Yes, the weekend has finally come when I have no JV NFL to preview. The world is colder and more barren than usual. And I promised my kids we would go get a Christmas tree this afternoon. Timing is not exactly coincidental. I will likely fuck my neck and/or back up (even more) and have nothing good to watch. SIGH.

But let us keep our chins up and our heads out of the oven, and focus on the EPL. The Little Foxy Engine That Could surprised everyone last weekend and re-took sole possession of first place, and Boxing Day (the day after Christmas) is generally considered the day things stop being polite, and start getting real in English footy. Leicester ain’t going away by then, folks. To the fixtures!

Norwich and Dear Beloved Everton kick things off at the ungodly hour of 7:45 EST (NBCSN), and it’s another crucial match for the Toffees as they try to get out of the mass in the upper-middle. Currently, there are seven teams on 21-23 points, clogging up slots 6-12 on the table. Everton smack dab in the middle at 9th on 22. Two weeks ago, Everton blew a 2-nil lead, then a 3-2 lead in the last 30 seconds of added time to Bournemouth. Last week, on English MNF, they hit the woodwork three times in a dominating performance that ended in another draw against Palace. Win either game, and the Blues are clear of the pack in 6th, as their goal differential predicts they should be. Irritating as fuck, but hopefully some frustration gets taken out on sad sack Norwich.

Saturday’s 10:00 window brings two interesting games – 3rd place City against desperate, reeling 15th place Swansea (NBCSN), and the two ends of the upper-middle pack, 6th place Palace and 12th position Southampton (USA). The Swans got absolutely destroyed at home by Leicester last week, and once wonderkind manager Gerry Monk might need a result just to keep his job. City looked awful themselves last week, and have been truly baffling after a red hot start to the season. The Saints are loads more fun than Palace, so hopefully they compress things in the middle even more with a victory. Definitely the most evenly matched fixture of the day.

Sunday brings three matches, but the two top end clubs each play relegation fodder (Arsenal vs. Villa at 8:30, NBCSN; Spurs vs. Barcodes at 11, NBCSN or Extra Time). The 8th place Shite of Liverpool play the slightly better than relegation fodder West Brom Albion at 11 (NBCSN or Extra Time, the website isn’t clear), so I guess one could watch that.

Monday Night Footy could be very good indeed, with Leicester hosting Chelsea. Chelsea are in 14th, and that’s where they deserve to be, based on goal differential. Don’t kid yourselves into thinking that a run to the top is imminent – they’re shit and it’s glorious. Should be an excellent showcase for the Foxes, as NBCSN loves the story, every bit as much as the front-running English press hates it.

Feel free to talk about college hoops, 1-AA footy in the comments, etc.