It's tough at the top! Man City and Liverpool put through their paces at Christmas ahead of crunch clash... but Arsenal players have plenty of Christmas cheer

Premier League players might have to hold back a bit on the celebrations and go training on Christmas day - but at least they have time for turkey and presents.
Well, at least Arsenal's players do. Jack Wilshere and Aaron Ramsey were quick to show off their festive fun. Wilshere posting a picture of his favourite present - the autobiography of Gunners legend Dennis Bergkamp and an Arsenal mug, while Aaron Ramsey showed off his Christmas table (presumably he is expecting guests).  

Christmas tweet: Wilshere has plenty of reading material while he is banned for swearing at Manchester City supporters

At the Emir-eats: Aaron Ramsey's Christmas table is only missing a turkey

BOXING DAY FIXTURES

CLICK ON THE FIXTURE FOR TEAM NEWS
Hull City v Manchester United (12.45pm)
Aston Villa v Crystal Palace (3pm)
Cardiff City v Southampton (3pm)
Chelsea v Swansea City (3pm)
Everton v Sunderland (3pm)
Newcastle United v Stoke City (3pm)
Norwich City v Fulham (3pm)
Tottenham Hotspur v West Brom (3pm)
West Ham United v Arsenal (3pm)
Manchester City v Liverpool (5.30pm)

Meanwhile, Christmas eve did not stop some Barclays Premier League managers working their players hard ahead of the hectic festive fixture schedule.
With three matches to be played within the space of seven days, this is, as ever, a time of year that defines championshp races and relegation dogfights.
Manchester City prepared for their top-of-the-table clash with Liverpool on Boxing Day with a training session at Carrington.
Goalkeeper Joe Hart, who appears to have regained his place in the team ahead of Costel Pantilimon, was peppered with shots from City's deadly strikeforce.

Race to the top: Samir Nasri (centre), Yaya Toure (right) and Jesus Navas take part in some sprint drills during a Christmas Eve training session at Carrington

Christmas spirit: Gael Clichy smiles in the changing rooms at Carrington before heading out for City's last training session before Christmas

City boast arguably the most potent attack in Europe right now, with Sergio Aguero, Alvaro Negredo, Jesus Navas, David Silva and company notching 51 goals in the league alone so far.
They rattled six past Arsenal last time they came up against a fellow title challenger and will look for more of the same against Christmas leaders Liverpool.
And coach Manuel Pellegrini insisted his style will not change, even if opponents adopt an ultra-cautious approach to try and keep his team at bay.

Shooting practice: Joe Hart was peppered by shots from City's potent strikeforce during training

'I think they have changed already but I think we try to solve the different problems put to our team,' Pellegrini said.
'The way in football is to score goals, that is why people pay for their tickets.
'Fans are always trying to celebrate the goals of their teams. That is very important, I think it is the best way to win.
'Maybe sometimes winning 1-0 is a very good goal, and that goal is three points more.

'But if you are playing well, why would you change if you are winning by two goals?

'If you are continuing by two, why don't you continue the same way?'

Pure entertainment: Manuel Pellegrini insists he will not change City's approach to matches even if opponents are ultra-defensive against them

Goal surge: Manchester City have racked up a half-century of goals in the Premier League already this season

Pellegrini will be without Aguero, who has 13 goals in the league so far, with a calf injury for the match at the Etihad.

England goalkeeper Hart made his first Premier League start in almost two months in Saturday's 4-2 win at Fulham and is expected to keep his spot.
In the absence of Pablo Zabaleta and Micah Richards through hamstring injuries, Gael Clichy could be forced to play at right-back.
Currently just a point behind, City could leapfrog Liverpool and take top spot with a win.

Ambition: City could leapfrog Liverpool and claim top spot with a win or draw if Arsenal and Chelsea slip up

Free-scoring: Sergio Aguero has been in unstoppable form this season but will be out for six weeks through injury

However, Brendan Rodgers put his squad through their paces on Christmas Eve to ensure that doesn't happen.
There's plenty of Christmas cheer at Anfield after Arsenal stalemate with Chelsea on Monday evening ensured they would be top for the festive period.
In the last four Premier League seasons, the side top on Christmas Day have gone on to win the title, while news of 19-goal Luis Suarez's contract extension was the perfect early present for Liverpool fans.

Ready to roar: Brendan Rodgers led his players in training on Christmas Eve as they limber up for the match with City

Flying high: Iago Aspas celebrates during training at Melwood

Contest: Raheem Sterling (left) tries to keep the ball from Glen Johnson during a training match

All smiles: Luis Suarez has scored 19 league goals already this season

SUAREZ'S DEADLY DECEMBER

December 4 vs Norwich - Four goals
December 7 vs West Ham - Two goals
December 15 vs Tottenham - Two goals
December 21 vs Cardiff - Two goals

The transformation in Suarez from the summer, when he openly tried to engineer a move to a Champions League side, to the often unplayable striker seen today has been nothing short of miraculous.
He already has 10 goals in December - with two fixtures remaining - surpassing the previous Premier League record of eight in a calendar month.
Despite the understandable jubilation amongst the fans, Rodgers is guarding against complacency.
'You don't get the rewards at Christmas. It is a nostalgic time and people always want to know where the team is at around Christmas Day,' he said.
'We want to be there but we want to be there at the end of the season and for that there is a lot of hard work ahead.
'It is brilliant for supporters, I am not going to deny them a dream - it is nice for us all to dream.

