English Premier League Boxing Day Preview

Boxing Day Preview

The Premier League season reaches it midway point with a fascinating Boxing Day program. Both Manchester United and Manchester City will be seeking to bolster their title aspirations by taking full points over the festive period. The Red Devils, who are currently four points clear of their Manchester rivals, will be quietly confident that they can overcome the challenge of Newcastle United. City make the trip to Sunderland knowing that a victory is essential to their Premier League challenge. United's failure to defeat Swansea on Sunday will almost certainly provoke Sir Alex Ferguson into making changes for the Boxing Day encounter.

Arsenal may be overtaken by their rivals

Third place Chelsea will be buoyed by the memories of demolishing Aston Villa when they travel to Norwich. Arsenal, who currently occupy fourth spot, were due to play West Ham on Wednesday but the game is postponed as the result of a transport strike. Arsenal's spot may be overtaken by Everton, Spurs, or West Brom, who all play games on Boxing Day. Everton will host Wigan, while Tottenham go to Aston Villa, and West Brom will play a QPR side that is just a point off the bottom. The bottom-placed side Reading will host Swansea, Southampton go to Fulham looking for a change of fortune, and Liverpool will travel to Stoke.