Right now of 12 months, it is vital to recollect the actual that means of Christmas.
It isn’t concerning the presents, or the untold quantity of foods and drinks. It is about soccer.
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Supporters from up and down the nation, wearing embarrassing jumpers they have to fake to love, escape to a winter wonderland of sport on December twenty sixth annually.
Or at the least, that’s what’s imagined to occur.
The powers-that-be have gone full Scrooge this 12 months and scheduled only one Premier League match on Boxing Day.
Fortunately for you, that match between Manchester United and Newcastle is stay on talkSPORT – and the excellent news does not finish there.
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We’re the one place on nationwide radio to listen to stay soccer on Boxing Day – with FOUR Championship video games stay throughout the community as a part of a full EFL schedule.
To get you within the temper, talkSPORT.com performs the Ghost of Christmas Previous, taking you thru a number of the highest fixtures from soccer’s favorite day of the 12 months.
So, know them higher now, and revisit some Christmas crackers.
Bolton 4-3 Newcastle, 2002
Defending typically appears to take Christmas off and 2002 was no exception. When three objectives had been scored within the first ten minutes, it was clear soccer followers had been in for a festive deal with.
An Alan Shearer equaliser in between objectives from Jay-Jay Okocha and Ricardo Gardner set the tone for an exhilarating encounter. Michael Ricketts, who as soon as performed for England, scored a brace earlier than Shola Ameobi and Shearer arrange a tense end.
Charlton 4-2 Chelsea, 2003
Roman Abramovich’s first blue Christmas didn’t fairly go to plan. It took Charlton simply 42 seconds to take the lead.
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John Terry did equalise however the Addicks had been in winter wonderland as they cruised to a 4-1 lead with objectives from Matt Holland, Jonatan Johansson and Jason Euell.
Eidur Gudjohnsen’s comfort for the Blues did nothing to cease the Valley devoted having fun with a very merry Christmas.
Chelsea 4-4 Aston Villa, 2007
Villa have had their fair proportion of Christmas crackers on Boxing Day. With three pink playing cards and eight objectives, this one had all of it.
The Villans took a shock 2-0 lead courtesy of a Shaun Maloney double, however Zat Knight’s pink card paved the way in which for Chelsea’s Andriy Shevchenko to bag twice and stage the scoring.
The sport seemed past ten-man Villa when Alex put Chelsea forward, however Martin Laursen equalised to make it 3-3 with 18 minutes remaining. And the pendulum swung additional in Villa’s favour when Ricardo Carvalho’s pink card evened up the numbers.
Nevertheless it was the Blues who appeared to grab victory with a Michael Ballack free-kick.
When you can consider it, the sport turned as soon as extra when Ashley Cole was despatched off for dealing with on the road, earlier than Gareth Barry rescued some extent leaving everybody in Stamford Bridge completely bewildered.
Aston Villa 2-2 Arsenal, 2008
Very like this season, the Gunners had been hoping to strengthen their title credentials and seemed to have carried out so when objectives from Denilson and Abou Diaby put them forward both facet of half-time.
Villa had been hoping for a Christmas miracle and it got here to them within the form of a Gareth Barry spot kick, adopted by a last-gasp equaliser by Zat Knight.
Manchester Metropolis 5-1 Hull, 2008
Boxing Day 2008 was immortalised by Phil Brown for one of the crucial iconic staff talks in Premier League historical past.
The Tigers appeared to be affected by a Christmas Day hangover within the first-half and located themselves 4-0 all the way down to Metropolis at half time.
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Brown sat his males down on the pitch in entrance of the travelling Hull followers and unleashed a really public verbal tirade.
It did little to vary the result, as Metropolis nonetheless received by a cushty margin, however they did get a aim again – nice job Phil!
Manchester United 4-3 Newcastle, 2012
Boxing Day 2025 sees a repeat of this tasty fixture and if it is something just like the 2012 version, we’re in for a deal with.
This sport noticed Champions-elect Man United come from behind 3 times to steal a dramatic victory.
James Perch gave the Magpies an early lead earlier than Jonny Evans equalised, however the United defender cancelled out his aim by then turning the ball into his personal internet, restoring Newcastle’s lead. Patrice Evra levelled as soon as once more with a low drive earlier than a Papiss Cisse particular made it 3-2.
Robin van Persie scored to make it 3-3 and Javier Hernandez scored a trademark winner to place United in entrance for the primary time within the final minute.
Tottenham 5-2 Southampton, 2017
Harry Kane smashed Alan Shearer’s Premier League document for objectives scored in a calendar 12 months by hitting a hat-trick in Tottenham’s 5-2 mauling of Southampton.
Kane wanted just one aim to move the 36 scored by Shearer in 1995 however the Spurs striker banged in three at Wembley to complete 2017 on an astonishing 39 objectives in 36 league matches.
Dele Alli and Heung-Min Son helped put Southampton out of sight within the second half regardless of Sofiane Boufal pulling one again at 4-0 and substitute Dusan Tadic decreasing the deficit late on.
Bournemouth 3-3 West Ham, 2017
A controversial stoppage-time aim salvaged a 3-3 draw for Bournemouth towards West Ham in an exhilarating Premier League encounter at Dean Court docket.
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Callum Wilson was credited with the Cherries’ third after he had the ultimate contact as Nathan Ake headed goalwards. There was a suspicion of offside and handball however referee Bobby Madley finally awarded the equaliser after a prolonged dialog with assistant Simon Lengthy.
Wilson’s disputed effort cancelled out a brace from Hammers ahead Marko Arnautovic that had David Moyes’ travelling facet anticipating victory.
