Boxing Day Premier League football has rolled around once again and there a number of mouthwatering fixtures lined up, including Manchester United’s showdown with Aston Villa

Boxing Day is upon us and that can only mean one thing – a footballing feast with a number of the Premier League’s biggest sides in action.

Three points is the best gift any of the 20 teams in the English top flight could ask for this festive period, many of whom will take to the pitch on the 26th. There are five games taking place across the whole day as many shake off their Christmas hangovers, with Newcastle first up when they welcome Nottingham Forest to St. James’ Park.

Manchester United close out the day’s action, with a home tie against Aston Villa at 8pm which could prove pivotal in the reign of Red Devils boss Erik ten Hag. With that in mind, Mirror Football has analysed five of the main talking points ahead of a busy Boxing Day of football.

United’s response

Aston Villa are one of the toughest teams to face across the top flight currently and Ten Hag could have done with a far easier fixture to try and turn the tide at Old Trafford. The Red Devils come into the game off the back of a 2-0 defeat by West Ham, after which the United boss vowed things would improve.

“We have issues,” the Dutchman claimed. “We have many setbacks, injuries, etc. But the players on the pitch are good enough to win games. It is about getting into the box. Make sure you are there. Have the willingness to arrive there and to score a goal.”

Villa will arrive at Old Trafford looking to bounce back from Friday night’s 1-1 draw at home against Sheffield United and know United are there for the taking. Ten Hag’s men have lost 13 games across all competitions this term, more than they have won.

As a result, pressure is starting to mount on the United boss and given his optimistic response to defeat in east London, the stakes are high.

Klopp’s confusion

The Liverpool boss was in no mood to hide his frustration with referees after the Reds were not awarded a penalty against Arsenal on Saturday despite Martin Odegaard appearing to handle the ball.

“The penalty situation is a weird situation, I don’t know if the ref can see it, but you look at it and I’m not sure how you can say it’s not a penalty,” Klopp bemoaned. “I’m pretty sure someone will explain it to me about why it wasn’t a handball, but I don’t know how. I don’t say the ref can see it because I have no clue where he was at that moment.

“But that’s another question. When somebody sits in the office, how can they not come to the conclusion that it might be worth having another look at it.”

Unlike Arsenal, who will have an extra two days rest, Liverpool are back in action on Boxing Day against Burnley at Turf Moor. Klopp will be well aware that any more slip-ups could prove costly, given they are already a point behind league-leaders Arsenal.

Newcastle aiming to bounce back

The Magpies have been the subject of plenty of praise in recent months, but come into this clash against Nottingham Forest off the back of two successive defeats against Chelsea in the Carabao Cup and Luton in the league.

Eddie Howe’s men are just one point ahead of the much-maligned United ahead of kick-off and run the risk of falling out of the race for Champions League qualification altogether. Six points adrift of fourth-placed Tottenham already, failure to beat Forest makes an already difficult task even harder.

Forest won’t roll over however, with Nuno Espirito Santo gearing up for his first away game at the helm following Steve Cooper’s dismissal. The ex-Spurs boss is aiming to keep Forest out of the dreaded bottom three.

Relegation six-pointer

It is Luton who boast the upper hand going into the game, with a three-point advantage over their relegation rivals as well as having played one game less. If results go in favour of the Hatters, Rob Edwards’ men could be out of the relegation zone and above Forest having played one game less.

Defeat for Sheffield United would be an incredibly damaging blow to their own survival prospects, leaving them potentially six points adrift of safety.

Solanke aiming for more Fulham joy

Bournemouth talisman Dominic Solanke has had plenty of positive performances against Fulham down the years and meets the Cottagers while in a rich vein of form.

The former Liverpool talent has six goals in his last six league games, including a hat-trick against Forest last time out. Marco Silva’s men can expect more of the same on Boxing Day, given Solanke’s recent run against Fulham.

The 26-year-old has managed four goals in his last four outings against the west Londoners and will be well aware any more could help the Cherries could leapfrog Chelsea in the table and put more daylight between Fulham and themselves.