5 classic Boxing Day Premier League fixtures of the decade

2. Hull City 2-3 Manchester United – 2013

Wayne Rooney starred in Manchester United's Boxing Day comeback against Hull in 2013

This match featured another classic Manchester United comeback, but rather than it being part of the Sir Alex Ferguson era, it was instead a brief high point of David Moyes’ brief reign at Old Trafford. The Red Devils were coming off two successive wins prior to the game, but early on, it looked like they were in for a disaster.

Steve Bruce’s Tigers found themselves ahead after just 3 minutes, when some terrible United defending from a corner allowed defender James Chester to smash the ball home from close range. Incredibly, less than 10 minutes later Hull doubled their lead, when some direct play from a goal kick was once again badly defended, allowing David Meyler to score from inside the box.

At that point the game looked to be another embarrassing result for Moyes, but his team fought back, and pulled a goal back through centre-back Chris Smalling, who rose to head a Wayne Rooney free-kick in on 19 minutes. 7 minutes later, United had their equaliser, and it came in spectacular fashion from a reliable source.

Rooney linked up well with Danny Welbeck, and when the striker’s neat touch fell to him, he chested the ball before hitting an unstoppable volley past goalkeeper Allan McGregor. It was a goal worthy of winning any game, but on this occasion Rooney had merely spared United’s blushes.

The Red Devils would have the last word, however, as they found a second half winner through Chester, who turned from hero to villain by rising higher than Rooney, only to head the ball into his own net. Even then, it wasn’t plain sailing for Moyes’ side; Antonio Valencia received a second yellow card with only added time remaining, but David De Gea saved a late effort from Chester, cementing a vital 3 points for United.