11 things you might have missed from the EPL Boxing Day matches

The Premier League festive season kicked into full swing on Boxing Day, with goals galore across the 3pm kick-offs.

The traditional afternoon games saw Everton race into a 22-minute, 3-0 lead away to Burnley before running out 5-1 winners, Liverpool win yet another Premier League game, seeing off Newcastle in a 4-0 victory and Manchester City lose 2-1 at Leicester to slip seven points behind the Reds in the title race.

With all the action, there will be plenty of incidents, facts and stats that you may have missed. So here is a list of 11 things that may have gone under your radar in the 3pm Boxing Day Premier League games.

1. Mina head and shoulders above Burnley

It took all of two minutes for Everton to take the lead at Turf Moor, with Yerry Mina heading home from Bernard’s tempting cross.

The goal was his first in an Everton shirt and means the Colombian’s last five goals have been scored with his head, including his three scored at the World Cup in Russia over the summer.

Mina brought out his best dance moves and set Marco Silva’s side on their way to an emphatic 5-1 victory.

2. Lovren volley leads Liverpool to another 4-0 win

Dejan Lovren had Liverpool 1-0 up after just 11 minutes against Newcastle, as the Reds attempted to maintain their lead at the top of the Premier League.

And if you thought the Croatian’s goal was from a simple knock-down or a header from a corner, then you would be gravely mistaken.  It wasn’t quite Andros Townsend vs Manchester City, but Lovren’s 15-yard volley was one hell of a strike for a centre-back and left Newcastle ‘keeper Martin Dubravka with absolutely no chance.

Liverpool have now won 4-0 the last three times Lovren scored a Premier League goal, with the former Southampton man getting on the scoresheet in the Reds’ 4-0 wins over Bournemouth and Brighton last season.

3. Kyle Walker-Peters; assist king

Tottenham found themselves 3-0 up within 35 minutes against Bournemouth, with Pochettino’s men slicing through the Cherries with consummate ease.

And Spurs’ charge against Eddie Howe’s side was spearheaded by young Kyle Walker-Peters, who provided a hat-trick of assists, becoming the first player to achieve that feat in the Premier League this season. The trio also took his tally of assists to five in just three Premier League games in 2018.

4. Everton have found their new Leighton Baines

Leighton Baines has been famed over the years for his wonderful delivery and technique from set-pieces, with the England left-back firing in a number of stunning free-kicks during his time at Everton.

Age has seen Baines’ role in the squad diminish, but Evertonians need not worry as the torch has now been passed to Lucas Digne. The Frenchman’s 13th-minute strike put the Toffees 2-0 up against Burnley, and also put Digne’s free kick goal tally to two for the season, more than any other player in the Premier League so far this season.

The 25-year-old also scored Everton’s fourth goal with an equally impressive strike in the second half, this time from open play.

5. The Egyptian king strikes again

Mohamed Salah put Liverpool 2-0 up against Newcastle shortly after half-time at Anfield from the penalty spot.

The goal meant Mohamed Salah has now scored in 10 Premier League games this season, more than any other player in the division.

It also means the Egyptian ending his run of not scoring in two consecutive home Premier League games, having last scored a league goal at Anfield in Liverpool’s 2-0 win over Fulham in November.

6. Pogback

The Ole Gunnar Solskjaer effect is certainly being felt at Old Trafford. The Norwegian has overseen two wins from two games, with United finding the net eight times already.

No player has taken to the former striker’s new regime more than Paul Pogba, whose second-half strikes meant he has now been directly involved in four goals in his last two Premier League games, becoming the first United player to contribute toward 10 goals this season in the process.

Pogback, indeed.

7. He's one of our own

Harry Kane added a fourth goal as Spurs absolutely tore through Bournemouth at Wembley.

The strike was the World Cup Golden Boot winner’s seventh in the Premier League on Boxing Day, the same amount Arsenal icon, Thierry Henry.

North London dominates Boxing Day once again.

8. Liverpool finally score an Anfield penalty

Mohamed Salah’s second-half penalty against Newcastle effectively sealed all three points for Jurgen Klopp’s side.

Something that may have gone under the radar, however, was the fact that the spot kick was the first awarded to Liverpool at Anfield in 424 days, since Salah’s 12-yard miss in a 3-0 win over Huddersfield on October 28, 2017.

9. Burnley have forgotten how to defend

Everton’s fourth goal in their 5-1 Turf Moor demolition was the 40th Burnley have conceded in the Premier League this season.

The Clarets really are struggling at the back this season, which is unbelievable considering they only let in 39 goals in the whole of last season.

That low defensive block has fallen apart for Sean Dyche; 41 and counting.

10. Man City's Achilles heel strikes again

There is no doubting that Manchester City are an incredible attacking force, with the Citizens scoring 51 goals in just 19 Premier League games so far.

However, they leaked another two goals in a 2-1 defeat to Leicester City which means they have now failed to keep a clean sheet in their last nine games in all competitions.

Even more worryingly for Pep Guardiola’s side is the fact that Leicester’s second goal means they have conceded more than twice the amount of goals (15) as their title rivals, Liverpool (seven).

11. From invincible to vulnerable

It was less than a month ago that we were talking about Manchester City as potential invincibles this season. However, December has not been kind to Pep Guardiola’s side at all, with City losing three of their last four Premier League games.

Those defeats to Chelsea, Crystal Palace and Leicester City mean the Citizens have lost more Premier League games (three) this season than the whole of last term (two).