Boxing Day football is a tradition in England that fans absolutely adore.
Each year, Premier League action helps soothe the hangovers from Christmas Day.
And since the division’s inception in 1992-93, there has been a plethora of Boxing Day classics.
So, while you are enjoying the Christmas Day leftovers and getting set for a comfy day on the sofa, or travelling to a ground for matchday, check out NetBet’s picks for the five best Boxing Day matches in Premier League history.
And do not forget, when you bet with us on the latest football odds, make sure to use our range of fantastic features like Acca Boost!
Chelsea 4-4 Aston Villa (2007)
We start with an eight-goal thriller at Stamford Bridge. Gareth Barry’s late, late penalty was the last of them to snatch a point for Aston Villa after they had initially gone 2-0 ahead thanks to a Shaun Maloney double.
Amazingly, the match also saw three red cards, with Zat Knight, Ricardo Carvalho and Ashley Cole all given their marching orders.
Knight’s red just before half-time kickstarted the Chelsea comeback, with a brace from Andriy Shevchenko and a strike from Alex putting the Blues 3-2 ahead.
Martin Laursen levelled for Villa against the odds but Michael Ballack thought he had won it with an 88th-minute free-kick, until Barry’s aforementioned conversion from the spot after Cole was judged to have handled the ball on the line. What a game!
Charlton 4-2 Chelsea (2003)
Another Boxing Day classic featuring the Blues. Claudio Ranieri’s side were dealt a major blow to their title hopes at The Valley as Charlton pulled off a famous win.
Hermann Hreidarsson put the Addicks ahead in the first minute, before John Terry levelled things up.
However, the Chelsea captain’s strike did not dampen Charlton’s spirits one bit. The hosts stormed into a 4-1 lead thanks to goals from Matt Holland, Jonatan Johansson and Jason Euell.
Eidur Gudjohnsen’s effort was merely a consolation as the expensively-assembled Blues squad left South East London with their heads firmly down.
Manchester United 4-3 Newcastle (2012)
The final Boxing Day fixture of Sir Alex Ferguson’s tenure as United boss was quite the spectacle.
James Perch stunned Old Trafford by putting Newcastle into an early lead, before Jonny Evans equalised and then put one past his own goalkeeper.
Patrice Evra made it 2-2, although a superb strike from Papiss Cisse put the Magpies 3-2 ahead and sent the away fans wild.
But as per usual under Ferguson’s rule, United responded in style. Robin van Persie levelled proceedings and Javier Hernandez then slid in to break Newcastle hearts with a classic ‘Fergie Time’ winner.
Bournemouth 3-3 West Ham (2017)
To say there was late drama in this Boxing Day fixture would be something of an understatement.
Bournemouth responded to James Collins’ seventh-minute opener with goals from Dan Gosling and Nathan Ake, claiming a 2-1 lead in the second half.
Marko Arnautovic then went into beast mode, the Austrian netting a brace in the final 10 minutes of regular time to put West Ham on the cusp of an important away win.
Callum Wilson had other ideas, though. The Cherries striker fired in from close range in stoppage-time to make it 3-3.
The referee initially disallowed the goal but eventually gave it, despite the fact Wilson appeared to be offside and looked to have handled the ball. The days before VAR, eh?
Coventry 3-2 Arsenal (1999)
We end with what was perhaps the final Premier League classic of the 20th century.
Arsene Wenger’s title chasers were left in tatters as Coventry pulled off one of their most famous top-flight wins.
Gary McAllister and Mustapha Hadji fired the hosts into a 2-0 lead, before a goal from Freddie Ljungberg dragged the Gunners back into the game.
But Coventry rallied and restored a two-goal advantage through a baby-faced Robbie Keane, with his effort ultimately proving the decisive one after Davor Suker’s 86th-minute strike.
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