Premier League: 10 things to look out for in Boxing Day and festive fixtures

3) Arsenal and West Brom hope not to fuel old arguments

For a while it looked like this, at last, would be the season of goodwill towards Arsne Wenger. But then his team lost two tough away matches in a row and lo, Arsenal fans will again spend Christmas Day bickering about their manager and the way he plays his version of monopoly. The second half of Wengers reign at Arsenal has not all been about property development, there has also been some team building, but the question remains as to whether the manager has laid sturdy enough mental foundations. Beating West Bromwich Albion at home would not resolve that argument but it would at least deliver Arsenal fans the gift of momentary respite from in-fighting. Back in 1963 the squabbling was all in the West Brom camp before their Boxing Day meeting with north London opponents: their players went on strike in the run-up to the game in protest at being told by their manager, Jimmy Hagan, that they had to train for it in shorts despite the freakishly cold weather (it is not clear whether the freezing conditions also precluded naked headbutting but Hagan eventually reached an understanding with the players, who went on to draw 4-4 with Spurs). The more recent past provides a better pointer for West Broms visit to the Emirates, of course. And judging by West Broms approaches to their big away games so far this season, we can count on Pulis trying to make this a difficult match for Arsenal and a harrowing watch for everyone. PD

zil wins possession more than you might think

4) Moyes and co could make life difficult for Manchester United

Let us stop with the 1963 comparisons now. In fact, let us not mention the past at all, lest we bring a tear to the eye of David Moyes. But if we must mention the Scots previous experiences at Old Trafford, let us concentrate on the wins he enjoyed there during his 11 years as Everton manager. Eh? Oh well. Tell you what, let us just look back to Sunderlands triumphant last match, a 1-0 victory over Watford inspired by Adnan Januzaj, who, alas, is ineligible for the forthcoming match against his parent club. Poor Moyes cannot catch a break when Old Trafford is involved. But his job is to make his own luck no matter the weak hand he is dealt, and on Monday that will entail choosing a suitable replacement for Januzaj. Chances are Moyes will plump for John OShea. Dont laugh! The Irishman did well in a back three when Sunderland made life tough for Chelsea a fortnight ago and redeploying that system seems like Moyess best chance of inflicting misery on Manchester United supporters, again. PD

Man Utd close in on Benficas Lindelof to strengthen defence
Ibrahimovic: the older I get, the better I get, like red wine

5) Memories of Brown team talk provide light relief to stern test

It is precisely eight years since Hull met Manchester City on Boxing Day 2008 and Phil Brown memorably delivered his half-time team talk on the pitch, with his team already 4-0 down. I thought it was nice and cold and I thought I would keep the boys alive because they looked as if they were dead, he said, and the novel move kind of worked they drew the second half 1-1, and the game ended 5-1. City were in the bottom three at the time, while Hull were sixth; by seasons end City were 10th and Hull, who won only one more league game, avoided relegation by a point. Manchester City, who at the time had not finished in the top four since 1978, have only failed to do so once since, when they came fifth in 2010. The knee injury sustained by Pablo Zabaleta in the win over Arsenal means that no survivors of the 2008 game will appear in this one Vincent Kompany and Joe Hart also played that day and remain on Citys payroll but Hull may find their task is no less formidable. SB

Snodgrass rejects new Hull contract and targets January departure
Tour: I want Manchester City to be bigger than Manchester United

6) Carroll could have a whale of a time in Swansea

Swansea have been so diabolical away no, that is not the right word so sheepish away that it is easy to forget that they have been relatively fearsome in their last two home matches, beating both Crystal Palace and Sunderland. So they are certainly capable of beating West Ham. But that does not seem likely, as Slaven Bilics side have shown evidence of tightening up in recent games and, in Andy Carroll, have a forward who could wreak havoc against the softest central defence in the Premier League (again). PD

West Ham do not want to sell teams top player Payet, says Bilic

7) When will Contes Chelsea stop winning?

With Diego Costa and NGolo Kant suspended, is the end nigh for Chelseas winning run? Michy Batshuayi hopes not. Costas one-match ban gives the Belgian striker, for whom Chelsea paid 33m in the summer, an opportunity to prove his worth. It is up to Bournemouth, meanwhile, to prove that without Kants protection Chelseas defence is far more vulnerable. Bournemouth have been wobbly on the road so far this season but they won at Stamford Bridge last term and Eddie Howe, and fans of a close title race, would welcome a repeat of that result this year. PD

Conte targets Bakayoko and Sidib after 60m Oscar windfall
Chelsea to reject loan offers for deputy striker Batshuayi

8) A meeting of frustrating finishers at St Marys

Forget about Mauricio Pochettino: what these two teams have in common is an infuriating wastefulness. Both create a lot of chances, both tend to miss most of them. Southampton showed signs of improvement in their last match, that 3-1 win at Bournemouth, when they produced a sharpness that they had often lacked. They will probably need to produce that again, and replicate the intensity and speed they showed at Bournemouth, if they are to inflict a third successive away defeat on Tottenham Hotspur. PD

Lloris signs new contract to 2022 taking him to age 35
The changing face of White Hart Lane in pictures

9) Palace seek to stop away rot at Vicarage Road

Three defeats in their last four games have seen Watford slip from seventh to 12th, but if the feeling of anxiously looking over their shoulders is an unpleasant novelty to them, it has become regrettably familiar to a Palace side which, after losing eight of their last 10 league games (aggregate score 14-24) and sacking Alan Pardew, could drop into the bottom three for the first time since August should they lose at Vicarage Road. Last years 1-0 win there came during that part of Pardews tenure when Palace were particularly impressive away from home it was their 11th victory in 14 away games and although they required a second-half penalty to secure it, their superiority was gently evident throughout. Afterwards Pardew talked happily about how his side were inherently suited to success on their travels weve got good players for an away team because weve got pace but though they have not forgotten how to sprint, more recently their running away from home has sometimes been of the headless chicken variety. Talking of runs, they return on one of two victories in their last 19 away games, and three in the last calendar year. And their away fixtures are not going to get any easier: they have already visited every other member of the bottom seven (they are the only team yet to have hosted any member of that group). With Pardew gone, the time has come for a return to winning aways. SB

Middlesbrough to rival Palace in pursuit of Villas Gestede
Palace sack manager Pardew after disastrous run of results

10) Home comforts suit Defour as Burnley face big week

Since half-time in the televised 4-0 defeat at West Bromwich Albion last month, which he started, Burnley have played 315 minutes (plus stoppages) of football away from Turf Moor and Steven Defour has been on the pitch for six of them. The Belgian has however started every home game he has been available for this season, and is likely to return to the team for the visit of Middlesbrough, the first of two crucial-looking home games for the Clarets over the festive period, with Sunderland due on New Years Eve. Given that they have won 16 points at home and just one away, it could be argued that Burnley only really play when on their own ground, but in Defours case it is literally true. There has also been a statistical decline in his performances: there were three assists and one brilliant goal in his first five appearances, but none of either in his last seven. Sean Dyche has said that Defour is yet to adapt to the English game. Its a different journey through the Premier League. Its physical, its fast, he told the Lancashire Telegraph last week. Ive seen him play at Anderlecht, its a different ball game there. Its slow, its methodical, with pockets of good tempo. The Premier League is hard and fast and the stats prove that. Its finding the right balance to him understanding us and understanding the Premier League. Word from Belgium is that the player is becoming frustrated with life in England, but active involvement in the next weeks two crucial fixtures could help make his a happier new year. SB

Barton back at Burnley and in the last-chance saloon