While majority of leagues in Europe are on winter break, the Barclays Premier League offers football action to spice up the Christmas holiday.
Here are five quality BPL games you shouldn’t miss this festive period.
- Stoke City vs Man Utd
Venue: Britannia Stadium
Kick-off: 1:45pm
Head-to-head: Stoke 1, Draw 2, Man U 7
Match facts: Stoke City have won just one of their 14 Premier League matches against Manchester United (W1 D2 L11), but have lost just one of the last four at home (W1 D2 L1).
The Potters have never kept a clean sheet against United in the BPL.
Man Utd have won 18 of their last 19 fixtures played on Boxing Day (W18 L1).
- Chelsea vs Watford
Venue: Stamford Bridge
Kick-off: 4pm
Head-to-head: Chelsea 3, Draw 0, Watford 1
Match facts: Chelsea are unbeaten in the Barclays Premier League on Boxing Day since 2003, winning six and drawing four matches since then.
Odion Ighalo has scored in four successive BPL matches, equalling Troy Deeney’s record for Watford earlier in the season.
If he scores in this match, Ighalo will be the first player to score in five successive top-flight matches for Watford.
- Liverpool vs Leicester City
Venue: Anfield
Kick-off: 4pm
Head-to-head: Liverpool 5, Draw 3, Leicester 2
Match facts: Liverpool have won four and lost none of their last six Barclays Premier League matches against Leicester City.
The Reds have never lost at home in the competition on Boxing Day (W5 D3), but Leicester were one of the teams to earn a draw back in 1996.
Jamie Vardy has won six penalties in the top flight since the start of 2014/15; more than any other player.
- Manchester City vs Sunderland
Venue: Etihad Stadium
Kick-off: 4pm
Head-to-head: City 4, Draw 2, Sunderland 4
Match facts: Manchester City have won four and lost four of the last 10 Barclays Premier League matches against Sunderland, though they won both meetings last season.
Man City have only lost one of their last eight fixtures on Boxing Day (W6 D1 L1) and that was to Sunderland.
Jermain Defoe has scored six goals in 10 top-flight appearances on Boxing Day.
- Southampton vs Arsenal
Venue: St Mary’s Stadium
Kick-off: 8:45pm
Head-to-head: Southampton 1, Draw 4, Arsenal 5
Match facts: Southampton will be looking to win successive league meetings against Arsenal for the first time since April 1988, after winning 2-0 in their last encounter in January.
Arsenal have lost one of their last 11 Barclays Premier League matches against Southampton (W6 D4 L1).
The Gunners have won one of their last six league trips to Southampton (W1 D3 L2).
