Boxing Day is a huge part of the football calendar in Britain. It’s a day that has become synonymous with fans for the sport; perhaps more so than being the day after Christmas!
The English Premier League will often have several games played on this day, if not a full slate of fixtures. It has become a tradition and something that many families and fans around the country indulge themselves in while they enjoy their Christmas dinner leftovers!
2024 Boxing Day Fixtures
This year’s slate of fixtures for the day has already been set, with eight games set to take place. The games and their kick-off times (in GMT) are:
- Manchester City vs Everton – 12:30
- Bournemouth vs Crystal Palace – 15:00
- Chelsea vs Fulham – 15:00
- Newcastle United vs Aston Villa – 15:00
- Nottingham Forest vs Tottenham Hotspur – 15:00
- Southampton vs West Ham United – 15:00
- Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Manchester United – 17:30
- Liverpool vs Leicester City – 20:00
The remaining four teams not playing on Boxing Day will play a day later, with the following scheduled:
- Brighton & Hove Albion vs Brentford – 19:30
- Arsenal vs Ipswich Town – 20:15
All games will be shown in the UK on Amazon’s Prime Video.
Why has Boxing Day football become so big?
As noted, Boxing Day has arguably become more renowned for Premier League football for many families across the UK over the last couple of decades. There aren’t many who won’t be settling down for the day and spending almost the entirety of it in front of the TV.
Some may look to obtain tickets and keep up traditions that may have seen them go to the game on the day. It’s something that many families do as a way to further enhance the festive period. Because of the joyous occasion and the number of games being played, some even engage in betting as a form of entertainment.
The English Premier League betting market is one of the biggest, and with eight games to be played on the day, punters have plenty of opportunities to get involved. Many will carry their bets over to the next day, especially when there are a couple of games still to be played.
What could 2024 Boxing Day football bring?
Although it’s still a little way away, football fans will already have a good idea about what can be expected on the day.
It is right in the middle of the festive period, with clubs having to play games almost every other day. It’s a period that can make or break a team’s season in so many ways. Injuries and suspensions can occur, while shock results can also cause surprises across the league table. Premier League title contenders can fall away because of a couple of bad results, while others can find themselves deep in the relegation zone with nowhere to go.
The pressure on managers could begin to intensify during this period, too. With poor results possible due to the quick succession of games, there can be some who face an uneasy Christmas period.
The fact that it is Christmas can also have an impact on the games played. Players will have likely celebrated with their families, but there can often be a hangover for some in terms of their performance levels. They may struggle to get back into things just because of the day. It’s a little like when some go on international duty and don’t always return the same for a game or two.
Will Boxing Day football look like what we’ve seen so far?
Of course, it’s hard to predict what might happen on Boxing Day because of the nature of the league. Anything can happen because of how fast it is.
While teams won’t be able to change their players until the January transfer window, there could be new managers in place. There is already mounting pressure on some individuals and with Halloween on the horizon, there’s every possibility we could see some managers being left scared.
Julen Lopetegui might be feeling the pressure at West Ham, as could Gary O’Neil at Wolves. Southampton’s Russell Martin might also be feeling the weight on his shoulders. Manchester United’s Erik ten Hag continues to face scrutiny from the media and fans about his position, but the Dutchman appears confident that he’ll remain the boss.
Indeed, with so many games between now and Boxing Day, the fixtures to be played could look a little different.
