Premier League's best Boxing Day moments and matches

Football writer Adrian Kajumba looks back at some of the best matches and moments that have taken place on Boxing Day in the Premier League. 

Phil Brown’s on-field team talk - 2008

Hull City’s 5-1 defeat at Manchester City was made even more memorable by manager Phil Brown’s decision to subject his players to a humiliating half-time dressing down on the pitch, in front of the away fans, after they conceded four first-half goals.

This infamous team talk inspired an iconic Premier League celebration in the following season, when Jimmy Bullard mimicked Brown's finger-wagging at his players, after scoring in a 1-1 draw at Man City. 

Eight-goal classic at the Bridge - 2007

This was one of the Premier League’s best Boxing Day matches ever, a classic featuring eight goals, three red cards and two penalties.

Chelsea came back from 2-0 down to lead 3-2, before being pegged back to 3-3 by Aston Villa and then edging ahead once more in the 88th minute.

Ashley Cole’s stoppage-time handball on the line gifted Gareth Barry the chance to make it 4-4 from the penalty spot and led to him joining team-mate Ricardo Carvalho and Villa’s Zat Knight in being sent off. 

Sinclair’s spectacular volley - 2001

A year after scoring a brilliant volley against Charlton, Trevor Sinclair produced an even better Boxing Day spectacular for West Ham United in a 4-0 win against Derby County.

After Paolo Di Canio clipped a corner to Joe Cole on the edge of the box, the ball did not touch the ground again as the latter controlled and crossed the ball to Sinclair who fired an acrobatic, first-time bicycle kick into the net.

Man Utd edge seven-goal thriller – 2012 

Newcastle United took the lead three times in this topsy-turvy thriller, only for Manchester United to fight back each time before clinching victory in Sir Alex Ferguson’s final Boxing Day match in fitting fashion.

Chicharito scored a trademark late "Fergie-time" winner to extend Man Utd’s lead at the top of the table to seven points.

Mkhitaryan’s scorpion kick - 2016

Henrikh Mkhitaryan lit up Man Utd’s 3-1 win against Sunderland with a stunning scorpion-kick goal, backheeling Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s cross into the net on the volley as he fell forward. 

The Premier League’s all-time top scorer Alan Shearer said: "Mkhitaryan's goal was just outrageous. Brilliant ability to even try that."

And it seemingly inspired Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud, who produced a similar effort against Crystal Palace just a week later.

Martina’s wonder strike against Arsenal - 2015 

A day to forget for Arsenal was one to remember for Southampton and Cuco Martina.

On his full Premier League debut, the defender set Saints on their way to a 4-0 win with a sweetly-struck, swerving half volley with the outside of his foot from 30 yards, which made him the first player from Curacao to score in the Premier League. 

Coventry stun Arsenal - 1999

Coventry gave their fans a belated and surprise Christmas gift when they stunned Arsenal 3-2 at their former Highfield Road home.

After long-range strikes from Gary McAllister and Mustapha Hadji, Robbie Keane’s inventive finish proved to be the winner while Freddie Ljungberg and Davor Suker, with a memorable solo effort of his own, replied for Arsenal. 

Six-goal thriller in Sheffield - 1992

The best action on the Premier League’s first Boxing Day came at Hillsborough, where Sheffield Wednesday and Man Utd served up a six-goal Boxing Day classic.

Sheff Wed looked well on course for victory after establishing a 3-0 lead by the 62nd minute but Man Utd fought back thanks to a Brian McClair brace and a late Eric Cantona equaliser.

It was the first of two crucial, late Man Utd comebacks against Wednesday in 1992/93; their turnaround in the Old Trafford meeting - transforming a 1-0 deficit into a 2-1 win - proved pivotal as they claimed the inaugural Premier League title.

Henry's first PL hat-trick - 2000

Thierry Henry inspired Arsenal to a thumping, festive 6-1 win against Leicester City, scoring his first Premier League hat-trick as the Gunners went into overdrive in the second half having led just 1-0 at the break.

They were three of seven goals Henry scored on Boxing Day during his Premier League career, with only Harry Kane (10), Robbie Fowler (nine), Alan Shearer and Robbie Keane (both eight) netting more. 

Bolton see off Newcastle - 2002

Bolton’s 2002/03 season memorably ended with manager Sam Allardyce and talisman Jay-Jay Okocha dancing on the Reebok Stadium pitch as they celebrated clinching Premier League survival on the final day. Their thrilling 4-3 win against Newcastle on Boxing Day was one of their vital victories along the way.

Stunning goals from Okocha and Ricardo Gardner, plus a Michael Ricketts brace, helped Bolton establish a 4-1 lead and they held on to claim a win which lifted them out of the bottom three, despite a late Newcastle rally. 

Rooney's cracking volley - 2013

Man Utd arrived late at Hull City after getting caught in Boxing Day traffic on the Humber Bridge and made a delayed start to their performance on the pitch too.

They were 2-0 down inside 13 minutes before clawing their way back to 2-2, Wayne Rooney equalising with a cracking volley and his 150th Premier League goal for the club.

A second-half own goal from their former defender James Chester, who opened the scoring for Hull, completed the Man Utd turnaround. 

You can watch Rooney's volley and more of the best goals scored on Boxing Day below.

Man City's vital comeback - 2013

Man City pipped Liverpool to the title by two points in 2013/14, increasing the significance of their comeback win against the Reds on Boxing Day.

After Philippe Coutinho’s opener, goals from Vincent Kompany and Alvaro Negredo earned Man City victory in a pulsating clash as their title push gained momentum with a sixth win in seven to lift them to within a point of leaders Arsenal. 

Goals galore Etihad Stadium -2021

The Boxing Day programme in 2021 was reduced due to COVID-related cancellations but there was no shortage of action.

Seven matches produced 28 goals, the third-best Boxing Day total in Premier League history, with nine of them coming in a 6-3 goal-fest at the Etihad Stadium.

Man City almost saw their 4-0 half-time lead wiped out as Leicester pulled the score back to 4-3 midway through the second half before two late goals settled the league leaders’ nerves.

Ayew’s solo goal - 2019

Crystal Palace and West Ham United were heading for a share of the spoils until Jordan Ayew took matters into his own hands to win the match in the 90th minute with an all-time classic Premier League goal

Picking the ball up on the right, Ayew beat four players, skilfully spinning between the last two, before chipping Roberto Jimenez to secure a 2-1 Palace win.

Roberts at the double for Wigan - 2005

The Premier League on Boxing Day in 2005 also featured 28 goals and once again Man City were involved.

However, this time, City were on the wrong end of the result in the day’s highest-scoring fixture as Wigan, inspired by two-goal Jason Roberts, recovered from going behind to lead 4-1. The Latics held off a late fightback to win 4-3 in a festive classic.