Boxing Day: everything to play for

Boxing Day marks the mid-point of the season – and from title race to relegation scrap, the league's key battles are wide open. Glenn Moore looks at the scores to be settled in the next seven days

This is traditionally the period in the season when the big clubs pull away. With the Champions League off the agenda for two months, and no international calls, Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal will each look to build up a head of steam for the spring run-in, ideally beginning with maximum points at Christmas.


However, United have a defensive injury crisis, Chelsea look strangely vulnerable and are about to lose key players to the African Nations Cup, and Arsenal have lost Robin van Persie.

With fewer games played the old saying, "You can't win the title at Christmas, but you can lose it", is no longer true, but the holiday programme should provide some clues.

Leaders Chelsea have a pair of fixtures which look much harder now than when drawn up in the summer. Birmingham are on a fine run and Fulham, as well as being local rivals, will be on a high after thrashing Manchester United.

The defending champions will themselves be grateful that their makeshift defence will be tested only by Wigan and Hull (who have scored 37 goals in 35 games between them), though both opponents may decide the best way to play United is to have a go at them. Which leaves Arsenal.

They have a pair of tricky matches, Villa at home and Portsmouth away, but since they finally play their game in hand on 6 January (at home to Bolton), what price a couple of points separating these three teams come the full resumption on 9 January?