New Delhi: Premier League 2024/25 Boxing Day is finally here as 2024 is finally coming to an end and we have some big fixtures tonight. We will be kicking the Boxing Day off with some of the biggest Premier League teams in action tonight. It will be interesting to see how things shape up, with consecutive matches lined up at the very end of the year. The mid week involves a flurry of fixtures with all the clubs hoping to improve their respective positions before the new year begins.
Manchester City vs Everton (6:00 P.M. IST)
Manchester City are hoping for a late Christmas present when they play Everton in the Premier League on Boxing Day. The reigning Premier League champions are in poor form, having suffered another confidence-sapping defeat to Aston Villa last time out. Pep Guardiola’s side was outplayed and outfought in the Midlands, and they have now won only once in their previous 12 games in all competitions.
The setback at Villa Park has dropped them to eighth in the Premier League, trailing Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest. If they do not change their fortunes around quickly, they will face a tough battle for the top four. A home match against Everton may appear simple for City fans, but Sean Dyche’s tenacious Toffees have won points against Arsenal and Chelsea in their last two games. Goalless draws against the London behemoths have put them four points clear of the relegation zone.
Predicted Lineups
Man City (3-2-4-1): Ortega; Walker, Akanji, Ake; Lewis, Kovacic; Savinho, De Bruyne, Foden, Doku; Haaland.
Everton (4-4-1-1): Pickford; Coleman, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko; Harrison, Gueye, Mangala, Ndiaye; Doucoure; Calvert-Lewin.
Newcastle United vs Aston Villa (8:30 P.M. IST)
Newcastle are at home for the festivities, facing Aston Villa in what promises to be an exciting Boxing Day Premier League battle. The Magpies continue to be a formidable force at St. James’ Park, and they enter Thursday’s game with confidence. Eddie Howe’s side has scored 16 goals in their past five games, and a December surge has them ninth in the table at Christmas. A Carabao Cup semi-final against Arsenal awaits in the new year.
Aston Villa, like Newcastle, returned to the Champions League after finishing fourth previous season. Unai Emery’s team will have a difficult task if they are to replicate their 2023/24 success, but a 2-1 victory over Manchester City on Saturday has moved them up to sixth place in the rankings. Surprise package, Nottingham Forest are only three points ahead of the Villans in fourth place, but Newcastle will overtake their Boxing Day opponents with another win on Tyneside.
Predicted lineups
Newcastle United (4-4-1-1): Pope; Livramento, Schar, Burn, Hall; Guimaraes, Tonali, Willock; Murphy, Isak, Gordon.
Aston Villa (4-3-3): Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Torres, Digne; Kamara, Onana, Tielemans; McGinn, Duran, Rogers.
Prediction: NEW 1-2 AVL
Nottingham Forest vs Tottenham (8:30 P.M. IST)
Nottingham Forest face Tottenham Hotspur, with Nuno Espirito Santo hoping to pull one over on his ailing former employers. Nuno’s time at Tottenham was brief and somewhat forgettable, but the former Portuguese goalkeeper has done wonders at the City Ground. After keeping Forest up last season, the East Midlanders entered Christmas fourth in the Premier League table, with genuine hopes of competing for European football.
Nuno’s position is comparable to his work at Molineux. Wolves returned to the top division in 2018, and a fantastic season saw them qualify for the Europa League, where they enjoyed a lengthy continental tour before being knocked out in the quarterfinals by eventual winners Sevilla. Spurs hope to win that tournament this season, as their domestic disinterest means Ange Postecoglou will have to rely on the cups to potentially secure a third year in charge.
The weakened Lilywhites were thrashed by Liverpool over the weekend and have struggled defensively throughout December in the absence of key starters. They are currently 11th in the table, and there is a growing concern that things will worsen for the Lilywhites before improving.
Predicted lineups
Nottingham Forest (3-4-3): Sels; Milenkovic, Murillo, Morato; Aina, Yates, Gibbs-White, Moreno; Elanga, Wood, Hudson-Odoi.
Tottenham Hotspurs (4-3-3): Forster; Spence, Gray, Dragsusin, Udogie; Bentancur, Sarr, Kulusevski; Johnson, Solanke, Son.
Prediction: NOT 2-3 TOT
Bournemouth vs Crystal Palace (8:30 P.M. IST)
Fifth-place Bournemouth have lots to be happy about as they enjoy the celebrations, and they have a good opportunity of extending their unbeaten streak against Crystal Palace. On Sunday, the Cherries won 3-0 at Old Trafford for the second time in less than a year, moving Andoni Iraola’s team ahead of Premier League winners Manchester City. Bournemouth have been one of the standout sides of 2024, and they have legitimate hopes of getting their first taste of European competition. They enter Thursday’s game having won four of their previous five games.
Palace had an impressive unbeaten run before facing Arsenal twice last week. The Gunners first knocked them out of the Carabao Cup before thumping them 5-1 at Selhurst Park on Saturday. Despite the scoreline, Palace trounced Mikel Arteta’s side like few teams have this term.
Predicted Lineups
Bournemouth (4-2-3-1): Arrizabalaga; Smith, Zabarnyi, Huijsen, Kerkez; Cook, Christie; Semenyo, Kluivert, Ouattara; Evanilson.
Crystal Palace (3-4-2-1): Henderson; Chalobah, Lacroix, Guehi; Munoz, Hughes, Lerma, Mitchell; Sarr, Kamada; Mateta.
Prediction: BOU 3-1 CRY
Chelsea vs Fulham (8:30 P.M. IST)
Boxing Day will also feature a west London derby as Fulham travel to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea. There is a greater distance between these two teams on the Premier League standings than there is on the map. Chelsea are second, seven points ahead of their opponents, whose Craven Cottage home is barely over a mile away, despite dropping two points against Everton as they look to make the most out of this opportunity to welcome their London rivals at Stamford Bridge
However, both sides are in good form. Indeed, no team has accumulated more points than Chelsea in their previous five Premier League games, while Fulham is unbeaten after facing Tottenham, Arsenal, and Liverpool.
Predicted Lineups
Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Sanchez; Gusto, Tosin, Colwill, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernandez; Neto, Palmer, Sancho; Jackson.
Fulham (4-2-3-1): Leno; Castagne, Diop, Bassey, Robinson; Lukic, Smith Rowe; Wilson, Pereira, Iwobi; Jimenez.
Prediction: CHE 2-0 FUL
Southampton vs West Ham (8:30 P.M. IST)
Ivan Juric will make his Premier League debut as Southampton manager, hosting West Ham United. The 49-year-old, who was fired as Roma manager earlier this season, has replaced Russell Martin in the dugout and now faces the difficult task of salvaging the Saints from relegation. They are already eight points behind 17th-placed Leicester City and will need a huge new manager bounce to keep their narrow survival hopes alive.
Julen Lopetegui is still holding on to his job as West Ham manager despite a difficult first half of the season in the capital, but the Irons are now unbeaten in three games and eight points clear of relegation. A critical win over Wolverhampton Wanderers was followed by decent draws against Bournemouth and Brighton & Hove Albion.
Predicted lineups
Southampton (5-2-1-2): Ramsdale; Sugawara, Harwood-Bellis, Bednarek, Wood, Walker-Peters; Downes, Aribo; Fernandes; Dibling, Archer.
West Ham United (4-2-3-1): Fabianski; Wan-Bissaka, Todibo, Kilman, Emerson; Alvarez, Soucek; Bowen, Kudus, Summerville; Fullkrug.
Check out the detailed preview and predicted lineups of Premier League Boxing Day Thursday and Friday midnight fixtures where top teams prepare for intense battles. Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
