EPL games on Boxing Day 2024: 5 showdowns during the biggest post-holiday tradition

Boxing Day is one of the most action-packed days in the English Premier League (EPL). Taking place on December 26, just after Christmas, it’s packed with the biggest rivalries and fierce matches, making it a great way to celebrate the holidays and to end the year. See what’s coming on Boxing Day on Sportsbet.io with these previews of the top events and players.

To get ready for this big event, this preview will cover what matchups you should look forward to, which star players to see in action, and what Boxing Day is.

Place your Boxing Day bets here

Top 5 EPL Boxing Day events to watch and bet on

Sportsbet.io covers all eight exciting fixtures scheduled for Boxing Day. If you’re looking to place wagers, these five highlight events are the ones to focus on:

Manchester City vs Everton

Manchester City enters this Boxing Day clash as heavy favourites. The 4-time defending champions are in top form while Everton is in 15th place in the 2024/25 standings.

Their attacking firepower, led by Erling Haaland and Jérémy Doku, can easily sweep through Everton’s lineup, especially if Kevin de Bruyne is available. However, given the club's expanding injury list, Pep Guardiola would want to hold back this time. Man City is missing key players like Rodri, and Oscar Bobb who is sidelined until early 2025 due to injuries.

Everton, on the other hand, can leverage their solid defensive lineup revolving around Jarrad Branthwaite and James Tarkowski. They are lacking offence for now due to missing two offensive players, Youssef Chermiti and Bamidele Alli, so defence is their best hope to grind out a result against the defending champions.

Chelsea vs Fulham (West London Derby)

Chelsea is hosting a London derby on Boxing Day with Fulham as the visiting team. Both sides have high expected goals (xG) so it’s going to be a high-scoring game, especially with Cole Palmer in top form. Not to mention that they also have Raheem Sterling on the field, giving the club the advantage on offence.

The home team is expected to be in full force, which will make it tough for Fulham to deflect goals. Their task is made even more difficult by the absence of their centre-defensive midfielder Harrison Reed, who’s out until January. The away team is counting on Bernd Leno, Joachim Andersen, and Antonee Robinson to stand their ground.

Newcastle vs Aston Villa

Newcastle vs Aston Villa stands as one of the most exciting matchups of Boxing Day 2024. Both teams are in excellent form and have similar squad depth, making this a highly anticipated clash. Newcastle’s offensive lineup is led by Alexander Isak, Miguel Almirón, and Bruno Guimarães, who look to break down Villa’s defence.

Aston Villa also has a strong forward consisting of Ollie Watkins, Emiliano Buendia, and John McGinn, creating a thrilling back-and-forth match. Both teams have heavy forwards and flexible midfield, which shapes up to be a high-energy contest with plenty of goals.

Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Manchester United

Manchester United is currently in a tough spot as returning players like Carlos Casemiro and Lisandro Martínez couldn’t bring them back to form. They’ve struggled with consistency that pundits aren’t confident in their odds against teams in the relegation zone like the Wolves.

Nevertheless, Man United still has a strong lineup for the upcoming Boxing Day with Bruno Fernandez in the team. They have a strong midfield but they need to push forward since they need more goals to raise their standings. Otherwise, the Wanderers will apply pressure with the attacking duo of Matheus Cunha and Pedro Neto leading the offence.

Liverpool vs Leicester

Liverpool is currently taking the lead in the EPL 2024/25 standings and Leicester is still struggling for stability after a shaky start to the season. It’s safe to say that the home team is in top form, with the odds heavily stacked against the visitors.

Liverpool is bringing a solid offensive lineup led by Mohamed Salah and Dominik Szoboszlai. Meanwhile, Leicester faces a tough choice as they will either need to bank on Harvey Barnes on the defence or double down on offence with James Maddison and Kasper Schmeichel. Either way, it poses a challenging night for them at Anfield.

