Premier League 2024/25 Boxing Day preview: Liverpool hosts Foxes, Arsenal prepares for life without Saka

Premier League 2024/25 Boxing Day preview: Liverpool hosts Foxes, Arsenal prepares for life without Saka

Christmas Premier League chart-toppers Liverpool is the overwhelming favourite to see off struggling Leicester on Boxing Day (December 26).

Meanwhile, both crisis-hit Manchester clubs will seek a festive fillip, with faltering champion City at home to Wolves and United away to Wolves.

Second-placed Chelsea hosts Fulham, while in-form Arsenal will fancy its chances against relegation-threatened Ipswich on Friday, even without the injured Bukayo Saka.

Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham, licking its wounds after a brutal 6-3 hammering by Liverpool, faces a tough assignment at high-flying Nottingham Forest.

Here are some of the major talking points in the run-up to one of the busiest points of the English football season.

Liverpool is top of the table on Christmas Day for the first time since the 2020/21 season and will want to make it count.

Just once in the past seven top-flight campaigns in which it has sat at the summit on December 25, has it gone on to win the title.

Arne Slot’s side returned to winning ways in style on Sunday, overwhelming Spurs following two frustrating draws.

It is four points clear of Chelsea with a game in hand. It would be a huge surprise if it slipped up against Leicester at home, especially with Mohamed Salah enjoying a purple patch.

The Egypt international is the first player to reach double figures for both goals (15) and assists (11) before Christmas in the history of the Premier League.

Leicester won its first match under new manager Ruud van Nistelrooy earlier this month but have collected just a single point in their past three matches, conceding nine goals.

The leaky Foxes have not won at Anfield since 2000 and are just two points clear of the drop zone after returning to the top flight this season.

A buoyant Mikel Arteta said the Premier League title race was “on” after Arsenal swept Crystal Palace aside 5-1 on Saturday.

But one dark cloud was Saka limping off at Selhurst Park, with the England winger set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines with a hamstring injury.

It is a blow for Arteta, depriving him of his most potent attacking weapon — Saka has scored nine goals and provided 13 assists in all competitions this season — just as Arsenal is finding its form again.

“It’s going to be a really good exercise for all of us to think about ways to overcome another challenge because we’ve already had a lot in the season,” said Arsenal boss Arteta, whose team is third in the Premier League table.

Arteta has a number of attacking options, with Gabriel Martinelli a candidate to fill the void, but Saka, 23, offers something unique.

Nottingham Forest fans are dreaming of a return to the Champions League — more than 40 years after it last played in Europe’s premier club competition.

Nuno Espirito Santo’s side has won seven of its past 10 Premier League games to climb to fourth in the table ahead of their match against Tottenham on Thursday.

Forest has not won a major trophy since 1990, but it has a proud tradition in continental competition — with the Midlands club twice crowned European champions under former manager Brian Clough in 1979 and 1980.

While Forest is not a prolific scoring unit, it has been impressive at the back, with only Liverpool and Arsenal conceding fewer goals in the English top flight this season.

Former Spurs boss Nuno is braced for the unknown against his former club, who have built a reputation as great entertainers.

“You never know what’s going to happen in the game,” he said. “What we can see is good players, a lot of goals, also conceding goals.”