Liverpool’s performance on Boxing Day history: wins, losses, goals…

Liverpool and Burnley go head-to-head in the penultimate Premier League Boxing Day fixture this evening - a chance for Jürgen Klopp’s troops to simultaneously work off a few of those mince pies and possibly retake the summit, if only temporarily - leaders Arsenal are in action tomorrow against West Ham.

Traditionally, the Reds have done well on Boxing Day. Along with Manchester City and Everton, they boast the third-best record on St Stephen’s - only Manchester United and Aston Villa have racked up more wins in the first game after Christmas.

In total, Liverpool have played 91 times on Boxing Day, with a healthy balance of 44 wins, 24 draws and 23 defeats. And in a city where, as Bill Shankly noted, football was practically a religion, matches on Christmas Day itself were also hugely popular. In December 1957, Liverpool, then battling in Division Two, travelled to Grimsby Town on Christmas Day then hosted the Mariners at Anfield the following day.

Grimsby twice in two days

The visitors got off to a dream start at Blundell Park on Christmas Day with Tony Rowley opening the scoring with his 16th goal of the campaign. But Liverpool collapsed after the break, conceding three as it ended 3-1. Phil Taylor’s men just got back home to Merseyside for their Christmas dinner but had to report back to Anfield the following day for the return fixture against Grimsby, kicking off at the later time of 5:15 p.m.

A crowd of just under 48,000 watched Liverpool get their revenge in a tense match, clinched by a late Tony McNamara winner to keep them top of the table. That would be McNamara’s last goal for the club and also the last year that the Reds would play on Christmas Day.

In the Premier League era, Liverpool have played the Boxing Day fixture 25 times, winning 15 of those, drawing five and losing five. During the Klopp era, the Reds have a flawless record on 26th December - the manager has overseen five matches, most of them comprehensive wins including two 4-0 wins, one 5-10 victory and four clean sheets.