Premier League Boxing Day: Unusual stats & what fans look forward to most on 26th December

Boxing Day in the UK is one of the most famous days for football fans.

The holiday season this year has revealed fascinating facts about football, especially the beloved Premier League’s Boxing Day games. According to research, four out of ten football fans look forward to Boxing Day more than any other day of the football season.

In a newly released analysis, analysts examined more than 32 years of data to reveal compelling figures regarding the performances of different clubs on this historic day.

Boxing Day: Premier League’s unusual statistics revealed for the festive day

The most notable club? Manchester United have dominated the Boxing Day scene with an outstanding record, even if they are not currently in the top half of the Premier League standings.

Making them today’s most prosperous club. With a net total of 76 goals on December 26th, they also lead the league in goals scored.

Boxing Day, 2024. We'll see you there. 😍 pic.twitter.com/ZyRr1H2URf

— Premier League (@premierleague) October 15, 2024

On a far less joyous note, Newcastle United are on the other side, having lost 15 of their 32 Christmas games and given up an overwhelming 45 goals.

The fact that four additional teams—Manchester City, Everton, Chelsea, and Aston Villa—appear in both the victories and losses list is noteworthy because it highlights how frequently they have participated in iconic Boxing Day matches over the years.

According to the same survey of 2,000 football fans, the Boxing Day games were able to outstrip other highly anticipated days like the transfer deadline day, which only attracted 13% of enthusiasm, and even the Carabao Cup final, which only attracted 10%.

A devoted football fan may also binge-watch up to five games during this hectic time, accumulating an incredible amount of live-action—more than 10 hours.

Another telling statistic is that 29% of fans would watch games involving teams they don’t support just because they are on TV. This year, fans are especially excited about the December 26th fixtures, with 34% anticipating them because the title race is expected to be fiercely competitive.

Although 17% of fans say they enjoy the action on Boxing Day even more than opening presents, the stakes are high. Three out of ten say their team’s performance is responsible for their festive mood, implying that a single defeat could ruin the season’s happiness.

It’s fascinating to note that fans’ attitudes toward players having to play on Boxing Day are very cold, with 27% showing just mild pity and 34% having no sympathy at all. Many fans look forward to spending time with friends while watching games (22%), bidding adieu to holiday-themed TV series and movies (17%), or even putting aside family responsibilities for an exciting 90 minutes of sports (13%).

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