Soccer Chronicles

On 28 December 2013, Hull City scored six second-half goals to thrash Fulham and go seven points clear of the Premier League relegation zone. It was Hull City's biggest Premier League win. Tom Huddlestone, George Boyd, Robert Koren, Ahmed Elmohamady and Matthew Fryatt were all on the score sheet as the Tigers (a nickname for Hull City) won 6-0.

On 28 December 1997, Duncan Ferguson came back from a three-match suspension to grab a hat-trick and give Everton real hope of avoiding relegation with a 3-2 win over Bolton Wanderers

The evolution of the world's most expensive defender: 1998: Jap Stam to Man Utd (£10.6m) 2001: Lilian Thuram to Juventus (£22m) 2002: Rio Ferdinand to Man Utd (£30m) 2014: David Luiz to PSG (£50m) 2017: Kyle Walker to Man City (£53m) 2017: Van Dijk to Liverpool (£75m)

Most expensive transfers in history: Neymar - €222M Dembélé - €105M Pogba - €105M Bale - €100M C.Ronaldo - €94M Higuaín - €90M Lukaku - €85M Van Dijk - €84M The game has gone mad

Happy Birthday to former Newcastle United, Ipswich Town, West Ham United, Middlesborough and Queens Park Rangers Midfielder Kieron Courtney Dyer who turns 39 today. On 2 April 2005, Dyer was involved in an on-pitch brawl with teammate Lee Bowyer in Newcastle's Premier League match with Aston Villa, and both had to be pulled apart and separated by their teammates and other Villa players. This resulted in Dyer and Bowyer receiving red cards , leaving Newcastle with eight men as Steven Taylor had already been sent-off for a deliberate handball. Dyer received a three-match ban for the sending-off, while Bowyer received a four-match ban and a fine of more than £200,000 – approximately six weeks' wages – after it was adjudged he had been the aggressor. On 18 November 2006, Kieron Dyer returned from a seven-month absence to score the goal which eases pressure on boss Glenn Roeder and seriously dents Arsenal's title hopes. With this Dyer became the first Newcastle United player ...

On this day in 1997, Manchester United visited Highfield Road having won their previous six matches and were facing a Sky Blues that hadn't beaten the Red Devils for eight years, but the odds were firmly in favour of the away side as Coventry City won 3-2.

On 26 December 1999, Arsenal's title hopes suffered a massive setback after an inspired display from Coventry City at Highfield Road. Fredrik Ljungberg and Davor Suker pulled two back for the Gunners after Gary McAllister and Mustapha Hadji had put Coventry in front. The Sky Blues (a nickname for Coventry City) won 3-2.

Of the 105 players to contest 50+ aerial duels in the Premier League this season, only Kurt Zouma (78.9%) has a better aerial success rate than Van Dijk (74.1%)

On this day in 2009, Hibernian striker Anthony Stokes scored the fastest goal (12.4 seconds) in Scottish Premiership history, scoring the opener in an eventual 4-1 defeat to Rangers at Easter Road(home ground of Hibernian). The record has since been broken by Celtic midfielder Kristian Arran Commons who scored in after just 12.2 seconds as Celtic beat Aberdeen 4-3 in 2013.

On 26 December 1963, The English Football League First Division(now known as The English Premier League) witnessed a total of 66 goals in just ten games Blackpool 1-5 Chelsea Burnley 6-1 Manchester United Fulham 10-1 Ipswich Town Leicester 2-0 Everton Liverpool 6-1 Stoke City Nottingham Forest 3-3 Sheffield United West Brom 4-4 Tottenham Sheffield Wednesday 3-0 Bolton Wolverhampton 3-3 Aston Villa West Ham 2-8 Blackburn

At 17 years and 89 days old, Ethan Ampadu is now the second youngest Chelsea player to make an appearance in the Premier League after Jody Steven Morris (vs Middlesbrough on 4 February 1996 at the age of 17years 43 days). Ampadu came up as an 80th-minute substitute for Andreas Christensen in a 3-1 win over Huddersfield Town.

 On this day in 1929, Late Lincoln City and Sheffield Wednesday Striker Derek Dooley was born in Sheffield, England. He died at his home on 5 March 2008. Dooley's Sheffield Wednesday Career in numbers League Appearances: 61 League Goals: 62 #RIP #LEGEND

On this day in 2006, American businessman and promoter of American football , soccer , basketball, tennis and ice hockey in the United States Lamar Hunt passed away in Dallas. He was 74 years old. Heir to an oil fortune, Hunt was an enthusiastic supporter of both both soccer and American football. In 1959, after being turned down for a National Football League franchise, he helped found the rival American Football League and formed his own team, the Dallas Texans. He later moved the team to Kansas City, renaming them as the Chiefs, and they eventually joined the NFL when the two leagues merged in 1970. His interest in soccer was sparked by a 1962 trip to Ireland, where he took in a Shamrock Rovers match. Five years later, he helped establish the North American Soccer League and founded the Dallas Tornado, who went on to win the league title in 1971. After the demise of the NASL, Hunt continued to promote the sport in the US. He was one of the driving forces behind the creation of ...