Nearly ready: Steven Gerrard could make his return soon following hamstring trouble

Picking a pass: Philippe Coutinho on the ball in training

'It has been a hard period in this club for four or five years and this (being top) was probably a distant thought for them.
'They have to enjoy it but for me as a manager my concentration has always been and always will be on the next game.
'That has served us well and seen us grow so I won't change that. Strategically we have to keep pushing the club forward.
'We can't be complacent and we won't be because we haven't done anything yet.
'We are top at Christmas, which is great, but we need to continue that run in the second half of the season.'
Rodgers is without defender Jon Flanagan for the Boxing Day trip along the M62. He picked up a slight hamstring problem during a fine performance in Saturday's 3-1 win over Cardiff at Anfield.

Absent: Jon Flanagan, seen here celebrating his goal in the 5-0 win at Tottenham, will miss the City match with a hamstring injury

Striker Daniel Sturridge and left-back Jose Enrique are definitely sidelined until the new year, but captain Steven Gerrard is close to a return from his hamstring issues.
Also on Boxing Day, Manchester United will aim to continue their recent resurgence when they travel to Hull City in the early kick-off.
The champions have won their last four matches in all competitions to position themselves on the shoulder of the league's pace-setters approaching the turn of the season.
And the players entered the festive spirit with Nani, Anders Lindegaard and Marouane Fellaini sporting their fetching Christmas jumpers in an Instagram picture.

Guess who? Rio Ferdinand gets into the festive spirit by dressing as Santa Claus on Christmas Eve

Fetching: Nani (left), Anders Lindegaard (top right) and Marouane Fellaini model their Christmas jumpers

Praise: David Moyes offers a word of advice to Wayne Rooney during Manchester United's 3-1 win over West Ham

Manager David Moyes lavished praise on Wayne Rooney ahead of the visit to the KC Stadium, commenting on how the striker has matured into the perfect team player this season.
Back in the summer, it looked certain Rooney would leave for a new challenge at Chelsea, but Moyes performed a man-management masterstroke in keeping him.
'What Wayne is doing is making the others play well because he is playing well,' said Moyes.
'He has turned himself into a real team player.
'With the assists for the team and the goals, his all-round contribution has been fantastic.'

Purple patch: Wayne Rooney has been praised by his manager, David Moyes (below), for his all-round team play this season

Rooney's new role of responsibility includes passing on the benefits of his experience to young emerging players like Adnan Januzaj, who impressed with a goal and his all-round performance in Saturday's 3-1 win over West Ham.
'He needs to show the young players,' Moyes added.
'You go through the years and look at people like Ryan Giggs and the advice he gave to Wayne Rooney. Wayne has now to give it to Adnan Januzaj and the new players coming up.
'He has a big responsibility to show the next generation the standards that Manchester United set and what you have to do every week if you are going to play for this club.'

Starlet: Adnan Januzaj celebrates his goal against West Ham on Saturday

Out: Danny Welbeck, seen here scoring against West Ham, will miss out against Hull with a knee injury

Moyes could have to make do without Rooney's strike partner Danny Welbeck on Humberside after the England international suffered a bang on the knee.
Michael Carrick and Robin van Persie remain out with Achilles and thigh problems respectively and Moyes admitted it would take a 'Christmas miracle' to see them again before the New Year.
Hull manager Steve Bruce, meanwhile, could field the same starting line-up for the fourth match in succession as his team bid to end a torrid record against United of seven losses from seven.

Up against it: Steve Bruce faced a mission to improve Hull's awful record against Man United

Second-place Arsenal travel to West Ham on Boxing Day seeking to offer a little more excitement than they managed to conjure in Monday's drab draw with Chelsea.
Mesut Ozil and Olivier Giroud in particular struggled to break down a miserly Chelsea defence at the Emirates, meaning the Gunners missed the chance to go top outright.
Ozil was in the festive spirit on Christmas Eve, posing for a photograph with his girlfriend Mandy Capristo next to the tree in their home. Mikel Arteta also posed with his wife Lorena Burnal with a Santa hat on.
Jack Wilshere will complete his two-match suspension for making an obscene gesture to Manchester City fans during the second half of Arsenal's 6-3 loss there last week.

Family time: Mikel Arteta and wife Lorena Bernal enjoy the festive period

Festive spirit: Mesut Ozil poses with girlfriend Many Capristo, but we're not sure about the visible vest line...

Night of toil: Mesut Ozil (right) struggled to make an impression in the drab 0-0 draw with Chelsea on Monday night

Frustrated: Olivier Giroud was well marshalled by the Chelsea defence as the two title contenders drew a blank

The England midfielder revealed on Christmas Eve that he stuck his middle finger up because the fans abused his children.
Wilshere tweeted: 'Gutted not to be Involved last night! Shouldn't of reacted the way I did but I know all you dads out there love your kids the way I do....
'Suppose I will just have to take the abuse about my kids in future......anyway, one more game to go! Can't wait to be back! £AFC'

Making a point: Jack Wilshere was given a two-game suspension for this gesture in the defeat at Man City