What’s Manchester City’s Premier League Boxing Day record like? A look back at seasons gone by

Manchester City host Leicester City on Boxing Day 2021, hoping to avoid a repeat of their loss to the Foxes three years ago.

On that occasion, a 2-1 defeat at the King Power Stadium gave Liverpool’s title hopes a boost and with the Reds once again going for the crown this campaign, every point is vital at this stage of the season.

But that defeat to Leicester is a rare blip for City in recent years on Boxing Day and we’ve dissected their record on 26 December in the Premier League.

What’s City’s record like on Boxing Day?

This is City’s 25th year in the Premier League and during four of those previous 24 seasons, the Blues haven’t played on Boxing Day.

But from the 20 encounters, City have won 11, drawn just twice and lost on seven occasions.

Which sides have City faced most on Boxing Day?

City have come up against 14 teams on Boxing Day and played six sides on two occasions, those being Newcastle United, Hull City, Sunderland, West Bromwich Albion, Sheffield United and Blackburn Rovers.

Hull are the team City have enjoyed facing most on Boxing Day and have beaten them both occasions, scoring eight goals across wins in 2008 and 2016. The latter was Pep Guardiola’s first game as a manager on 26 December, with the Blues winning 3-0 thanks to three goals in the last 20 minutes.

City also have a 100% record against Newcastle and Sheffield United on Boxing Day.

As for their least-favourite opponent, that goes to Blackburn, who have beaten the current Premier League champions in both of their Boxing Day meetings. Rovers won 2-0 in consecutive years, in 1995 and 1996.

Who’s City’s top Premier League scorer on Boxing Day?

In total, 25 players have scord for City in Boxing Day Premier League fixtures, with seven netting twice - Carlos Tevez, Felipe Caicedo, Robinho, Stephen Ireland, Robbie Fowler, Marc-Vivien Foe and Niall Quinn.

But only one player has ever scored more than two for City in Boxing Day fixtures, and that’s Yaya Toure. The Ivorian midfielder found the back of the net in three consecutive years on 26 December, between 2014-2016.

The first came from the spot in a 3-1 win over West Brom, while a year later he netted as City beat Sunderland 4-1, and in 2016 Toure got Guardiola’s side off the mark in the win over Hull.

City’s Boxing Day record in full

2020: Manchester City 2-0 Newcastle United (Gundogan, Torres)

2018: Leicester City 2-1 Manchester City (B.Silva)

2016: Hull City 0-3 Manchester City (Toure, Iheanacho, OG)

2015: Manchester City 4-1 Sunderland (Sterling, Toure, Bony, De Bruyne)

2014: West Bromwich Albion 1-3 Manchester City (Fernando, Toure, D.Silva)

2013: Manchester City 2-1 Liverpool (Kompany, Negredo)

2012: Sunderland 1-0 Manchester City

2011: West Bromwich Albion 0-0 Manchester City

2010: Newcastle United 1-3 Manchester City (Barry, Tevez, OG)

2009: Manchester City 2-0 Stoke City (Petrov, Tevez)

2008: Manchester City 5-1 Hull City (Caicedo-2, Robinho-2, Ireland)

2006: Sheffield United 0-1 Manchester City (Ireland)

2005: Wigan Athletic 4-3 Manchester City (Sibierski, Barton, Cole)

2004: Everton 2-1 Manchester City (Fowler)

2003: Birmingham City 2-1 Manchester City (Fowler)

2002: Manchester City 3-1 Aston Villa (Foe-2, Benarbia)

2000: Manchester City 0-0 Derby County

1995: Blackburn Rover 2-0 Manchester City

1994: Manchester City 0-2 Blackburn Rovers

1992: Manchester City 2-0 Sheffield United (Quinn-2)