Happy Birthday to Spanish and Arsenal midfielder Santiago Cazorla Gonzalez who turns 33 today. He has previously played for the likes of Villarreal, Recreativo Huelva and Malaga. Cazorla Arsenal career so far: Appearances: 180 Goals: 29 FA Cup: 2 Community Shield: 2 Arsenal Player of the season: 2012/2013 QUICK RECOVERY Happy Birthday to former Harrow Borough, Barnet, Bristol City and Middlesbrough winger Albert Danquah Adomah who turns 30 today. He currently plays for English Championship side Aston Villa. Happy Birthday to Swedish and Celtic Right-back Carl Mikael Lustig who turns 31 today. His former employers include; Umeå FC, GIF Sundsvall and Rosenborg BK.

On this day in 2002, Brazilian striker Ronaldo Luís Nazário de Lima became the the fourth Real Madrid player to win the Ballon d' Or award after Alfredo Di Stéfano (1957, 1959), Raymond Kopa (1958), and Luís Figo (2000). Ronaldo who was 26 years old at the time clinched the award ahead of compatriot and teammate Roberto Carlos and Bayern Munich Goalkeeper Oliver Kahn.

On this day in 2012, Peruvian Primera Division side Universitario confirmed that former Newcastle United and Hartlepool midfielder Nolberto Solano had left the club, despite the fact he guided the club into the top half of the table after being in the relegation zone when he first took charge as manager in June.

Happy Birthday to Nigerian international and Chelsea winger Victor Moses who turns 27 today. He has previously played for Wigan Athletic, Liverpool, West Ham United and Stoke City. Happy Birthday to Nigerian and Club Deportivo Lugo midfielder Ramon Olamilekan Azeez who turns 25 today. He has previously laced his boots for Spanish side Almeria. Notably, Azeez was part of the Nigeria's Golden Eaglets squad which finished second behind Switzerland in the 2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup.  Happy Birthday to former Brøndby, Liverpool and Danish midfielder Daniel Munthe Agger who turns 33 today. He is also a Tattoo Artist. Happy Birthday to former Sporting Cristal, Deportivo Municipal, Boca Juniors, Newcastle United, Aston Villa, Newcastle United, West Ham United, Larissa, Universitario, Leicester City, Hull City, Hartlepool United and Peruvian midfielder Nolberto Albino Solano Todco who turns 43 today.  Happy Birthday to Watford Midfielder/Defender and former Engla...

Liverpool forward Sadio Mané could become the first player to score in three successive Premier League Merseyside derbies since Robbie Fowler in November 1996. Of players to play more than 500 minutes of Premier League football in December, the player with the best minutes per goal ratio is former Blackburn Rovers and Manchester City striker Roque Luis Santa Cruz Cantero (one goal every 94 minutes).

On this day in 1984, Independiente won their second Intercontinental Cup, beating Liverpool 1-0. The Argentinians were making their sixth appearance in the competition after a 10-year absence and a previous record of four losses (1964, 1965, 1972, 1974) and one win--a 1-0 victory over Juventus in 1973. Liverpool, meanwhile, were in it for only the second time after losing 3-0 to Flamengo in 1981.

On this day in 2009, Queens Park Rangers suspended manager James Magilton for allegedly head-butting one of his own players. The incident occurred in the tunnel after QPR's away loss to Watford two days earlier. It was their third loss in four games, dropping the team into tenth place and putting pressure on Magilton (pictured), who was in his first season as QPR boss. According to reports, the manager got into an altercation with Rangers midfielder Ákos Buzsáky, then head-butted him. (Coincidentally, he was the second manager in England to be accused of head-butting a player, with the other being Stoke's Tony Pulis). The club announced the suspension on 9 December with immediate effect and promised an internal investigation. Magilton admitted to having a disagreement with Buzsáky, but denied head-butting him, saying that the reports were incorrect and that he looked forward to reinstatement upon the completion of the club's investigation. One week later, on 16 Decembe...

On this day in 2001, Southampton were unstoppable as they beat Leicester City 4-0 at King Power Stadium.   

On this day in 2010, Chelsea's poor run of form continued as Brandao's late strike handed Olympique Marseille a narrow 1-0 win in their Champions League final Group F game in France. It was also an emotional return for Didier Drogba who played against his former employers for the first time since leaving Stade Velodrome in 2004.  

 On this day in 2004, Steven Gerrard scored a stunning winner as Liverpool came from behind to beat Olympiakos 3-1 in a UEFA Champions League group game played at Anfield. The win sealed the Reds qualification to knockout stage.  

