Sam Ashoo
Final Score at Stamford Bridge

Chelsea will be hoping the only Christmas leftovers are on the food menu today; it’s tandoori turkey for those of us in the media room ahead of the Fulham fixture.

On the pitch, Enzo Maresca’s side will be looking for an improved performance following their draw at Everton but the fans I’ve spoken to are expecting a return to winning ways.

And in case you were wondering, the turkey gets three points from me.

Mark Schwarzer
Former Premier League goalkeeper on BBC Radio 5 Live

I'm surprised at how well and how quickly Enzo Maresca has got his players to do what he wants them to do so quickly. I hope Chelsea are going to push Liverpool right until the end.

Manchester City

Manchester City defender Manuel Akanji, speaking to Amazon Prime: "I think we did way more for the game. We created lots of chances, unfortunately we were only able to score one goal and we conceded one out of nothing but that is how football is.

"This was a game today we were able to score three or four goals, but they didn’t go in but then to be honest with you it can’t happen that we nearly lose in the last minute. We are trying to attack but I think it was like a six versus two in front of our goal. We still need to believe to the last moment that we can win the match.

On City's title hopes: "The season is not finished but it's not a target for us at the moment. We need to focus game by game and the next game against Leicester City will not be easy as well now, in the shape we are in.

"We need to focus on the positives. We did a lot of things great. We defended well and we attacked well, but were not able to finish as well as we wanted to or we could have scored three or four goals."

For Spurs, it's all about how they respond to shipping six at home to Liverpool last Sunday. Ange Postecoglou's side are perhaps the most unpredictable in the league but are well capable of beating anyone on their day.

Against a rampant Nottingham Forest side, they'll have to be at their very best today.

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester City

Image source, Reuters

Manchester City defender Manuel Akanji, speaking to BBC Sport: "We had plenty of chances to score goals. Their goal came out of nowhere. Second half we had the penalty chance, we created opportunities but the ball didn't want to go in.

"We played really well. Maybe you see it differently but I think we played well compared to other matches.

"This can't happen that we nearly conceded the counterattack late on. Otherwise we defended well as a team and attacked great as a team.

"We have to keep going, the next chance is against Leicester."

Nottingham Forest are 17 games into an incredible season and a win over Spurs would be their fourth on the spin and would momentarily take them up to third in the league. Yep, you read that right, THIRD.

What a job Nuno Espirito Santo is doing at the City Ground!

Image source, Getty Images

EFL

It doesn't get much bigger than Boxing Day in EFL terms - everyone is playing.

Follow the latest here.

Cole Palmer has scored 25 Premier League goals in 2024, one behind Erling Haaland, and has equalled the Chelsea record for a calendar year, set by Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink in 2001.

Can he break that record today?

Bournemouth

Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola on team news: "We are playing a midweek game, we're playing in three days, we've come from a difficult game at Old Trafford so we need some fresh legs and I hope they can give us some energy."

On the importance of this run for building momentum: "I think especially in the Premier League with the busy schedule in December and January, I think they are very important months and I hope we can continue this good moment. We are probably quite thin in numbers so also have to be careful with the players, try not to lose anyone else and keep the level."

On Palace: "We are playing a very good side, there is no doubt. This season I think they had a worse moment at the beginning of the season but now I expect a very level game. I hope we can have enough."

Marc Webber
Final Score at St Mary's

The photographers have already picked their prize spot in front of the home dugout, ready to get their picture with new Southampton boss Ivan Juric.

In a short interview in the match programme, he’s promising much more aggressive football to arrest the goal and points deficit which has an anchored the port city to the bottom of the Premier League.

Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola says it is far too soon to be talking about a European push.

The Cherries are fifth - which is a potential (but not guaranteed) Champions League place. However the table is tight and they are only three points above 10th spot.

"I want to repeat what I tell you every day - I don't believe in the long term goals when we are not half way through the season," he said. "Because we are higher [in the league table], it is not a big change.

"It is not a message, it is what I believe."

Fulham have 25 points, their joint-highest tally after 17 Premier League fixtures of a season.

It was previously set under Chris Coleman in 2003-04.

They are unbeaten in five Premier League games (although have drawn four of them). The last time they had a longer run was in 2010 under Mark Hughes - the first seven games of the season.

Crystal Palace

Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner on team news: "Eberechi Eze is fit so he starts and Daniel Munoz is fit after his suspension. Trevoh Chalobah did really well so it's just pretty clear that he comes back into the team.

On Palace's confidence going into today's game: "We have a lot of respect because Bournemouth are doing really well. But also our last away game in the Premier League was at Brighton and a big win there. I think it will be a very interesting, tense and tough game for both teams. We'll have to be efficient and taking the chances will give the winner in the end."

On the importance of having a stable defence: "It's always good to have a stable defence and also Henderson is having an excellent season. When you build a house it's important to have a stable foundation and this is what our back has to do and getting better and better at knowing each other. It's still in the process but they're doing very well."

Chris Sutton
BBC Sport football expert

I am not going to overthink this one.

Until they lost to Arsenal twice last week, Crystal Palace were showing signs of improvement, but Bournemouth have been brilliant.

Andoni Iraola's side thoroughly deserved to beat Manchester United on Sunday. They always create loads of chances and, at the moment, they are taking them.

Sutton's prediction: 2-1

Manchester City need to win all their remaining 20 Premier League games this season to equal their total number of Premier League wins last season (28).

Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca says it is not mind games when he claims they are not in the title race.

The reason for these questions is basically everyone else thinks the £1bn+ team, who are second and only four points behind Liverpool, are in the title race.

"It is not about the pressure for the players or for the club or for me, it is about the reality," said the ex-Leicester boss.

"Not about the pressure because we would like that kind of pressure and hopefully soon we can. The reason I said we are not there is because the reality is we are not there. We will see game by game."

Lee: Pep can stop worrying about not qualifying for the Champs League. They haven’t hit the magic 40 point mark yet and the way they’re doing he should be more worried about survival!

Richard, Birchington: Haaland just needs to stay humble and the goals will return.

Nick the Gooner: Away to Arsenal, home to Chelsea and away to Man City. Everton have come out of those 3 games unbeaten. Well played Sean Dyche.

Paul Robinson
Former England goalkeeper on BBC Radio 5 Live

There's two sides to this story. We will talk all day about Manchester City's failings. They are a team with no confidence. They are good sometimes but they do not take the risk with the ball.

The other side is Everton and Sean Dyche. His players will be absolutely delighted with this.

Noel Fitzpatrick: Bad from Everton there at the end. A four on two break and their decision making was terrible. A great point for them, but come on, go for three!