League leaders Chelsea start favourites to keep their six-point lead at the summit of the Premier League standings intact on Boxing Day as they entertain Bourne-mouth at Stamford Bridge.
Blues boss Antonio Conte told reporters this week that he will hold discussions with the board over potential signings in January as he admitted that he was not sure whether Chelsea would be able to keep adopting a 3-4-3 module.
The Italian’s changes are working wonders as the 1-0 win at Crystal Palace last weekend secured a club record 11th straight league win.
However, anyone thinking about crowning Chelsea champions because they are top at this time of the season might want to note that history reveals a very mixed outcome for the Yuletide pacesetters.
Of the 24 teams that were top of the Premier League late December, 12 failed to win the title. Nine of the last 12 succeeded though, including Chelsea on each of the four occasions they were top on Christmas Day.
Chelsea started the campaign with a stutter, including defeats to Liverpool and Arsenal, but they have discovered their form in stunning fashion.
Their pursuit of Axel Witsel as Oscar’s replacement has hit a dead end with the Zenit St Petersburg midfielder reportedly not keen to join the Londoners. It seems that 27-year-old Witsel is more interested on a move to Italian champions Juventus and Antonio Conte’s former team Juventus.
Manchester City, who play Hull City away in Monday’s late kick-off, were overjoyed to beat Arsenal and stay in the title hunt last Sunday.
Pep Guardiola called Arsene Wenger the “commander-in-chief” on the eve of the game but it was the City boss who won the battle of wits off the pitch while his players won the war on it.
Citizens playmaker David Silva dove-tailed beautifully with Kevin De Bruyne to wrestle control of the clash with Arsenal for a 2-1 victory.
Alex Iwobi admitted Arsenal took their foot off the pedal as they collapsed to defeat at the Etihad Stadium. Wenger complained that Arsenal, who play West Brom next, are being punished by referees after they slumped to their second defeat in what he described as “a horrible week”.
After the Merseyside derby drama, Liverpool winning in stoppage time to retain second place, the Reds duel with Stoke at Anfield on Tuesday evening.
New signings
Juergen Klopp is being urged to sign at least two more players in the January transfer window if he is to guide Liverpool to the Premier League title.
Sadio Mane has settled quickly at Liverpool but that should be no surprise. Klopp is a long-time admirer of a player well familiar with his style of play.
One loss in the last five outings gives Tottenham the boost needed for another climb up the table as they play guests to Southampton at the St Mary’s Stadium next Wednesday.
Mauricio Pochettino believes Tottenham can still catch Chelsea and win the league after their win over Burnley. Danny Rose scored the winner as Tottenham came from behind to beat the Clarets 2-1 at White Hart Lane.
At Old Trafford, Jose Mourinho expects another win from Manchester United, at home to Sunderland.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic was granted an extra 24-hour rest following his scoring exploits as critics reckon that Michael Carrick has been the key to United’s recent resurgence.
On Monday, West Ham cross swords with Swansea City at the Liberty Stadium.
Mark Noble insists the confidence is starting to return for West Ham following back-to-back home victories as Swans boss Bob Bradley told reporters he is still focused on improving his team’s fortunes following the side’s 3-0 loss to Middlesbrough last weekend.
Boxing Day fixtures...
Premier League
Arsenal-West Brom
Burnley-Middlesbrough
Chelsea-Bournemouth
Hull City-Man. City - 18:15
Leicester City-Everton
Man. United-Sunderland
Swansea-West Ham
Watford-Crystal Palace - 13:30
December 27
Liverpool vs Stoke City - 18.15
December 28
Southampton vs Tottenham - 20.45
Standings
Chelsea 43; Liverpool 37; Man. City 36; Arsenal 34; Tottenham 33; Man. United 30; Southampton 24; West Brom, Everton 23; Bournemouth, Stoke City, Watford 21; West Ham 19; M’boro 18; Leicester, Burnley 17; Crystal Palace 15; Sunderland 14; Swansea, Hull City 12.
The Championship
Aston Villa-Burton Albion
Barnsley-Blackburn Rovers
Brentford-Cardiff City - 14:00
Huddersfield-N. Forest
Ipswich-Fulham Town
Newcastle-Sheffield Wed. - 20:45
Preston-Leeds United
Reading-Norwich City
Rotherham-Wigan Athletic
Wolves-Bristol City
December 27
Brighton vs QPR - 13.30
Derby Co. vs Birmingham - 16.00
League One
Bolton-Shrewsbury
Bradford-Scunthorpe
Bristol Rovers-Coventry
Fleetwood-Bury
Millwall-Swindon
MK Dons-Charlton Athletic
Oxford-Northampton
Peterborough-Gillingham
Port Vale-Walsall
Rochdale-Chesterfield
Sheffield Utd-Oldham Athletic
Southend-Wimbledon - 14:00
League Two
Cheltenham-Barnet
Crewe-Carlisle United
Grimsby-Accrington
Hartlepool-Blackpool
Leyton Orient-Crawley - 14:00
Luton Town-Colchester
Mansfield-Morecambe
Newport County-Portsmouth
Notts County-Doncaster
Plymouth-Wycombe
Stevenage-Cambridge
Yeovil-Exeter City
Note: Kick-offs 16.00 unless stated