EPL Digest – Matchweek 19: bringing you the results and details of all Boxing Day matches

Boxing Day has become an important day for sporting events these days, especially football – and it seems to have gone right in 2021.

Traditionally, it’s the date when all the matches of one round of the English Premier League are played and it’s a unique opportunity for English fans to continue celebrating right in the stadium, cheering on their favourite team. We bring you the highlights from Matchweek 19.

Even with three matches cancelled, this festive tour proved to be a bright one, with plenty of emotions and numerous goals. Those who had a chance to play had to take it all in, with the teams scoring 22 goals in the first four games.

The main match of the day between Manchester City and Leicester City turned out to be a real thriller, with the teams scoring a total of 9 goals.

By the 25th minute, the Citizens were 4-0 up after goals from Kevin de Bruyne, Riyad Mahrez, Ilkay Gündogan and Raheem Sterling.

It looked as though all intrigue had died down, but in the second half the visitors managed to net 3 goals in 10 minutes – James Maddison scored in the 55th, Ademola Lookman in the 59th and Kelechi Iheanacho in the 65th.

However, they failed to turn the tide: in the 69th minute, Aymeric Laporte scored Man City’s fifth goal with a magnificent header after the corner.

Another set-piece, almost identical to the previous goal, finally put the game to the bed as Sterling netted a double in the 87th cementing the victory and making the final score 6-3.

For Guardiola’s side, it was their 9th successive league win. Moreover, this meeting was the most productive in the history of Boxing Day, never before the teams scored 9 goals between them.

Arsenal, meanwhile, easily demolished Norwich City 5-0, the Londoners were very confident and showed a pretty game. And the recent results of the Gunners are rather threatening for their rivals, with five wins in a row and a combined score of 19-2. Real dominance. 

Regen Bukayo Saka continues to amaze by scoring a double, he has now been involved in nine goals (five goals, four assists) in 19 league games this season, up from 32 appearances (five goals, three assists) last season.

Norwich, on the other hand, need to make some adjustments, with the recently appointed Dean Smith having time to save the club from relegation. Admittedly, this is the Canaries’ biggest defeat in two months, it wasn’t that bad on the whole, recently the team almost beat Manchester United – back then the Mancunians were helped by a penalty at the end of the match.

Mikel Arteta after the game:

“It was very good today. A really traditional day in this country and to play football in this atmosphere, it was great. I`m very happy, it’s not easy to win away from home in the league. The way we performed, how dominant we were from the beginning and the quality that we showed throughout the game, really impressive today.“

“The direction the team is taking, and how we are growing the understanding between players. Obviously they’ve been playing now for a few months together. The unity that we show in general, and the support that we are getting in every ground from our supporters is very much linked with the way we can transmit the way we want to play. So I am really pleased with that as well. That’s what we are here for, to try to create enjoyment, and if they enjoy it then I am sure that people will enjoy watching them play. They are in this moment right now that they really like each other, they enjoy playing with each other, and you can see that on the pitch.”

accessed the Spaniard.

• By the way, City and Arsenal are playing each other very soon, with the match taking place on January 1 at 6pm IST at the Emirates Stadium.
  

Chelsea beat Aston Villa away (3-1) thanks to a Romelu Lukaku goal (his first since September in the EPL) and a penalty double from Jorginho.

Under Thomas Tuchel, the Blues have scored 12 penalties in the Premier League – the most of any team – with 10 of them coming from Italian midfielder, who now holds the league record for the most penalties converted in one calendar year, surpassing the nine scored by Steven Gerrard in 2014.

Don`t miss out 💥: You will never hear me say Aston Villa job is a ‘stepping stone’ to managing Liverpool – Steven Gerrard

After the match, the German coach said that despite the positive result, he is very concerned about the schedule and its impact on the players’ physical condition:

“It’s like it is – but this cannot be the right way.It’s not fair. We’ve all been in bed for 10 days and we play against teams who prepare with games postponed, and who prepare with one week for these matches. They make us play all the time, even if we have Covid. We have new injuries and it won’t stop. People at the green table, in offices, make these decisions. We are struggling, we’re pressing our players. I have maximum respect for what the players did. We do changes because of injuries. We don’t change for tactical reasons any more.

“I’m very impressed with my players but super concerned. Maybe we made a big mistake letting players play after corona and one or two training sessions. But, obviously, the Premier League made us play and so we play. We are not protecting the players because we are the only league who doesn’t have five changes.” 

It should be noted that the 5 substitutions rule has remained in place in the rest of Europe’s top leagues since it was implemented in the summer of 2020.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1mDFdm_QeY

Tottenham Hotspur hosted Crystal Palace in an easy 3-0 win over the visitors. Harry Kane, Lucas Moura and Son Heung-min all scored. 

The Londoners seem to have made good progress under Italian coach Antonio Conte.

This is how his work was described on the UK’s major radio show:

“He’s taken over a team people were doubting and implemented a plan even though it’s halfway through the season. He’s definitely made an impact in their aggression and how players break their necks to get forward.But it’s too early to say he’s turned it round. When Spurs are up there competing for the title, I’ll think he’s achieved that.”

“Spurs have a top-six squad. Conte has now got them back into that position.”

one of the interlocutors remarked.

Players amusingly celebrated one of the goals in “Spider-Man style”. Remarkably, Tom Holland, who starred in new Spider-Man movie, is a huge Tottenham fan.

• Spurs have not lost a Boxing Day match in 15 consecutive seasons, with 12 wins and three draws – by the way, a record for the EPL.

Another London side, West Ham United hosted a troubled Southampton, and it was not without surprises, with the visitors coming away with a 3-2 victory.

The match was very entertaining and maintained intrigue until the final minutes, the teams constantly managed to get back into the game and impose the pressure, levelling the score each time.

This win should encourage the Saints to climb the middle of the table, while the Hammers have slumped slightly after beating Chelsea, losing 3 of their 4 Premier League games and slipping from fourth place.

Ralph Hasenhuttl said his team will have to “make a miracle” to face Tottenham on Tuesday, scheduled just over 2 days after the previous high-intensive match:

“We face a very strong side with two days’ rest and no chance for training. We have to have a good hand in picking the right players and hope that we do. We have no time to prepare and we have to see who is fit, but this is what we have to do if you want something from the Premier League. We will fight again.”

In the other match on Sunday, Brighton defeated Brentford to break their 11-match winless streak – it has became their first win since September.

Leandro Trossard opened the scoring in the 34th minute, assisted by Enoch Mweepu – a spectacular goal. And 42 minutes into the match, Neal Maupay doubled Brighton’s lead with an assist from Jakub Moder. That goal was the final one in the match – 2-0 in favour of the home side.

Don`t miss out 👉: Carabao Cup Digest: Which teams made it to the semi-finals and what challenges they faced along the way