The festive day has witnessed a number of exciting games in the English top flight.
Boxing Day has been a national holiday in the United Kingdom since 1871. But for football fans, it only means one thing: A day to celebrate the Premier League.
Other European leagues take a break during the Christmas holidays, but the English top flight piles on the fixtures. On December 26th each year, football fans enjoy a string of Premier League matches that goes on all day long.
Let’s review some of the craziest Boxing Day matches of all time.
3- Arsenal 6-1 Leicester City (2000)
Thierry Henry scored his first Premier League hat-trick as Arsenal dismantled Leicester on Boxing Day.
The Gunners, who were competing against Manchester United and Leeds United in the title race, started the game with fine momentum.
Henry opened the scoring for the Gunners in the 35th minute. But Arsenal’s goal-fest started when Patrick Vieira doubled their lead five minutes into the second period.
Leicester got one back only four minutes later. But Arsenal made it 4-1 with goals from Henry and Freddie Ljungberg. Henry then completed his hat-trick when he dribbled past Leicester goalkeeper Flowers in the 82nd minute.
The Frenchman then provided an assist for Tony Adams, who completed Leicester’s embarrassing defeat in the extra time.
2- Chelsea 4-4 Aston Villa (2007)
One of the most thrilling games of the 2007-08 season saw Villa hold Chelsea to a draw at Stamford Bridge.
A brilliant first-half display by Villa put them ahead 2-0, with Shaun Maloney scoring both goals. But Chelsea got back into the game when Andriy Shevchenko converted a penalty just before half-time.
Shevchenko made it 2-2 with a stunning shot only five minutes into the second period. An assist from the Ukrainian star then saw Alex put Chelsea ahead as they thought they had completed their comeback.
But Villa bounced back by making it 3-3 through Martin Laursen. Michael Ballack put Chelsea ahead once again by converting a free-kick. But a last-minute handball by Ashley Cole saw Villa score their fourth goal with a penalty.
1- The insane Boxing Day of 1963
December 26th 1963, is forever remembered as one of the craziest days in English football history.
Eight games had scorelines with more than six goals, while only two teams failed to score.
Liverpool’s 6-1 win over Stoke City didn’t get much attention as Burnley stunned United with a similar result. Fulham scored ten goals against Ipswich Town, while Tottenham drew 4-4 against West Brom in another classic Boxing Day game.
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