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Blaine Roberts-McNally
Sports Reporter
1:31 PM 23rd December 2024
sports

Sport: What's On This Week? December 23rd - 27th, 2024

Photo: Dimhou
Photo: Dimhou
Its finally Christmas week, which means for some all the shopping is done and it is time to relax. And what better way to relax than to take in one of the best sporting weeks of the year.

So, if you have run out of Christmas films and TV specials to watch, here are a few ideas to spend the yule tide engrossed by some action-packed league and cup clashes.

Monday 23rd December 21:10 PDC World Championships Dave Chisnall v Ricky Evans

The PDC World Championships’ last 32 concludes just in time for Christmas eve, with a heavyweight battle between Dave Chisnall and Ricky Evans. World number six Chisnall will be hoping to better his quarter-final exit from last year’s championships, while Evans must win here to already surpass last year’s finish, where it was this round that proved to be his curtain call following a 4-2 defeat versus Daryl Gurney.

Evans has already had a game in the Worlds, narrowly getting past Gordon Mathers in the last 64 by three sets to two. Averaging slightly lower than his Aussie opponent with 86.23 over three sets is perhaps not the sort of form needed ahead of facing a top ten ranked competitor like Chisnall. But the result means he has every chance to improve and get a result.
The 45th ranked Englishman got that win off the back of a lacklustre streak of eight losses. Chisnall has not had a better time of it recently either, with just one victory from his last nine matches. These include shock losses such as a 0-5 drubbing by 70th ranked Connor Scutt, and a 2-6 defeat by Niels Zonneveld, where Chisnall only average 85.73. After such a bad run, the St Helens native got an all-important win against Joe Cullen, beating the fellow Englishman 6-1 in the Players Championship finals.

With both men generally struggling as of late, this match up could be more level than it looks on paper. Let’s hope this final game before a break over Christmas has enough action to hold us all over until action picks up again on the 27th.

Date: 23/12/2024
Time 21:10pm
Venue: Alexandra Palace, London

The match will be shown on Sky Sports Main Event , PDC TV and Sky Sports Darts

Thursday 26th December

15:00pm: Sheffield United v Burnley

Boxing day does not mean a rest in the football calendar, with one of the highest stakes matchups on the day in the EFL Championship where first placed Sheffield United host the chasers in third, Burnley. Bramall lane is yet to taste defeat this season, in fact, the Blades have only dropped two points at their famous home in the league. Worrying facts for Scott Parker’s Lancashire visitors, or is it?

Burnley are partial to an away result, their mere two losses on the road is a big reason why the clarets find themselves in the hunt for automatic promotion. One of those away defeats was their last zero-point match-week, where they came away from Millwall on the wrong end of a 1-0 scoreline.

Since then, Burnley have been coasting in the league, with only a slight slip at the start of December where they had back-to-back draws with Middlesbrough and Derby. This small faulter has not derailed them from keeping pace with Sheffield United and Leeds at the top. Sitting just one point behind Leeds and four off their hosts in this one.

Date 26/12/24
Time: 15:00pm
Venue: Bramall Lane, Sheffield
The match will be shown on Sky Sports+

15:00pm Chelsea v Fulham

If the Premier League title race is more your style, then this London derby could be the boxing day game for you. Chelsea have been unexpected title challengers this season, with many anticipating a season of transition or even failure with former Leicester boss Enzo Maresca in charge.

Instead, the Blues have been near unstoppable in the Premier League. Four points off Liverpool at the top and only suffering two defeats, has Chelsea in the best position to challenge Arne Slot’s men for the league.

The table topping scousers handed Chelsea their last league defeat on the 20th of October. Since then, Chelsea have managed to keep pace with them, but in order to maintain this they have to get through a plucky Fulham side, who themselves are pushing for a spot near the top.
Fulham have cemented themselves as genuine European candidates so far. Marco Silva has presided over a vast improvement compared to last season. Finishing in 13th last season is still an extremely respectable position, but the team that was only promoted again three years ago, find themselves pushing teams like Aston Villa and Spurs for a UEFA qualification spot.

A win on boxing day could be the Christmas cheer all Fulham fans were hoping for if they are able to travel to Stamford Bridge and return the short distance home with three points.

Date: 26/12/24
Time: 15:00pm
Venue: Stamford Bridge, London

The match will be shown on Amazon Prime Video (Gbr), beIN Sports MENA English 1, Sport 24 International

Friday 27th December, 20:15pm Arsenal v Ipswich

The penultimate round of the year in the Premier League sees newly promoted and struggling Ipswich make a visit to the Emirates Stadium to try and welcome 2025 with a rare win, whilst attempting to curtail the Gunners’ attempts to contest the title race. Arsenal have had their best opportunity to cement a title push with the recent failures at Manchester City. A run of one win from six games for City should have left The Gunners ample room to capitalise. Instead, the surprising new manager resurgence of Liverpool and Chelsea has meant the North London side have had more to compete with than they would have hoped for.

Arsenal are in third, Six points behind leaders Liverpool and two from London rivals Chelsea. Their title race is in stark contrast to the battle Ipswich Town find themselves in. The Tractor boys have had a rude awakening in their first appearance back in the top-flight since 2002, following a remarkable double promotion.

Kieran McKenna’s side have only managed two wins all season and find themselves sitting perilously in 19th. The most recent win came against fellow relegation fighting Wolves, a win which ultimately resigned Wanderers boss Gary O’Neil to the sack. The surge in confidence attained from the six-pointer at Molineux will have to persist if they want to beat the odds and finish the Christmas period safely.

Mikel Arteta’s men will want no part in helping The Tractor boys though, and could be bolstered by the renewed form of Gabriel Jesus. The Brazilian ended his year-long goal drought at the Emirates Stadium in style, with a second half hattrick in the EFL cup against Crystal Palace securing their place in the semi-final. If the striker is given “more chances” at Arsenal as Arteta urged following his hattrick, it could still prove to be a task to get through the Ipswich defence. Although their league position leaves a lot to be desired, their performances have been above the levels of a relegation candidate.

All form points to a comfortable Arsenal victory, but if Ipswich can turn performances in to points, there could be a possible upset on the cards.

Date: 27/12/24
Time: 20:15pm
Venue: Emirates Stadium, London

The match will be shown on Amazon Prime Video and Sport 24 International