h79snht.topda betcris： Boxing Day is one of the biggest occasions in the footballing calendar, with plenty of goals scored just after Christmas in the Premier League over the years.
da brdice： The festive period is in full swing in England, with all 92 teams in the Football League having to tackle busy schedules.
It is Boxing Day that so many football fans look forward to the most, as supporters up and down the country go to watch their team play or sit on the sofa and take in the action on TV.
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Here are the top 10 seasons for goals on Boxing Day in the Premier League.
Most Premier League goals on Boxing Day
Rank
Season
Matches
Goals
Goals per game
1
1999/00
10
35
3.50
2
2003/04
10
31
3.10
3
2002/03
10
31
3.10
4
2017/18
8
29
3.62
5
2018/19
9
29
3.22
6
2007/08
9
29
3.22
7
2000/01
9
29
3.22
8
2013/14
10
29
2.90
9
2021/22
6
28
4.67
10
2005/06
10
28
2.80
10 2005/06 28 goals
The 2005/06 season saw Chelsea at the peak of their powers under Jose Mourinho, with the Blues cruising to Premier League title glory for the second year in a row.
They didn’t find it easy to get the better of west London rivals Fulham on Boxing Day, edging the match 3-2 at Stamford Bridge thanks to goals from William Gallas, Frank Lampard and Hernan Crespo.
Elsewhere, a thriller saw Wigan Athletic win 4-3 at home to a Manchester City side not yet renowned for their financial power, accounting for 7 of the 28 goals scored on Boxing Day that year.
Premier League results: Boxing Day 2005
Aston Villa
4-0
Everton
Charlton
0-1
Arsenal
Chelsea
3-2
Fulham
Liverpool
2-0
Newcastle
Man Utd
3-0
West Brom
Middlesbrough
0-2
Blackburn
Portsmouth
1-1
West Ham
Sunderland
0-0
Bolton
Tottenham
2-0
Birmingham
Wigan
4-3
Man City
9 2021/22 28 goals
In 2021/22, only 12 Premier League sides played on Boxing Day, which has become more of a regular occurrence in the modern game, with matches spaced out more. An entertaining day still played out, with 28 goals scored at an average of 4.67 per game.
There were nine goals at the Etihad as City thumped Leicester City 6-3, while Arsenal were rampant away to Norwich City, winning 5-0. It was Pep Guardiola’s side who eventually prevailed in the title race that season, pipping Liverpool on the final day.
Premier League results: Boxing Day 2021
Aston Villa
1-3
Chelsea
Brighton
2-0
Brentford
Man City
6-3
Leicester
Norwich
0-5
Arsenal
Tottenham
3-0
Crystal Palace
West Ham
2-3
Southampton
8 2013/14 29 goals
The most high-profile game on Boxing Day in 2013/14 pitted City against Liverpool at the Etihad, in a tussle between the two sides who would eventually battle for the title right up until the last day. It was the hosts who edged out a tight game, with Alvaro Negredo scoring the winner in a 2-1 victory.
There was also a 3-2 win for Manchester United away to Hull City, with the Red Devils coming from 2-0 down, while Newcastle United thrashed Stoke City 5-1 at St James’ Park.
Premier League results: Boxing Day 2013
Aston Villa
0-1
Crystal Palace
Cardiff
0-3
Southampton
Chelsea
1-0
Swansea
Everton
0-1
Sunderland
Hull
2-3
Man Utd
Man City
2-1
Liverpool
Newcastle
5-1
Stoke
Norwich
1-2
Fulham
Tottenham
1-1
West Brom
West Ham
1-3
Arsenal
7 2000/01 29 goals
There were plenty of goals to enjoy on the last Boxing Day of the century back in 2000 – a tally of 29 in nine matches – during a season in which United cruised to a third successive Premier League crown.
Arsenal won 6-1 against Leicester at Highbury, with Thierry Henry notching a hat-trick for the Gunners, while West Ham won 5-0 at home to London rivals Charlton Athletic.
Sunderland were 4-1 winners away to Bradford City, while Middlesbrough won 1-0 at home to Liverpool thanks to a Christian Karembeu goal.
Premier League results: Boxing Day 2000
Arsenal
6-1
Leicester
Aston Villa
0-1
Man Utd
Bradford
1-4
Sunderland
Everton
1-2
Coventry
Ipswich
2-2
Chelsea
Man City
0-0
Derby
Middlesbrough
1-0
Liverpool
Newcastle
2-1
Leeds
West Ham
5-0
Charlton
6 2007/08 29 goals
On Boxing Day in 2007, Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United side secured three points away to Sunderland as they won 4-0 at the Stadium of Light, while a last-gasp Steven Gerrard strike was needed for Liverpool to prevail 2-1 at Derby County.
The standout game of the day was Chelsea’s 4-4 draw against Aston Villa at Stamford Bridge, with Gareth Barry’s penalty earning the visitors a draw in stoppage time.
