Premier League fixtures today – your guide to Thursday’s games

The nebulous festive period between Boxing Day and New Year’s Eve – Betwixtmas, the year’s perineum, whatever you want to call it – often drifts by in a blur.

Fortunately, the Premier League’s fixture computer has sprinkled a selection of games to serve as staging posts in this void.

There are only two matches for your perusal on Thursday but they should both be intriguing spectacles between sides in the top half of the table.

Here’s everything you need to know about the midweek offering.

In what will surely be the ultimate kiss of death, Brighton’s visit from Tottenham Hotspur promises goals.

The Seagulls had scored in 32 consecutive Premier League matches before travelling to Tottenham’s north London rivals Arsenal earlier this month. De Zerbi’s side duly found the net in their next outing against Crystal Palace. Spurs, meanwhile, boast the longest current scoring sequence in England’s top flight, bagging at least one goal in 30 games on the spin.

While there are plenty of differences between Roberto De Zerbi and Ange Postecoglou – the Italian barely ever says mate – they both have unflinching faith in their respective playing principles.

There are some overlaps on the pitch as well, with each team intent on dominating possession through short, intricate skeins of passes. Both sides comfortably record the fewest proportion of long balls (passes over 30 yards) in the division.

When reflecting on his relationship with David Moyes, the coach who signed him at Everton two decades ago, Mikel Arteta gushed: “It’s more than respect, I think it’s admiration. I loved playing under him. I would have gone through a brick wall for him when he was my manager.”

The pair don’t communicate as much anymore – “It’s business, you know?” Moyes shrugged in way of explanation – but the mutual respect is evident.

Moyes proved that the master could still get one over his old apprentice with a bullying 3-1 win for West Ham United over Arsenal in the Carabao Cup fourth round two months ago.

Arsenal fans have jokingly started a fundraiser to pay West Ham more money such is the perceived value of Declan Rice. However, the midfielder who moved north for £100m in the summer came on in that cup tie to chants of: “You should’ve signed for a big club.”

West Ham – whose fans are always keen to remind everyone how massive they are – were knocked out of the second-string cup competition by Liverpool but warmed up for their trip to the Emirates with a deserved 2-0 victory over Manchester United.

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