LONDON: While professional footballers in the rest of Europe sleep off their Christmas hangovers, the Premier League ploughs on regardless with a busy schedule of traditional Boxing Day fixtures.
For the first time this season, all 20 clubs will be in action on the same day, with leaders Chelsea's home game against high-flying London rivals West Ham United the stand-out match.
Chelsea's 2-0 victory at Stoke City on Monday allowed Jose Mourinho's side to re-establish a three-point lead over champions Manchester City, who visit West Bromwich Albion.
The visit of fourth-placed West Ham marks the start of a run of five games in less than two weeks for the Blues.
Mourinho's side remain in contention in four competitions and midfielder Nemanja Matic believes they can go all the way in all of them. “I think it's possible. We have a chance,” the Serbian told several British newspapers. “I don't want to say that we're going to, but we're going to try. We have quality. We will see if we can do. But I am confident, I believe in my team, my team-mates, so everything is possible.”
Belgian winger Eden Hazard is a doubt for Chelsea after hobbling off against Stoke, with Brazilian playmaker Oscar a potential candidate to replace him.
West Ham, meanwhile, will be boosted by the return to fitness of midfielder Mark Noble, who has missed the last four games with an Achilles problem.
City looking towards record
Injuries are a major concern for second-placed City, who will be without their trio of senior strikers — Edin Dzeko, Stevan Jovetic and top scorer Sergio Aguero — for the trip to West Brom.
But they can equal a club record of nine successive wins if they prevail at The Hawthorns and manager Manuel Pellegrini believes that after an early season wobble, his side have rediscovered the form that swept them to the title in May.
United welcome Newcastle
Third-placed Manchester United saw a six-game winning run come to an end in a 1-1 draw at Aston Villa last weekend, but confidence at Old Trafford remains high ahead of Friday's visit of Newcastle United.
Manager Louis van Gaal gave his players an off on Christmas Day and captain Wayne Rooney says that he and his teammates are eager to repay the Dutchman.
"We're not training on Christmas Day this year because we'll be spending it at home, which will be good for the foreign players and those of us with children," said Rooney, who has two young sons. "It must be strange for the new players to have more games than ever over Christmas, having had the time off previously.
Other top four hopefuls
Fifth-placed Southampton, who are two points behind West Ham, visit Crystal Palace on Friday, having snapped a damaging run of five straight defeats in all competitions by winning 3-0 to home to Everton last weekend.
North London rivals Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur are both two points below Southampton. Arsenal host Queens Park Rangers, while Tottenham visit bottom club Leicester City.
Liverpool, runners-up last season, are a further five points off the pace in 10th place, but after last Sunday's last-gasp 2-2 draw with Arsenal, manager Brendan Rodgers said he remained confident of a top-four finish.
Liverpool travel to third-bottom Burnley, who trail Palace on goal difference in the battle to escape the relegation zone.
Friday’s fixtures
Chelsea v West Ham
Burnley v Liverpool
Crystal Palace v Southampton
Everton v Stoke City
Leicester City v Tottenham
Man Utd v Newcastle
Sunderland v Hull City
Swansea v Aston Villa
WBA v Man City
Arsenal v QPR
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