  On this day 1985, Juventus won the Intercontinental Cup beating Argentinos Juniors 6-4 on penalties after playing a 2-2 draw at regulation time. Michel Platini had a wonder-goal disallowed. 

Happy Birthday to former Tottenham Hotspur, QPR, Watford, Newcastle United, Leicester City, Bolton Wanderers, Hayes, Beşiktaş, Brentford, Reading and England striker Leslie Ferdinand who turns 51 today. Ferdinand is ranked 8th in the list of English Premier League all time highest goal scorers with 149 goals. Happy Birthday to England and Manchester City winger Raheem Shaquille Sterling who turns 23 today. He has previously played for Liverpool FC.     Happy Birthday to former Liverpool, Wycombe Wanderers, Birmingham and Derby County winger Jordon Ashley Femi  Ibe who turns 22 today. He currently plays for AFC Bournemouth.     Happy Birthday to former West Ham United, Stoke City, West Bromwich Albion, Cork Celtic, Seattle Sounders and England striker Sir Geoffrey Charles Hurst (MBE). He remains the only man to score a hat-trick in a World Cup final as England recorded a 4–2 victory over West Germany at the old Wembley Stadium in 1966.  ...

  On this day in 1979, English striker Stanley Bowles  played his final game for Queens Park Rangers before joining Brian Clough's Nottingham Forest (the club he made his debut against after joining QPR seven years previously) 

 On this day in 2002, Celtic striker Chris Sutton scored the quickest Old Firm Derby any game involving Celtic and Rangers) goal after 19 seconds, with Rangers fighting back to win with goals from Craig Moore, Ronald De Boer and Michael Mols.…

On this day in 2013, Oussama Assaidi scored a superb late winner as Stoke City came from behind to stun Chelsea and earn just their fourth Premier League win the season. The game was played at the Britannia Stadium (now known as bet365 Stadium) ended 3-2 in favour of the Potters.

Arsenal have handed three young stars new long-term contracts at the Emirates. The Gunners have tied down striker Eddie Nketiah, goalkeeper Matt Macey and Ben Sheaf to extended deals, after all made their first-team breakthroughs this term. Nketiah has made four first-team appearances this term, featuring in the League Cup and Europa League. The 18-year-old came off the bench to score twice in the third round win over Norwich. He also has seven goals in six games for the England Under-19s this year. Keeper Macey, 23, deputised for the injured David Ospina in that game, and also played in the 0-0 draw with Red Star Belgrade in the Europa League. Sheaf, signed as a 14-year-old from West Ham, made his debut coming on as a substitute in the 1-0 away win over Red Star in October. All have been regulars for the club's Under-23 side this season.

  After appearing in a 2-1 loss to Shakhtar Donetsk, England U-18 midfielder Philip Walter Foden is now the youngest player to start a Champions League match for Manchester City (17years 19days). The 2017/2018 Champions League group stage saw a total of 306 goals scored; the most in a group stage campaign in competition history. England are the first nation to have five different teams qualify for the Last 16 of the Champions League (since 2003/2004).  This is the first time since 2006/2007 season that four English sides have finished first in their respective groups in a single Champions League campaign. Manchester United, Liverpool, Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur all finished top of their respective groups.  Only Paris Saint-Germain(25) have scored more goals than Liverpool (16) in the Champions League this season.

  On this day in 2011, Olympique Lyonnais striker Bafétimbi Gomis (currently plays for Galatasaray) scored four goal in a 7-1 win over Croatian side Dinamo Zagreb. The first three goals is the fastest UEFA Champions League Hat-trick. The win guaranteed Lyon's qualification to the knockout stage.

Happy Birthday to former Chelsea, Nottingham Forest and England centre-back John George Terry who turns 37 today. He currently plays for English Championship side Aston Villa. Terry's Chelsea Career in numbers Appearances: 717 Goals: 67 EPL: 5 FA Cup: 5 League Cup: 3 Community Shield: 2 Champions League: 1 Europa League: 1 #BLUE #LEGEND Happy Birthday to former Millwall, Everton, New York Red Bulls, Hangzhou Greentown, Shanghai Shenhua and Melbourne City Forward/Attacking midfielder Timothy Filiga Cahill who turns 38 today. On 6 December 2017, Cahill left Melbourne City after not getting enough game time, in a bid for more game time at club level to boost his chances to get selected for the Australian squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. First Aussie to score at a FIFA World Cup (vs Japan in 2002) First Aussie to score at Asian Cup Finals First Everton player since 1931 to score in three separate Merseyside derbies Scored the second fastest Major League Soccer ...

On this day in 1908, Sunderland got their biggest league win ever after defeating city rivals Newcastle United by nine goals to one.