What would the Premier League be without its traditional Boxing Day?
Even battered by the Covid-19, this day of Sunday, December 26 delivered its share of twists and turns.
However, everything could have been very different.
Due to the exponential rise in Coronavirus cases in Great Britain (around 87,533 new cases detected on average over the last seven days), some matches of this 19th day of the championship have been postponed to later dates.
Liverpool-Leeds, Burnley-Everton and Wolverhampton-Watford could not take place this Sunday.
The meeting between Crystal Palace and Tottenham was also uncertain until kick-off.
However, despite the positive Covid-19 test of the Eagles coach, the Frenchman Patrick Vieira, revealed only a few hours before the start of the match, the London derby was able to stand and ended in a victory for the Spurs (3-0).
We can confirm that Crystal Palace manager Patrick Vieira is self-isolating after returning a positive test for Covid-19, and will be absent from the touchline for today's match against Spurs.
Assistant manager Osian Roberts will deputise for Vieira for today's match. # CPFC pic.twitter.com/nBNmkLlxMG
- Crystal Palace FC (@CPFC) December 26, 2021
Suspense, goals and record
But as the maxim in England says so well: “The Show Must Go On”. And this, despite the pandemic. As usual, there was a show on the pitch. Against Leicester, Manchester City was scared against their opponent of the day (6-3). In just 25 minutes, the Mancuniens scored four goals, including a collective wonder concluded by Kevin De Bruyne. But they almost got caught up after a crazy second half for the Foxes. This ninth victory in a row in the Premier League certainly pleased Pep Guardiola, who asked fans to respect barrier gestures, to wear the mask in the stands and to be vaccinated to avoid a return to closed doors, before the meeting. For its part, Arsenal unfolded against Norwich (0-5), when West Ham lost against Southampton (2-3).
9 - With his opener against Crystal Palace, no player has now scored more @premierleague goals on Boxing Day than Harry Kane (9, level with Robbie Fowler).
Punch.
pic.twitter.com/iNlg21ypDB
- OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 26, 2021
And icing on the cake, by scoring against Crystal Palace, Tottenham striker Harry Kane became the top scorer in Boxing Day history by tying the nine goals of Liverpool legend Robbie Fowler.
Chelsea for their part won at Aston Villa (3-1).
Ngolo Kanté started and played for an hour.
Led in the first period, the European champion overthrew Aston Villa.
Entered at the break, the Belgian Lukaku changed the face of the match.
From the head, he concretized on a center of Hudson-Odoi, before obtaining the penalty of the break transformed by Jorginho.
Two other days of the Championship are still on the program by January 3, 2022.
