- Commissioner’s statement on Ventura, Marte
- Ronnie O’Sullivan: Masters champion ‘felt so vulnerable’ in final
- Arron Fletcher Wins 2017 WSOP International Circuit Marrakech Main Event ($140,224)
- Smith challenges Warner to go big in India
- Moncada No. 1 on MLB Pipeline’s Top 10 2B Prospects list
- Braves land 2 on MLB Pipeline’s Top 10 2B Prospects list
- Kingery makes MLB Pipeline’s Top 10 2B Prospects list
- New Zealand wrap up 2-0 after Bangladesh implosion
- Mathews, Pradeep, Gunathilaka to return to Sri Lanka
- Elliott hopes for rain for Poli
Liverpool’s Top 5 Boxing Day Matches in the Premier League
- Updated: December 23, 2016
Boxing Day football has become knitted into the fabric of the Premier League over the years, and this is certainly the case in 2016, with the English top flight gearing up for eight festive fixtures—though, for manager Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool, they must wait another day for their post-Christmas clash.
The Reds take on Stoke City at Anfield on December 27, looking to continue their fine run in the Premier League as they vie with the likes of Chelsea and Manchester City for their first title since the competition’s inception in 1992.
Liverpool have won their last two games in the league—both away, to Middlesbrough and Everton—and taking on a Stoke side that has not won in three domestic outings—most recently letting a two-goal lead slip to draw 2-2 at home to Leicester City—they will be confident of securing victory.
In many ways, watching their title rivals turn out on Boxing Day could provide the Reds with a boost as they reconvene after Christmas, with Chelsea, City, Arsenal and Manchester United all in action on December 26:
Arsenal vs. West Bromwich Albion, Emirates Stadium Chelsea vs. Bournemouth, Stamford Bridge Manchester United vs. Sunderland, Old Trafford Hull City vs. Manchester City, KCOM Stadium
But there will remain a lingering feeling of disappointment as Klopp’s side relent to the growing demands of Sky Sports and BT Sport and instead take to Anfield a day later than tradition dictates, with Boxing Day proving a memorable one for the club over the years.
Liverpool have played on Boxing Day on all but three occasions since the Premier League began (1992, 1995 and 2010), losing just four times in 21 games and taking 12 wins; they’ve scored 36 Premier League goals on December 26, conceding 18 and keeping seven clean sheets.
Here are Liverpool’s top five Boxing Day games in the Premier League era, kicking off with a memorable victory over Leicester City in 1994.
Leicester City 1-2 Liverpool (1994)
Heading into their clash with Mark McGhee’s Foxes, the Reds hadn’t won on Boxing Day since 1989, drawing twice with Queens Park Rangers and again with Sheffield United, as well as playing on December 28 in 1992.
It took a display of goalkeeping excellence from David James, however, to ensure this was the case, with the Englishman saving a Steve Thompson penalty and a late effort from Mark Blake to help his side on their way to victory.
Roy Evans fielded a blend of youth and experience at Filbert Street, with John Barnes and Ian Rush joined by the likes of Rob Jones, Jamie Redknapp, Steve McManaman and Robbie Fowler.
It was Fowler who opened the scoring on the afternoon, while Rush added another to keep Liverpool ahead of Nottingham Forest with 20 games played.
Evans would go on to lead …
