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.
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.
Rank
Season
Matches
Goals
Goals per game
1999/00
10
35
3.50
2003/04
10
31
3.10
2002/03
10
31
3.10
2017/18
8
29
3.62
2018/19
9
29
3.22
2007/08
9
29
3.22
2000/01
9
29
3.22
2013/14
10
29
2.90
2021/22
6
28
4.67
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.
Aston Villa
Everton
Charlton
Arsenal
Chelsea
Fulham
Liverpool
Newcastle
Man Utd
West Brom
Middlesbrough
Blackburn
Portsmouth
West Ham
Sunderland
Bolton
Tottenham
Birmingham
Wigan
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