Premier League results: Boxing Day 2007
Birmingham
3-0
Middlesbrough
Chelsea
4-4
Aston Villa
Derby
1-2
Liverpool
Everton
2-0
Bolton
Portsmouth
0-0
Arsenal
Sunderland
0-4
Man Utd
Tottenham
5-1
Fulham
West Ham
1-1
Reading
Wigan
1-0
Newcastle
5 2018/19 29 goals
Intriguingly, there have been 29 goals scored on Boxing Day in the Premier League on five separate occasions, one of which was in the 2018/19 campaign.
Everton may not be renowned for their goalscoring prowess these days, but their 5-1 win at Burnley was arguably the most impressive result on the biggest day in the festive football calendar in 2018.
Elsewhere, City were defeated 2-1 away to Leicester, which was only one of four league games Guardiola’s side lost en route to yet another title.
Premier League results: Boxing Day 2018
Brighton
1-1
Arsenal
Burnley
1-5
Everton
Crystal Palace
0-0
Cardiff
Fulham
1-1
Wolves
Leicester
2-1
Man City
Liverpool
4-0
Newcastle
Man Utd
3-1
Huddersfield
Tottenham
5-0
Bournemouth
Watford
1-2
Chelsea
4 2017/18 29 goals
2017/18’s Boxing Day just pips 2018/19 by virtue of there being more goals per game – 3.63 compared to 3.22.
Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool thumped Swansea City 5-0 at Anfield, with Roberto Firmino scoring twice and Philippe Coutinho also finding the net just before leaving the Reds to join Barcelona.
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Meanwhile, Tottenham Hotspur thrashed Southampton 5-2, Bournemouth and West Ham played out a 3-3 thriller and Man Utd were held 2-2 at home to Burnley, which was far from ideal for Jose Mourinho.
Premier League results: Boxing Day 2017
Bournemouth
3-3
West Ham
Chelsea
2-0
Brighton
Huddersfield
1-1
Stoke
Liverpool
5-0
Swansea
Man Utd
2-2
Burnley
Tottenham
5-2
Southampton
Watford
2-1
Leicester
West Brom
0-0
Everton
3 2002/03 31 goals
In 2002/03, all 20 Premier League teams played on Boxing Day, which used to have such a special feel about it.
There were 31 goals in total, making it the joint-second-highest tally in the competition’s history on Boxing Day, with Bolton Wanderers’ 4-3 win at home to Newcastle the standout game.
Man Utd were beaten 3-1 away to Middlesbrough in the shock result of the day, but Ferguson’s team would still be crowned champions the following May.
Premier League results: Boxing Day 2002
Birmingham
1-1
Everton
Bolton
4-3
Newcastle
Chelsea
0-0
Southampton
Liverpool
1-1
Blackburn
Man City
3-1
Aston Villa
Middlesbrough
3-1
Man Utd
Sunderland
1-2
Leeds
Tottenham
2-2
Charlton
West Brom
1-2
Arsenal
West Ham
1-1
Fulham
2 2003/04 31 goals
The 2003/04 season is remembered most for Arsenal’s incredible unbeaten campaign in the Premier League, earning them their Invincibles tag.
Arsene Wenger’s legendary Gunners outfit eased to a 3-0 victory against Wolves at Highbury on Boxing Day in 2003, with Thierry Henry bagging a brace.
There was a 4-2 win for Charlton at home to Chelsea, which was a result few saw coming, while Liverpool and Man Utd both enjoyed home wins, against Bolton and Everton respectively.
Premier League results: Boxing Day 2003
Arsenal
3-0
Wolves
Birmingham
2-1
Man City
Blackburn
2-2
Middlesbrough
Charlton
4-2
Chelsea
Fulham
2-0
Southampton
Leeds
0-0
Aston Villa
Leicester
1-1
Newcastle
Liverpool
3-1
Bolton
Man Utd
3-2
Everton
Portsmouth
2-0
Tottenham
1 1999/00 35 goals
The highest-scoring Boxing Day in Premier League history was the final one of the 1990s, with 35 goals scored across 10 games.
In terms of upsets on the day, Coventry City won 3-2 against Arsenal, with a teenage Robbie Keane among the goalscorers at Highfield Road.
Everton and Spurs recorded respective 5-0 and 4-0 victories at home to Sunderland and Watford, while Liverpool and Newcastle drew 2-2 at St James’, with Alan Shearer and Duncan Ferguson netting for the Magpies and Michael Owen scoring both of the Reds’ goals.
Premier League results: Boxing Day 1999
Coventry
3-2
Arsenal
Derby
0-2
Aston Villa
Everton
5-0
Sunderland
Leeds
2-1
Leicester
Man Utd
4-0
Bradford
Newcastle
2-2
Liverpool
Sheff Wed
1-0
Middlesbrough
Southampton
1-2
Chelsea
Tottenham
4-0
Watford
Wimbledon
2-2
West Ham