On a day when the nation patted their food-baby bellies and settled into their favourite chairs, Boxing Day in the Premier League proved the equal of any festive entertainment out there, with title challenging heavyweights slugging it out and a couple of heady comebacks to satisfy any neutral. This season has been unlike any other for some time, with only eight points separating the top eight in the table at the start of the day's play. Most surprisingly of all, Liverpool topped that group, with Manchester United propping it up. Everton, a team tipped by many to loiter around mid-table under a manager who had just suffered relegation (albeit twinned with FA Cup success), sat two points off the summit. Arsenal were also shaking off those who predicted oblivion for them after their opening 3-1 day home defeat to Aston Villa and had been proving that sometimes one sprinkling of genius (Ozil) can galvanize a side struggling to mix it with the big boys. Could December 26th keep the thrill factor rising? The answer was a resounding yes, and here are five of the standout moments as goals flew in around the country.
I am from Bangor, aged 24, and possess an MA in Journalism from The University Of Ulster. I have had work published in the Belfast Telegraph and interviewed several local footballers and Olympic athletes. I also run my own sports blog, 'Sporting Thought' in addition to contributing to What Culture.
