Premier League fans have a real football feast on Boxing Day this year.
Three games may be postponed due to coronavirus cases, but there are bound to be thrills and spills as teams look to maintain their title challenge or move away from the relegation zone.
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Liverpool’s home game against Leeds, Wolves’ Molineux match against Watford and Burnley vs Everton are called off due to Covid.
That would give Manchester City a chance to extend their lead at the top – but they would have to overtake the lucky Leicester of Brendan Rodgers.
And at the other end of the table, Norwich will be hoping to provide some home comforts to their fans when they face challenging top-four Arsenal at Carrow Road.
A win for the Canaries could get them out of the relegation zone.
Here, SunSport previews the Boxing Day games that should provide a Christmas cracker or two.
Norwich v Arsenal – Starts at 3 pm
a great game for Both At the bottom of the table are Norwich as the teams welcome a resurgent Arsenal to Carrow Road.
Dean Smith was fired by Aston Villa in November – but a week later he was hired by Norwich to replace Daniel Farke.
Norwich face a major battle to keep them in the Premier League – the Canaries have won just two of 17 games this season.
Meanwhile, Mikel Arteta has overcame a rocky start to challenge Arsenal for a top-four spot.
All eyes will be on whether he remembers Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. The striker was stripped of the captaincy and released after coming back late from the planned trip.
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Aston Villa vs Chelsea at 5.30pm KO – Sky Sports
Stuttering Chelsea will be desperate to get their title challenge back on track – but it probably won’t be easy on Boxing Day.
Thomas Tuchel leads his troops – who have drawn their last two games and have just five points from their last 12 – at Steven Gerrard’s Aston Villa.
The former Liverpool star has made a great start at Villa Park after leaving Rangers to replace Dean Smith.
Gerrard has guided Villan to four wins in six matches, with his side finishing tenth.
Chelsea, who have been badly hit by coronavirus cases, drew with Wolves and Everton in their last two matches, and will be desperate to get back on a winning path.
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Man City vs Leicester – KO at 3 PM
Can anyone stop Pep Guardiola’s City Slickers from winning a second consecutive love title?
They have won their last eight games in the league, scoring 11 goals in the last two against Leeds (7–0) and Newcastle (4–0) respectively.
They welcome Leicester to the Etihad on Sunday, with Brendan Rodgers struggling to find consistency from his Fox.
But with Jamie Vardy being given sporadic rests over the past few games, Rodgers will be hoping that his lead shooter can help out with a stroke.
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Tottenham v Crystal Palace – KO at 3 pm
Spurs were one of the first clubs to have coronavirus cases – but they are slowly coming out the other side.
They will face the London derby against Crystal Palace on Sunday, something added.
Palace boss Patrick Vieira is certainly an Arsenal legend, so he will be desperate to get one on his old rivals.
But it looks like Antonio Conte has rejuvenated Tottenham since being installed as Nuno Espirito Santo’s replacement.
The Italian is yet to lose a Premier League game and the side has games for all teams above seventh place.
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West Ham vs Southampton – KO at 3pm
West Ham will be hoping to finish in the top four in the home match against in-form Southampton.
The Hammers are fifth, four points behind Arsenal, but with one game in hand.
Losing to the Gunners last time didn’t help his case, and a 0–0 draw with Burnley was forgotten before the game.
The Saints of Ralph Hasenhutl, however, are finding it even harder without a win in five love games.
They sit six points away from the relegation sites, but the likes of Watford and Burnley all have games in hand.
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Brighton v Brentford (8 pm – Sky Sports)
The Boxing Day action culminates with a mid-table fight between Brighton and Brentford live on Sky Sports.
After a good start to the season, Graham Potter’s Brighton side continue to slide down the table without a win in their last five matches.
Meanwhile, Brentford came back victorious last time as they beat Watford 2–1.
With star striker Ivan Toni expected to return, Bees boss Thomas Frank will look confident to score three big points to move on from the dangerous fall.
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