Top Matches Of All Time

The Premier League is all set to be back just a week after the final of the 2022 FIFA World Cup. However, while other significant leagues will be back after the new year, the Premier League has not bucked its tradition of playing a match on Boxing Day. Boxing Day is a tradition that starts a gruelling schedule;e where all; 20 teams of the English top flight play at least three times between December 26 to January 1. 

And this phase has many times in the past decided where the Premier League trophy has landed in May. While this gruelling schedule has always invited the ire of players and managers who have said that it causes a lot of injuries 

Celebrated referee Howard Webb who has officiated matches such as the 2010 Champions League and FIFA World Cup final, said that players would ask him to book them so that they could be suspended for games during this period.

However, despite all that, Boxing Day has given us some pretty incredible clashes, and we take a look at the best five of them all. 

Manchester United vs Liverpool 0-3 (1978)

The North-West Derby has always been a highly charged, emotional game because it is played between the two most successful teams in English football history. And in 1978, this clash provided us with one of the best Boxing Day matches of all time. 

Coming into the match, Liverpool had failed to score in their last five visits to Old Trafford. The Red Devils had denied Liverpool the chance to complete a treble two seasons back by defeating them in the FA Cup. 

And the Reds exacted their revenge in style, scoring three past United. Ray Kennedy, Jimmy Case, and David Fairclough were the scorers. Fairclough’s goal was a fantastic solo effort and even attracted applause from the home fans. 

Bolton vs Newcastle United 4-3 (2002)

One of the best Boxing Day fixtures of all time. In 2002, Bolton Wanderers welcomed Newcastle United, and the match was one crazy affair. Within 10 minutes of the start, the game witnessed three goals. First, Jay Jay Okocha scored in the fifth minute before Alan Shearer levelled things up. However, Bolton immediately took the lead through a fantastic free-kick from Ricardo Gardner. From there, Bolton put their opposition to the sword, adding two more goals from Michael Ricketts. 

It looked plain sailing for Bolton, but Newcastle came back striking hard. Shola Ameobi made the score 4-2 before a ferocious 25-yard striker from Alan Shearer reignited Newcastle’s desire. 

With their backs against…