Premier League Action Returns on Boxing Day

premier league
The official Premier League winter ball
PHOTO:
@premierleague/Twitter
Courtesy

The Premier League on December 26th has a long tradition with festive fixtures coming thick and fast. 

It is yet another time for the most wonderful day of the year in the Premier League with six matches taking place on Boxing Day. 

However, three fixtures were postponed due to the teams reporting lack of squad numbers due to Covid 19. TeamKenya gives you a breakdown of what you should expect in the six festive fixtures that will take place. 

 

Tottenham vs Crystal Palace 

Tottenham Hotspur will be welcoming Crystal Palace at Spurs Stadium in London for a Boxing Day Premier League match as they look for three points. 

Tottenham performed well in their previous fixture where they drew 2-2 with Liverpool. They left Anfield with a point as they continued their charge for the top-four. 

Conte who is their new manager in a short space of time has made them incredibly more efficient in both boxes. That should make them too strong for Palace, who have won just one of their last six Premier League games. 

Tottenham are defending deeper under Conte meaning they are a very hard team to construct counter-attacks against 

Palace may fall foul against the Spurs counters but on the whole, this should be an exciting fixture to watch along. 

 

Norwich vs Arsenal 

Norwich have failed to score against Chelsea, Manchester City, Liverpool, Manchester United, Tottenham and Arsenal this season, losing all of those matches to nil. 

Arsenal's new signings Ben White, Gabriel Tomiyasu and Aaron Ramsdale have proven to be vital in Arsenal's defence as they haven't conceded a goal before the 38th minute in those 14 fixtures. 

Arsenal's record under Arteta against relegation-threatened teams also should instil plenty of confidence in a comfortable Arsenal away day win without conceding. 

The Gunners beat all the relegated teams away from home without conceding last season to an aggregate score of 8-0 and have already seen off Burnley, Newcastle, Watford and Norwich while keeping clean sheets this season. 

 

West Ham vs Southampton 

West Ham have only won one of their last six Premier League games, that was against Chelsea, taking five points from 18 available. 

The Hammers will host the Saints in the Club's final home game of 2021 seeking to maintain a place in the top five and just a second victory in the last seven top-flight fixtures. 

Despite West Ham’s slightly worrying drop in their attacking number they are still going into the Boxing Day match in the top five for the first time since the 2014/15 season. 

Southampton, meanwhile, go into the festive season 15th in the Premier League table and without a win in their last six top-flight matches.

The reverse fixture played at St Mary's Stadium in September ended in a goalless draw, but West Ham have won the last four Premier League meetings between the two clubs at London Stadium, scoring three goals in all four of those victories. 

 

Aston Villa vs Chelsea 

Chelsea were three points clear of Liverpool and four points ahead of Manchester City after 12 Premier League games at the end of November. 

They now trail leaders City by six points and Liverpool by three. 

With their latest performance it seems as if the title has probably slipped out of their grasp as they now trail leaders City by six points and Liverpool by three. 

Thomas Tuchel has found it hard to stop Villa in their three meetings since he took charge, winning just one of the three games, including suffering a defeat on the last day of last season.  

Villa suffers a blow as their Head coach, Steven Gerrard will not be able to sit in the dugout for the home game against Chelsea on Sunday or Tuesday's trip to Leeds United.  

 

Brighton vs Brentford 

Brighton will be welcoming new boys Brentford at the American Express Community Stadium in the packed Boxing Day list of fixtures in the Premier League match. 

Brighton will be without Lewis Dunk as they try breaking their winless run that is now at 11 Premier League matches. 

The home team are 13th in the campaign despite them starting the campaign so well, which raised expectations with their fans. 

The visitors however are 12th in the League sharing the same points with Brighton. 

 

Newcastle vs Manchester United 

Despite the change of managers Newcastle are yet to be convinced by Eddie Howe that he has the formula to keep Newcastle in the Premier League. 

The team has a problem of being able to keep clean sheets having  conceded 41 Premier League goals.There are only three teams in Premier League history to have conceded more after 18 games. 

In his seven games so far, Howe has made very little impact on Newcastle's defensive shortcomings. That is likely to continue in this game and for the remainder of the season with this squad. 

As for Manchester United their new interim manager Ralf Rangnick has been able to make an immediate impact on results since his November appointment, winning both his Premier League games 1-0.