Manchester United have emerged as the kings of Boxing Day football, topping the Premier League rankings with the most victories on December 26th. Over 32 years of festive fixtures, the Red Devils have notched up an impressive 21 wins and banged in 76 goals.
In stark contrast, Newcastle United find themselves at the bottom of the list, having endured 15 defeats and conceding a hefty 45 goals.
The study also revealed that Manchester City, Everton, Chelsea, and Aston Villa have experienced a mixed bag of results during the Christmas matches.
The survey, which gathered opinions from 2,000 footie fans, found that nearly 40 per cent look forward to Boxing Day games more than any other sporting event in the calendar, even outdoing the buzz of transfer deadline day and the Carabao Cup final.
On average, a dedicated supporter is expected to catch about five matches, dedicating over 10 hours to live sports viewing.
A spokesperson for Lottoland Sportsbook, who conducted the research, said: “There’s just so much to love about it, and the Boxing Day fixtures are among the first people will look out for when they are released.”
Can you predict the scores for this year’s Boxing Day matches?
Notably, this year’s Boxing Day games stir extra enthusiasm among 34 per cent of spectators, who are eager for the thrills given the current title race heating up.
“Of course, watching loads of football is lots more fun if your team happens to be winning. Losing two or three games in quick succession is nobody’s idea of a good time,” the spokesperson added.
Three out of every ten supporters admit a Boxing Day defeat for their top team could dampen the entirety of their festive cheer.
Overall, fans love Boxing Day football as they can sit and watch it with family and friends, and they seize it as an opportunity to wave goodbye to Christmas-themed TV shows and movies.
TOP 10 TEAMS WITH THE MOST WINS ON BOXING DAY:
- Manchester United – 21 Wins
- Liverpool – 17 Wins
- Arsenal – 16 Wins
- Chelsea – 13 Wins
- Tottenham Hotspur – 13 Wins
- Everton – 11 Wins
- Manchester City – 11 Wins
- Blackburn Rovers – 7 Wins
- West Ham United – 7 Wins
- Aston Villa – 5 Wins
TOP 10 TEAMS WITH THE MOST LOSSES ON BOXING DAY:
- Newcastle United – 15 losses
- Aston Villa – 14 losses
- Leicester City – 11 losses
- Everton – 10 losses
- Middlesbrough – 9 losses
- Manchester City – 7 losses
- Sunderland – 7 losses
- Norwich City – 7 losses
- West Bromwich Albion – 7 losses
- Chelsea – 6 losses