With so much happening at the same time, there may have been a few things you missed during the seven Premier League games that kicked off at 3pm. Worry not, however, here is everything you need to know:
Aston Villa 1-1 West Ham United
This game was most notable for being an opportunity to joke about David Cameron. Cameron has previously professed to being an Aston Villa fan, only to announce sentiments for the equally clareted West Ham during a campaign speech earlier this year:
West Ham score against Aston Villa and David Cameron jumps for joy......no sorry he holds his head in desolation!
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) December 26, 2015
Given his ambivalence, this game was bound to end in a draw, which it did. West Ham took the lead through defender Aaron Cresswell, before Villa equalised in the second half from a Jordan Ayew penalty. Little else to report. A fourth successive draw for West Ham, although the three previous finished goalless. Villa inch closer to doom, they have yet to win under Remi Garde.
Bournemouth 0-0 Crystal Palace
This was the first time these two sides have met in the top flight, and both sides went about making it one of the more forgettable milestones in Premier League history. This was only the fourth league draw Palace have had under Alan Pardew. Other than Harry Arter getting booked, virtually nothing happened.
Palace didn't start Bolasie or Cabaye, as Bournemouth ended their three match winning run with a creditable point. Palace are fifth, a point clear of Manchester United and two behind Spurs. Bournemouth are 14th, three points clear of the drop zone.
Chelsea 2-2 Watford
The game of the day. Guus Hiddink elected to keep a fit-again Eden Hazard on the bench as the first game of his second spell in charge at Stamford Bridge ended in a draw. Diego Costa opened the scoring for Chelsea in the first half, turning home a Gary Cahill cross. Watford then fought back: Troy Deeney converted a penalty following a handball by Nemanja Matic.
6 - Troy Deeney has been directly involved in six goals in his last seven Premier League appearances (five goals, one assist). Buzzing.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 26, 2015
Chelsea then began the second half by proving the ghost of Jose Mourinho still looms around Stamford Bridge. Hiddink hooked Fabregas for Mikel at half-time, and ten minutes later Chelsea conceded again, this time to Odion Ighalo.
5 - Odion Ighalo is the first Watford player to score in five successive top-flight games. Record.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 26, 2015
Chelsea then fought back, and Costa equalised nine minutes later following a divine Willian assist. Chelsea should have won the game: Oscar missed a penalty ten minutes from time after Hazard was fouled in the area. Oscar slipped as he took it, allegedly in an attempt to wake twitter from it's post Christmas slumber.
Oscar's John Terry moment. pic.twitter.com/XOBXKdBKp3
— Back Page Football (@bpfootball) December 26, 2015
John Terry reacts to Oscar's missed penalty against Watford. pic.twitter.com/OX8TbWt5RE
— Eurosport UK (@Eurosport_UK) December 26, 2015
Chelsea remain in 15th with 19 points. while Watford's fine return to the league continues: they are seventh, two points ahead of Liverpool.
Liverpool 1-0 Leicester
When Leicester visited Anfield in January, they were bottom of the league. Today they arrived on Merseyside as league leaders, but ultimately failed to score for the first time this season. The only goal of the game came courtesy of Christian Benteke, who was introduced as a 37th minute substitute for the stricken Divock Origi. Benteke cushioned a half volley into the Kop end net in the second half, coming courtesy of a Roberto Firmino assist.
First game this season where neither Mahrez nor Vardy have gotten a goal or an assist.
— Balls.ie (@ballsdotie) December 26, 2015
Liverpool's outstanding player was Jordan Henderson, who sprayed long passes for lesser-able teammates to fail to control in a manner reminiscent of Steven Gerrard. Jamie Vardy was substituted in the second half having struggled with a virus all week.
The game's outstanding moment came in its final minute: Wes Morgan blocked Christian Benteke's attempt on an otherwise empty goal in stoppage time, after Kasper Schmeichel went forward for a corner. This was Leicester's second defeat of the season, and first on the road, and will be knocked off the top should Arsenal win later.
For Liverpool, this was an important return to form after one point from their previous three games. Klopp's side are now eighth, five points behind Spurs in fourth position.
Manchester City 4-1 Sunderland
Sergio Aguero was left on the bench as City thrashed Sunderland in usual fashion: City have lost just once at the Ethiad to the Black Cats. Raheem Sterling scored the opener after 12 minutes, heading in a Kevin De Bruyne cross. David Silva then set up Yaya Toure for a second before Wilfried Bony headed in another De Bruyne cross after 22 minutes.
De Bruyne then scored a goal of his own in the second half before Fabio Borini scored a second league goal of the season by way of consolation. Bony then frustrated all fantasy premier league managers by missing a penalty late on. The game belonged to the outstanding De Bruyne, however.
8 - Only Mesut Ozil (15) has more Premier League goal assists than Kevin de Bruyne this season. Craft.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 26, 2015
Kevin De Bruyne with his 10th goal for Man City. Has 10 assists too. #keepitbalanced#mcfc — Kristof Terreur (@HLNinEngeland) December 26, 2015
City remain third, one point behind Arsenal and three behind Leicester. Things are looking increasingly grim for Sunderland: they are five points from safety. Most worryingly for City, however, is the fact Vincent Kompany was substituted through injury, just ten minutes after coming on.
Swansea 1-0 West Brom
A win for Swansea! This was their first since beating Aston Villa on October 24, and came courtesy of a solitary goal from Korean midfielder Ki, coming after just nine minutes. Tony Pulis left Saido Berahino on the bench, despite the fact that Solomon Rondon succeeded in booking Christmas off via suspension last weekend. West Brom's aim of survival remains on course: as the season approaches the halfway stage, they are halfway to 40 points. This was a vital win for managerless Swansea, they are up to sixteenth, a point clear of the drop.
2 - Two of the 12 Premier League goals that Ki Sung-yueng has scored have come on Boxing Day. Festive. — OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 26, 2015
Tottenham 3-0 Norwich
Mauricio Pochettino quoted Britney Spears in the build up to this game, and Spurs proved they were comfortable with everyone's eyes upon them as they dispatched Norwich with an ease which deserted Manchester United against the same opponents a week ago. Perhaps the difference between Spurs and United is Harry Kane's continuing to wear white, as he proved to be the matchwinner for Spurs once again. Kane scored the opener after 25 minutes, and then hit his opponents one more time twenty minutes later.
10 - Harry Kane has scored 10 goals in his last nine Premier League appearances. Force.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 26, 2015
Spurs wrapped up the game with a third from substitute Tom Carroll. England midfielder Delle Alli was another of Spurs' top performers in midfield, playing an important role in both of Kane's goals.
5 - Dele Alli has scored or assisted five goals in his last five Premier League games (two goals, three assists). Influential.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 26, 2015
Spurs are now clear of Crystal Palace in fourth, and are six points off the top. Despite last week's win at Old Trafford, Norwich will find themselves in the relegation zone should Newcastle beat Everton. Robbie Brady started for Norwich, with Wes Hoolohan on the bench.
