By DAN KARELL
A pair of London derbies headline a return to action in the English Premier League on a stacked Boxing Day schedule.
Chelsea attempt to remain atop the league’s standings when they host West Ham United to kick off the day’s action. West Ham and Sam Allardyce have defied expectations and are fourth-place in the table, and are proving their worth on a regular basis. Chelsea though seem a team that are the favorites to win this year’s title and will be tough to defeat at Stamford Bridge.
A surging Manchester United take on Newcastle United in the next round of matches in the day. Newcastle have lost two consecutive matches and have slid down to ninth-place, and are in need of another morale-boosting victory at Old Trafford. Second-place Manchester City visit Alan Irvine and West Bromwich Albion, who have just 17 points from 17 games.
The afternoon finishes up with Arsenal hosting South London’s Queens Park Rangers. Arsenal sit just four points out of fourth place and have won three of their last five games, though they’re still missing a number of starters including Aaron Ramsey, Jack Wilshere, and Theo Walcott.
Here’s a look at this year’s Boxing Day schedule:
7:45 a.m. – NBCSN – Chelsea vs. West Ham United
10 a.m. – NBCSN – Manchester United vs. Newcastle
10 a.m. – Premier League Extra Time – West Bromwich Albion vs. Manchester City
10 a.m. – Premier League Extra Time – Burnley vs. Liverpool
10 a.m. – Premier League Extra Time – Crystal Palace vs. Southampton
10 a.m. – Premier League Extra Time – Leicester City vs. Tottenham
10 a.m. – Premier League Extra Time – Everton vs. Stoke City
10 a.m. – Premier League Extra Time – Swansea City vs. Aston Villa
10 a.m. – Premier League Extra Time – Sunderland vs. Hull City
12:30 p.m. – NBCSN – Arsenal vs. Queens Park Rangers
12:30 p.m. beIN Sports USA – Watford vs. Wolverhampton
QPR is a good pick sometimes until you bet it… Makes you lose every time.
Pathetic, QPR
Haha… Giroud
Stupid QPR… All of those defenders in the box and they’re ball watching.
Good work Green.
How did Lazy Antigol do?
perhaps you should watch the game to find out……….
according to Drake Davis, he looked like a super supreme world all star, but all of his world class runs were ignored by his awful teammates. He also may or may not have jogged around aimlessly.
Please quote me where I said this……
I’ve never called Jozy “world class” bc he is not…. Coincidingly, I’ve never called him “terrible” because he is not that either…. He played 30 minutes today. Trekked back to play defense a good bit and had a quick solid shot blocked for a corner. Also had a good cross after holding the ball up. He additionally had one or two lost balls due to bad touches (if u watched soccer, You’d know that happens). Did u watch the game, Del? Care to add anything beneficial to humanity/this conversation?
Yeah he was solid and did a nice job with his touches but was unable to put his stamp on the match.
True, Roker Report ripped him to shreds in the match ratings; but I’d just give them all 5s besides Alvarez and Pantimillon who’d get 4s
Average. Lazy and unskilled.
Geoff gets yellow for time wasting, then gets burned by Eto’o. He and Stoke recover though.
Geoff & Stoke are beating Everton 1-0 late. Howard off injured at half.
Sunderland are about the poorest side I’ve seen in the EPL in like forever. Get out NOW Jozy!
FR, stunningly terrible……
FWIW, I don’t think i’ve ever seen worse officiating. the ref missed about 7 hand balls on Hull, 3 were in the box.
additionally, i never quite knew why Poyet stopped playing Mannone and went with Pantimillon. man none, although short, seemed to play bigger than his stature. He seemed to will the team into playing better, Pantillimon looks like a fallopian tube with no confidence. sure he’s 8 feet tall but he can’t make a save to save his life…….
Giacc has the natural talent but looks to be on a team that has no clue how to move the ball around quickly.
Maybe four shutouts in nine games has something to do with it.
Perhaps you’re forgetting the 8-0 loss he gave up too….
I think a little fact checking is required on your end drake.
Touché. Statement recanted. Pantimillon still isn’t very agile but maybe I’m judging him unfairly. He should have stopped the first goal and possibly the third today. He doesn’t seem to be able to get down to the ground quick enough.
Mr. Davis,
“He doesn’t seem to be able to get down to the ground quick enough.”
The book on “giant” keepers, typically, is you go low on them. The upside of course is that typically a “giant” should have the advantage in most other situations.
Nobody is perfect.
on
GDUB, fair enough, i guess he just doesn’t emit confidence. You watch Howard, Neuer, Hart in his prime and they bark orders, they LOOK like the KNOW they will stop every shot. Pantimillon just looks like he is actively dropping a deuce at all times. haha maybe I’m just picking on the man but i’d want my GK to be the most confident person on the pitch.
but yea, you’re right. still, he should have stopped the first goal by Gaston.
They didn’t show up today at all, but they’re usually better than this.
They didn’t show up today and perhaps they’re usually better but truthfully only marginally.
Nobody is talking about the halftime sub of Tim Howard. What happened?
?
He pulled up lame at the half. Looked like a hammy.
Everton reporting calf and won’t play against Newcastle.
Sunderland give up another goal off a corner, Sunderland are terrible………..
Alvarez not having his best game for Sunderland today. has looked lost. I hope Giacc and Jozy replace Gomez and Alvarez.
Additionally, Sunderland fail to close down at the top of the box. let Gaston take 7 dribbles and shoot from 25 out unmarked. Sunderland deserve to be down 1-0; luckily Hull gave up a blunder that Johnson tapped in.
Called it….. Giacc and Altidore on for Gomez and Alvarez, I should be a coach…. lol
Liverpool with a listless 1h v. Burnley. The Brendan Rodgers high press is absent, and getting bossed in midfield. Credit to Burnley for high effort and crisp passing to put Liverpool under almost constant pressure.
Lampard is extending his loan. Pellegrini stated that the reason his was signed all along was to play at ManCity and cover for Toure’s absence in Jan. and Feb.
My appologies for posting this in another thred. It is more appropriate here.
MLS doesn’t need them underdeveloped English players.
How about the NBC Sports Live Extra app? Depending on your cable tv provider (if u have cable?), you can access all BPL matches not on tv.
Any Americans playing? I’m flipping through games trying to figure it out.
Is there any way to watch any of the other games that start at 10 other than the ManU game?
nbcsn.com
Anyone see Howard’s comments regarding US players returning home?
yep, who was he referring to and why? Bradley?
Sounded to me like just a general observation . Interesting to hear him say it.
he’d say anything to sell a book.
I haven’t seen them, anyone want to elaborate for me?
no i didn’t, where is it?
Diego Costa just nasty finish juking 3 defenders and precise shot to the far post. Happy Holidays Ives and SBI Crew.