Bet on EPL outrights here

Star players to watch shine on Boxing Day in the EPL 2024/25

Watching head-to-head is exciting enough but it’s also fun to watch if you’re a fan of a particular player. Here are some star players to keep an eye on for this year’s Boxing Day matches:

Cole Palmer (Chelsea)

At just 22 years old, Palmer is currently seen as one of the top scorers in the EPL showcasing his dynamic attacking play. His performances have played a key role in the Blues’ rise into the top 4 of the 2024/25 season. Pundits are already looking at his potential to be a star in the EPL, and Boxing Day will be a chance for him to prove himself if Chelsea continues to nurture his talent.

Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)

Salah is also named among the seasons’ top scorers, not only for his consistent goals per appearance but also due to his ever-present pressure in any head-to-head. On top of that, he is also known for playmaking, opening opportunities for his teammates through proper positioning and field control. Liverpool counts on him to get the club through tricky defences that deliver results.

Erling Haaland (Manchester City)

Haaland needs no introduction after proving his prowess as one of EPL’s most consistent top scorers across all seasons since he debuted in 2022 for Manchester City. He has indeed been relaxing a bit in the middle of the 2024/25 season but Boxing Day is a special day in the EPL. Everyone is bringing their A-game and Haaland is likely to put on a show.

Alexander Isak (Newcastle)

Isak is a top scorer, a strong finisher, and an all-around reliable key figure in Newcastle’s lineup. His versatility enabled the club to try different strategies and has made offensive formations more feasible in most matchups. He’s up against Aston Villa this time so viewers can expect less pressure on the front, allowing Isak to be more performative than defensive on Boxing Day.

Jhon Duran (Aston Villa)

Duran is going to challenge Isak for ball control on Boxing Day. He’s known for his striking prowess, particularly his ability to break past heavy defences via long-range strikes. Duran makes risky plays but he has pulled it off consistently, giving Aston Villa a strong form thus far in the EPL. Aggressive is exactly what they need and he can certainly deliver.

What is Boxing Day?

Boxing Day is a public holiday celebrated annually on 26th December across countries with British heritage. This year, in 2024, it falls on a Thursday. The day is marked by post-Christmas sales, special events, and of course, exciting matches in the Premier League.

How did Boxing Day come to be?

The origins of Boxing Day trace its roots dating back to Victorian-era Britain as a gift-giving holiday. There is no official practice associated with the day other than charity, church collections, and feudal traditions of lords handing presents to their servants. Even so, its post-Christmas spirit continued and is celebrated as a public holiday for recreation and community building.

This tradition has turned Boxing Day into one of the most anticipated days in British football. Since it happens after Christmas, it’s a crucial time when most citizens aren’t busy and would like to watch an exciting game while in high spirits.

The best records in EPL Boxing Day history

West Bromwich Albion holds the record for having played the most Boxing Day matches, with over 105 games. Their last game was against Liverpool in the 2020/21 season, which is also their final campaign in the EPL.

Manchester United once dominated the EPL by their number of wins and goals scored across the leaderboard, including their 93 fixtures on Boxing Day. They hold the record for the most points scored (171) and most wins (53) as of the 2023/24 season. Their 2024/25 upcoming fixture against Wolves will be the Red Devils’ 94th appearance on Boxing Day.

Former midfielder Gareth Barry holds the record for the most Premier League appearances on Boxing Day. He has featured in 18 matches in his career across multiple clubs, including Aston Villa, Manchester City, Everton, and West Bromwich Albion.

Meanwhile, Bayern Munich striker, Harry Kane holds the record for the most number of goals scored on Boxing Day, netting 10 goals across 7 appearances. All matches were with Tottenham Hotspur but he transferred to Bayern Munich for the 2023/24 season.

Celebrate Boxing Day with Sportsbet.io and win big potential crypto

Get ready for all the exciting Boxing Day matchups and star players to watch in action. Enjoy betting on their fixtures at Sportsbet.io and win real crypto prizes with your winning wagers. Make the most of this festive season by exploring promotions like Pick 4 Win for Boxing Day fixtures or other offers to enrich your experience.

Bet on live football matches here

DISCLAIMER

The information provided by the blog above on Sportsbet.io is for general information purposes only. All information on the Site is provided in good faith, however, we make no representation, warranty, or guarantee of any kind, express or implied, regarding the accuracy, adequacy, validity, reliability, or completeness of any information or betting tips on the Site.