Winter breaks be damned, in England we play football over Christmas (until the next World Cup anyway). Although not as celebrated as the Boxing Day fixtures, New Years Day often cooks up some entertaining matches for people to watch whilst they recover from the night before.
In preparation for what 2019 has in store, here are five of the best New Years Day matches in Premier League history.
5. Reading 6-0 West Ham (2007)
Steve Coppel’s Reading side were a breath of fresh air when they won promotion in 2006, and this performance epitomised their exciting start to the season. With a fresh faced Steve Sidwell and Kevin Doyle leading the charge, Reading put West Ham to the sword at the Madjeski Stadium.
Gunnarson, Noel Hunt, Kevin Doyle, Anton Ferdinand (OG), and Leroy Lita all got on the scoresheet to make it a miserable day for the travelling Hammers.
4. Tottenham 5-2 Everton (2005)
Spoiler alert: Spurs do VERY well on New Years Day, as shown by this 2005 encounter with Everton. Dean Marney made it a debut to remember with two goals and an assist, while the likes of Robbie Keane, Pedro Mendes and Reto Ziegler got in on the action.
James McFadden and a young Tim Cahill gave Everton some consolation, but they were outclassed by the home side on this occasion.
3. Arsenal 3-2 Chelsea (2003)
A pre-invincibles Arsenal took on a pre-Abramovitch Chelsea in an entertaining clash at Highbury. Although the match didn’t really burst into life until the latter stages, it was worth the wait.
Marcel Desailly’s own goal gave Arsenal an early lead, before quick-fire goals from Gio van Bronckhorst and Thierry Henry appeared to make the points safe. However, Mario Stanic and former Gunner Emmanuel Petit made it a very nervy ending for Wenger’s side.
2. Tottenham 4-1 Manchester United (1996)
Tottenham took it upon themselves to embarrass a young United side who would go on to finish the season as Champions. Teddy Sheringham opened the scoring against his future employers, before his best friend Andy Cole equalised.
That’s when the game stopped being a contest. Sol Campbell put Spurs back in front, before a Chris Armstrong double sealed the victory in style.
1. Spurs 5-3 Chelsea (2015)
Mauricio Pochettino’s Tottenham side was starting to take shape, and this encounter with Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea (second season so you know they were good) would be the perfect test. Turns out some Tottenham youngster by the name of Harry Kane had a pretty decent showing.
Kane’s double, along with an Andros Townsend penalty and strikes from Danny Rose and Nacer Chadli, gave Spurs the win in a truly entertaining top-six clash.
Let’