Whether you opted for the traditional Christmas fare or something more exotic, there was something to cover all the excesses of sports betting fans this festive period.
A Boxing Day bonanza saw goals fly in at all football games bar one and my pre-match betting tips didn’t go exactly to plan either.
Tottenham Hotspur 5-2 Southampton
His goals have eclipsed the top two players on the planet – Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
Thirty-nine Premier League goals in 2017, shredding Alan Shearer’s mark of 36 set in 1995, and 56 goals in 52 games for club and country.
No wonder Spurs fans mockingly chanted ‘he’s just a one-season wonder’ after his hat-trick moved him to 96 goals in 132 Premier League appearances for the club.
Southampton were generous guests but nothing could detract from Harry Kane’s 2017 coronation.
Bournemouth 3-3 West Ham United
A match which had virtually everything apart from a winner.
As one journalist quipped: ‘this had more bones than a Turkey carcass’.
Bournemouth trailed, then they led, then they trailed, then they equalised through a goal which was arguably offside and, if not, arguably put in by the arm of Callum Wilson.
The Cherries remain in the relegation zone, West Ham remain just out of it – such margins are fine and dubious decisions like this may make all the difference come May.
Chelsea 2-0 Brighton & Hove Albion
Chelsea beat Brighton through a header by a Spanish AM (Alvaro Morata) and a header by a Spanish MA (Marcos Alonso).
It moved the reigning champions to within a point of Man Utd in second spot.
The Spanish connection finished off a well-organised but ultimately lower level opponents.
Huddersfield Town 1-1 Stoke City
A point apiece and probably an element of relief apiece that both managers avoided defeat.
The Terriers led through Tom Ince’s first goal for the club.
Stoke more than deserved their point secured through Ramadan Sobhi’s leveller on the hour but will curse their bad luck with injuries defensively – skipper Ryan Shawcross the latest walking wounded here.
Manchester United 2-2 Burnley
It was so nearly a famous victory for the Clarets.
The introduction of Jesse Lingard at half-time proved key as his double protected United’s proud home record – they last lost a home Boxing Day clash in the late 1970s.
That Burnley came within minutes of a first Old Trafford victory since 1962 should not detract from the immense credit they deserve.
They remain seventh.
Watford FC 2-1 Leicester City
How Watford needed this.
After six games without a win and four defeats on the bounce, it was going to take a wonder goal or a bit of luck to secure them a victory.
It proved to be the latter as Kasper Schmeichel diverted an Abdoulaye Doucoure shot into his own goal for the decisive moment.
West Bromwich Albion 0-0 Everton
The exception to the goal filled festive drama as West Brom extended their run without a Premier League win to 18 matches.
It’s three draws out of six now for new boss Alan Pardew but the Baggies need to quickly turn these draws into victories.
Everton, again without the ill Wayne Rooney, remain unbeaten since the arrival of Sam Allardyce and are ninth.
Liverpool 5-0 Swansea City
A rout to ensure Liverpool stay fourth in a one-sided contest against the bottom club.
It included a first league goal for young full-back Trent Alexander-Arnold, who will soon be playing alongside Virgil van Dijk after the Merseysiders agreed a world record fee for the Southampton defender.
Swansea could do with spending £75 million of their own next month as they look to tighten up at the back and boost a meagre goal tally of 11 in 20 matches.
Newcastle United 0-1 Manchester City
Runaway leaders City were so dominant the only surprise was that they only won by one goal.
With 83 per cent possession in the opening 45 minutes alone, it seemed only a matter of how many they would score once Raheem Sterling gave them a 31st minute lead.
Sergio Aguero twice hit the woodwork and they were well on top.
Credit to Rafa Benitez and Newcastle whose game plan seemed sensible and could even have resulted in an unlikely point, however undeserved it would have been.
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