Boxing Day soccer within the this 12 months was a deal with.
For the primary time in what looks like eternally, there have been eight video games on Boxing Day, the right tonic for followers who might need eaten a bit an excessive amount of on Christmas Day.
The day kicked off with internet hosting , earlier than 5 video games on the conventional 3pm slot. Then, hosted at Molineux with the day closing out at Anfield with vs .
Regardless of being able to observe each sport on TV, it may possibly nonetheless be arduous to maintain observe of the whole lot. Particularly if it’s important to combat for the management with household wanting to observe movies, or play video games.
So we’re right here as all the time to spherical up the motion from the primary seven video games of Boxing Day 2024. Get your mince pies and tuck in.
A (dangerous) first for Erling Haaland
For some, December is probably the most great time of the 12 months. However Erling Haaland might be wishing this month, and this 12 months, can be over rapidly. Fortunately for him there are only a few days left.
The Norwegian is at the moment within the worst spell of his Premier League profession. Man Metropolis drew 1-1 with Everton in Boxing Day’s first sport, extending their run within the Premier League to only one win in 9. Extra factors dropped, Man Metropolis did have the possibility to go 2-1 up 11 minutes into the second half.
Man Metropolis had been awarded a penalty for a foul from Vitalii Mykolenko on Savinho. Haaland stepped as much as take it, and lots of anticipated a purpose. However his effort was saved by Jordan Pickford. And he couldn’t discover the web for the match.
Haaland has now gone 4 league residence video games in a row with out scoring for the primary time with Man Metropolis. He’s solely gone that lengthy with out a residence league purpose thrice within the prime flight earlier than, as soon as within the Bundesliga with Borussia Dortmund and twice within the Eliteserien.
His worst residence scoring league run got here in 2017-18 when he went eight video games in a row, seven within the 2017 Eliteserien marketing campaign and one within the 2018 season. However that was proper at the beginning of his profession, with Haaland turning 17 over the course of the drought.
Erling Haaland’s final 13 Premier League appearances:
◎ 87 touches in opp. field◎ 47 pictures ◎ 20 pictures heading in the right direction ◎ 8.24 xG ◎ 3 targets ◎ 1 missed penalty
He had scored 10 targets in his first 5 PL appearances this season. 👀
Cole Palmer’s excellent 12 months
Whereas a present Man Metropolis man is struggling, a former one continues to try. Though did find yourself shedding towards (extra on that in a bit), Cole Palmer as soon as once more proved how important he’s to the Blues.
The Englishman opened the scoring for Chelsea with a beautiful purpose, weaving by Fulham’s defence earlier than inserting the ball within the backside nook from exterior the field — additionally slotting his shot by the legs of Issa Diop for added aptitude. It was his twentieth Premier League residence purpose in 2024, bookended by targets towards Fulham (staring his scoring towards the Cottagers in January).
Cole Palmer has now been straight concerned in additional Premier League targets in 2024 (39) than Erling Haaland was in the entire of 2023 (38).
Think about if Metropolis had stored him. 👀
He’s solely did not register a purpose or an help in 4 residence league video games in 2024. Palmer additionally took a Chelsea report outright, scoring 26 targets in 2024 within the Premier League — another than Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink managed in 2021. And the previous Chelsea striker was blissful about shedding the report.
“I’m an previous man. This [record] has been standing for an extended, very long time. It’s time now that that is gone. And there’s no higher participant than Palmer to do this,” Hasselbaink advised Amazon Prime Sport.
Fulham finish lengthy lengthy wait
Fulham would get the final chuckle, although. The Cottagers hadn’t loved their journeys to Stamford Bridge of late. Chelsea had received 4 of the final six league conferences at Stamford Bridge, all with out conceded.
The final time Fulham had breached a Chelsea defence at Stamford Bridge got here on Boxing Day in 2011, when Clint Dempsey scored in a 1-1 draw. Harry Wilson was the person to finish the drought, coming off the bench to equalise within the 82nd minute.
However Fulham weren’t carried out there. They stored pushing and purpose the win they might say they deserved, staying within the sport and punishing Chelsea. Rodrigo Muniz scored the winner within the fifth minute of harm time, the most recent winner Chelsea have conceded at Stamford Bridge since 2003.
It secured Fulham’s first away win towards Chelsea since October 1979, when either side had been within the second tier.
FT: Chelsea 1-2 Fulham
Fulham win a league sport at Stamford Bridge for the primary time since 1979.
They usually did it with a stoppage time winner…
Forest rising
are going from energy to energy this season. Nuno Espirito Santo has labored wonders since taking on a 12 months in the past.
After 18 video games performed, Forest sit third within the Premier League, 5 factors away from fifth-placed . We might be seeing them genuinely put in a battle to return to the Champions League.
It was on at the present time final 12 months that Espirito Santo received his first sport as Nottingham Forest supervisor, beating Newcastle 3-1 after shedding his opening match towards . The victory, Forest’s fourth of the season, stored them two factors away from the relegation zone.
