pigs in blankets or just sheer fatigue is up for discussion. Upsets are commonplace.
Let’s take a look back at 10 of the most entertaining Boxing Day matches, from the bonkers to the brilliant…
Manchester United 0-3 Liverpool (1978)
One of football’s greatest rivalries played out one of its most famous episodes in 1978. Liverpool were at their most dominant with Kenny Dalglish and Graeme Souness at the height of their powers.
Manchester United were played off the park by their bitter northwest rivals, who had made it two European Cups in two years earlier in the spring of 1978. They went on to win the 1978/79 league title, sparking a run of five titles in six years.
West Bromwich Albion 4-4 Tottenham Hotspur (1963)
Spurs were in the midst of a title race when they travelled to the west Midlands on Boxing Day 1963. The north London club were a couple of years removed from the double and had won the Cup Winners’ Cup earlier in the year.
The visitors got a lead, with Jimmy Greaves scoring twice, but West Brom roared back in the second half to earn a point.
Chelsea 4-4 Aston Villa (2007)
Chelsea were chasing the title in 2007/08 when they welcomed a strong Aston Villa side to Stamford Bridge.
The Blues finished the match with nine men and Petr Cech made a rare error to let the lead slip after Andriy Shevchenko and Michael Ballack had given them the lead.
In-play sports betting would have been wild on this match. The twists and turns made it a lock for this list.
Manchester United 4-3 Newcastle United (2012)
This had everything: Mike Dean, Alex Ferguson irate, seven goals. It was Ferguson’s final Boxing Day, the atmosphere was ground-shaking.
After James Perch, a Jonny Evans own goal and a superb Papiss Cisse finish made it 3-2 to the visitors, all hope looked lost for the Red Devils.
Robin van Persie levelled it up, however, and there was a sense of expectancy from an Old Trafford faithful that had seen this all before. Javier Hernandez tapped a cross home in the last minute to give Ferguson a glorious final Boxing Day in charge.
Sheffield Wednesday 3-3 Manchester United (1992)
The very first Boxing Day of the Premier League era featured Sheffield Wednesday sprint off to a 3-0 lead at the hour mark over eventual champions Manchester United.
In true United fashion, though, the match wasn’t over. Having run off the turkey lethargy, United fought back through a Brian McLair brace. Eric Cantona then took advantage of a defensive lapse from the hosts to make it 3-3.
Charlton Athletic 4-2 Chelsea (2003)
Just a few months after buying Chelsea, Charlton provided Roman Abramovich with an unwelcome Christmas present.
Hermann Hreidarsson wasn’t renowned for his goal scoring, but he took advantage of a lethargic Chelsea defence to put the hosts up inside a minute.
John Terry equalised before goals from Matt Holland, Jonatan Johansson and Jason Euell secured an improbable win for Alan Curbishley’s men. Few, if any, Premier League tips would have predicted this.
Coventry City 3-2 Arsenal (1999)
Another goal fest, another upset. Coventry were no mugs back in 1999, but they were underdogs when they hosted reigning champions Arsenal a few days before the millennium celebrations.
Gordan Strachan saw his side rip the Gunners apart. A young striker by the name of Robbie Keane got on the scoresheet, as did Mustapha Hadji and Gary McAllister.
Aston Villa 2-2 Arsenal (2008)
A year after their thriller at the Bridge, Aston Villa were in for a wild Boxing Day once again. Martin O’Neill’s side were by far the better team in the first half, but somehow found themselves two before the 50-minute mark.
Abou Diaby and Denilson looked to have done enough for the Gunners to snatch all three points. A Gareth Barry penalty and a last-gasp strike from Zat Knight changed that.
Arsenal 6-1 Leicester City (2000)
It couldn’t be further from the truth right now, but at the turn of the century, Arsenal were the scariest team in the Premier League. This was years before the invincibles season, yet it could be argued as one of their most memorable performances.
Arsene Wenger’s side led 1-0 at half-time. They were rampant in the second half, led by a Thierry Henry hat-trick. It was a demolition job.
Bournemouth 3-3 West Ham United (2017)
It was a Christmas cracker on the south coast as Bournemouth and West Ham shared six goals back in 2017.
James Collins put the visitors ahead in the seventh minute, but a goal before the interval and an assist soon after from Dan Gosling gave Bournemouth the lead.
Marko Arnautovic looked to have flipped the match again with goals in the 81st and 89th minutes. Callum Wilson rescued a point, and sent the home crowd crazy, with an added-time equaliser.
*Credit for the main photo belongs to Jon Super / AP Photo*
