We saw 8 fixtures played on the Boxing Day as a number of foreign coaches got their first taste of English football during the festive season. While there weren’t any quintessential blockbuster matches on offer, 3 of the Top 4 sides were on display and all of them notched up wins with clean sheets to go along with it. The reigning Champions faltered once more while West Ham extended their good run and moved farther away from the bottom and nearer to the Top 10.
Let us take a look at the talking points from the Premier League on the Boxing Day.
CHELSEA RUNNING AWAY WITH THE TITLE
Chelsea continued their record breaking spree with another frighteningly efficient win over Bournemouth at the Stamford Bridge. This makes it their 12th win on the trot and it is hard to see from where their next dropped points are going to come. Conte’s 3-4-3 has made them impenetrable and the recent calls of this year being a one-horse race does not seem so ludicrous all of a sudden. The absence of Kante and Costa had no effect on the outcome and it will be upon Spurs to do the rest of the League a favour when they welcome Chelsea to the White Hart Lane on 4th January.
IT IS LOOKING EXTREMELY BLEAK FOR HULL CITY AND SWANSEA CITY
Another match, another defeat for these two teams. The favourites for two of the relegation spots- Swansea and Hull seem to be strengthening their position at the bottom of the table. The decision to sack Francesco Guidolin and hire Bob Bradley seems to have made things worse at the Liberty Stadium. The next win doesn’t seem likely and the January transfer window will be their last chance to bolster the team and salvage some pride.
On the other hand, Hull are giving all they have but the evident lack of quality is stopping them from applying the finishing touches so that they could capitalise on their spells of pressure. Things are indeed looking bleak for them.
LIVERPOOL DELIVERS ON PRESSURE TO WIN AGAINST STOKE CITY
With Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester City picking up wins, Liverpool knew they had to win against the Potters to hold their own in the melee at the top. With no European commitments, they are perceived to be the likeliest candidates to challenge the Blues, who are galloping towards the finishing line.
Liverpool did just that as they ran out comfortable winners against a resilient Stoke City side that took the lead. However, Klopp’s men did not allow the pressure to get to them ensuring they did not fall behind in this thrilling race for the Premier League.
