The Boxing Day football fixtures for 2024 are lined up to deliver action-packed entertainment for fans across the UK. This beloved tradition sees English football's calendar ramp up during the festive period, and this year's matches promise to captivate supporters.
Premier League teams will continue their grueling schedule right after Christmas Day, with several exciting clashes on December 26. Highlighting the significance of this day, Liverpool's ascent to the top of the league puts them under the spotlight, especially with their new manager Arne Slot guiding their fortunes. After several seasons of dominance under Jurgen Klopp, the team looks poised to maintain its stellar performance.
Contrastingly, reigning champions Manchester City are struggling like never before. Historically renowned for their winning ways under coach Pep Guardiola, City currently sits outside European qualification spots, prompting concerns about their championship defense. With only one win from twelve matches, their form has drastically declined, leading to elimination from the League Cup.
The opening match of the Boxing Day festivities kicks off at the Etihad, pitting City against Everton. Scheduled for 6:30 AM, it's the first of several matches throughout the day, followed by:
- Bournemouth vs. Crystal Palace at Vitality Stadium, 9:00 AM
- Chelsea vs. Fulham at Stamford Bridge, 9:00 AM
- Newcastle vs. Aston Villa at St. James' Park, 9:00 AM
- Nottingham Forest vs. Tottenham at The City Ground, 9:00 AM
- Southampton vs. West Ham at St. Mary's Stadium, 9:00 AM
- Wolverhampton vs. Manchester United at Molineux Stadium, 11:30 AM
- Liverpool vs. Leicester at Anfield, 2:00 PM
For Bournemouth, sitting fifth on the Premier League table, the Christmas schedule sets them up to continue their amazing run after recently defeating Manchester United 3-0. Under the management of Andoni Iraola, the team has defied expectations with thrilling performances, and they expect to add to their points tally against struggling Crystal Palace.
Meanwhile, the JD Cymru Premier will also see enticing fixtures. The schedule kicks off at 2:30 PM with several matches, featuring Aberystwyth Town taking on Bala Town and Cardiff Met University facing Briton Ferry Llansawel at 12:30 PM. Here's the lineup:
- Aberystwyth Town vs. Bala Town
- Barry Town United vs. Penybont at 12:30 PM
- Caernarfon Town vs. The New Saints
- Cardiff Met University vs. Briton Ferry Llansawel at 12:30 PM
- Connah’s Quay Nomads vs. Flint Town United
- Newtown vs. Haverfordwest County
Fans hoping to catch some local Welsh action can tune in to watch the JD Cymru North fixtures as well. Several other teams compete, such as Airbus UK Broughton and Buckley Town, with notable matches scheduled at 2 PM and earlier.
Despite the busy holiday season drawing near, the excitement surrounding these fixtures and the resurgence of underdog teams like Wrexham signal the rich and unpredictable nature of football during this time. The atmosphere across stadiums will be festive, drawing families and friends together to celebrate the joy of the sport.
Overall, Boxing Day continues to be one of the highlights of the football calendar, solidifying its coveted position among fans. Teams are eager to seize the momentum of this attractive schedule to gain invaluable points heading toward the season's second half.
