GettyimagesLiverpool are a computer glitch and Trent Alexander-Arnold is making fullback sexy
Meanwhile, a new legend is born
Another Christmas has come and gone, but it wouldn’t be the festive season without the traditional slate of Boxing Day fixtures.
Thursday offered up a full run of games from early afternoon, as fans all over the country scoffed down leftovers and braved the elements to cheer their teams on.
Not everyone got what they wanted this year, but at least we got the most important gift of all: some damn good football tweets.
1) Merry Chris-mas
There are few things in life as chaotic as the flurry of gift-giving on Christmas morning. If only there were someone we could call on to keep tabs on everything for us.
2) Flavour of the month
There comes a time in any player’s career where, no matter how great they have been, the next generation finally catch up to, and even surpass, them.
It’s not always easy, but it is the natural cycle of things and, when the time comes, you simply have to stand back and admire the rise of a new legend.
3) Liverpool still red hot
In what was billed as a top-of-the-table clash, Liverpool easily walked their way to a 4-0 win over Leicester to record their 17th victory in 18 Premier League games this season and open up a 13-point gap over the Foxes.
4) Full-back option > fallback option
Trent Alexander-Arnold put in another world-class display on Thursday, bagging a goal and two assists in a man-of-the-match performance. The England international is on a whole other level at the moment.
At just 21, the sky's the limit for the young Liverpool defender - but can he be the one to finally make playing full-back sexy?
5) Big game players
Manchester United are the only team to take points off Liverpool in the league this season. Add that to wins over Manchester City and Spurs, you’d be forgiven for thinking Ole Gunnar Solskjaer had the Red Devils flying high.
But they have consistently struggled against teams lower down the table, with Thursday’s win over Newcastle only coming after the visitors took an early lead.
What’s the opposite of flat-track bullies?
6) Post-Christmas slump
The Boxing Day fixtures are a staple of British football, but you’ve got to wonder how much the players enjoy having to go back to work the day after Christmas.
Maybe it’s just us, but it did seem like some of them were trying to get things done as quickly as possible so they could get back home and have some leftovers by the fire.
7) Christmas crackers
Hey, sometimes those novelty gifts you get from your gran can actually be really useful.
8) The name game
Christmas is over, which means the days are getting longer and it’s time to start looking forward to the summer again. And you know what that means: it’s time to start thinking about your team’s pre-season summer tour.
9) Always look on the bright side
It can be hard losing to your biggest rivals the day after Christmas, but every cloud has a silver lining.
Right?
10) And finally...
As another Christmas has now come and gone, it’s worth remembering the wise words of Michael Owen, who bravely stuck his neck out on the line five years ago to give credit to the famously underrated holiday.