Forest ended final season on 32 factors with 9 wins in complete. After 18 video games this season, Forest are on 34 factors with 10 wins. The tenth win got here towards because of Anthony Elanga’s purpose, and was Forest’s fourth consecutive Premier League victory. It’s their greatest run within the competitors since Could 1995.
Nottingham Forest have already received extra Premier League video games in 2024/25 than they did within the WHOLE of the 2 earlier campaigns.
◎ 2022/23: 38 video games, 9 wins ◎ 2023/24: 38 video games, 9 wins ◉ 2024/25: 18 video games, 10 wins
What a job Nuno Espírito Santo is doing. 👏
Olimpic-oh no
For the second time in three video games, Manchester United have conceded a purpose direct from a nook. After watching Son Heung-min’s Olimpico within the EFL Cup final week, Matheus Cunha opted to attempt his luck on the hour mark as Wolves hosted Man United.
And it was good. The loft beat Andre Onana, who tried to name a foul because the ball looped over his head, earlier than curling into the purpose. There was no participant on the road attempting to cease it, or steal the purpose for himself. It was nothing however internet.
It was simply the second purpose Man United have conceded straight from a nook within the Premier League, after Junior Stanislas for Bournemouth in December 2015. And that one was closely wind-assisted.
Fernandes sees pink once more
Wolves’ win over Man United was aided by the Crimson Devils happening to 10 males. And their captain was as soon as once more on the receiving finish of the pink card.
There was loads of dialog amongst Man United followers as as to whether Bruno Fernandes ought to nonetheless carry the armband. And this might be one other level towards the Portuguese midfielder.
The sending off got here for 2 yellow playing cards, the second simply moments after the beginning of the second half. It was a rash problem for Fernandes, one you shouldn’t be making if you happen to’ve already been booked.
Fernandes has now been despatched off thrice throughout all competitions this season, the primary Man United participant to take action since Nemanja Vidic in 2008-09.
Bruno Fernandes is the primary Manchester United participant to be despatched off thrice in a single season throughout all competitions since Nemanja Vidic in 2008/09.🛁
Newcastle’s quick starters strike once more
Newcastle boosted their prime 4 hopes with a snug 3-0 win over , leaving them 4 factors behind Arsenal. Villa went into the sport off the again of a 2-1 win over Man Metropolis on the weekend, so Newcastle may have wished to settle nerves rapidly.
It took them two minutes. Anthony Gordon opened the scoring with a beautiful curling effort from exterior the field, leaving Emiliano Martinez no change. After Alexander Isak’s fast purpose towards Ipswich City on the weekend, it’s the primary time Newcastle have scored contained in the opening two minutes in back-to-back matches.
Isak and Joelinton added to the scoring to make issues snug within the second half. The Swede’s purpose made him the sixth Newcastle participant to attain in 5 or extra consecutive Premier League video games, becoming a member of Alan Shearer, Andy Cole, Les Ferdinand, Papiss Cisse and Joe Willock. Solely Shearer (27 in 2002) has scored extra Premier League targets in a calendar 12 months for Newcastle than Isak’s 24 in 2024.
Jhon Duran’s run involves an abrupt finish
Newcastle’s job towards Villa was made simpler by Jhon Duran’s pink card. The younger striker was beginning as soon as once more for Villa, reward for his nice run of former.
Nonetheless recognized extra as a brilliant sub, Duran had scored in each sport he’s began for Villa throughout all competitions this season. He was the one to open the scoring towards Man Metropolis on the weekend.
However his afternoon lasted simply 31 minutes and 15 seconds. After a deal with from Fabian Schar, Duran adopted by together with his foot and related with the defender’s again. The pink card went down as violent conduct, which sees Duran suspended for 3 video games.
Duran is the second youngest participant to be despatched off within the Premier League in a Boxing Day sport, behind Wayne Rooney who was despatched off for Everton towards Birmingham in 2002 aged 17 years and 63 days.
Jarrod Bowen’s landmark second
continued their mini revival with a 1-0 win over . The Hammers are actually unbeaten in 4 league video games and as much as 14th, 10 factors away from the relegation zone.
It was a sport stuffed with pictures however not an excessive amount of accuracy, and West Ham definitely rode their luck at instances. However they had been those to return out on prime because of Jarrod Bowen’s 59th-minute purpose.
The Englishman has now scored 100 league targets in England’s prime 4 tiers, with 48 of these coming within the Premier League. Solely Michail Antonio (68) has scored extra Premier League targets for West Ham than Bowen.
Boring, boring Palace
and followers received’t be dashing to observe the highlights of their Boxing Day sport. A scarcity of accuracy was as soon as once more the issue, significantly for Bournemouth. The Cherries had 18 pictures in complete, however solely 4 hit the goal.
The Eagles, in the meantime, had 10 pictures with 4 heading in the right direction. However we must always have recognized this is able to be goalless. Since their return to the Premier League in 2013-14, Crystal Palace have been concerned in 36 goalless attracts within the top-flight, with no workforce managing extra.
Palace have been sluggish starters too, failing to attain within the first half in 287 of their Premier League video games since returning to the top-flight. That’s 37 greater than another aspect in that point.
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