Cristiano Ronaldo and Paul Scholes ensured Manchester United would be top of the Barclays Premiership on Christmas Day as the leaders won 3-0 at Aston Villa.
After a goalless first half, Ronaldo wasted little time putting United ahead, running 40 yards, seeing his first shot blocked, and following up to score past on-loan goalkeeper Gabor Kiraly. United doubled their advantage after Scholes volleyed in one of the goals of the season, waiting for a clearance to drop 25 yards out before blasting home via the underside of the crossbar. Ronaldo ended any doubt over the result when he tapped Gary Neville’s cross into an empty net five minutes from time.
Wigan 2 -3 Chelsea
Arjen Robben scored a stoppage-time winner as Chelsea yet again clinched a dramatic late win, 3-2 at Wigan Athletic. For the second week in succession, the Barclays Premiership champions looked certain to drop points but showed all their character to keep the gap to United to two points. The Blues looked to be cruising when Frank Lampard made the most of the Latics slack offside trap to put the visitors ahead before Salomon Kalou headed home Robben’s corner. But Emile Heskey nodded one in on the stroke of half-time and scored the equaliser with 15 minutes remaining. Chelsea threw caution to the wind in search for a winner, which they got when Robben cut inside and finished beyond an unsighted Chris Kirkland.
Liverpool 2 Watford 0
Liverpool held on to third place after goals from Craig Bellamy and Xabi Alonso eked out a 2-0 win over rock-bottom Watford. The Reds were frustrated for much of the first half by the Hornets, who almost scored against the run of play when Alhassan Bangura volleyed over with the net gaping. But Bellamy was given an acre of space to stroke home Steven Gerrard’s pass two minutes after the restart and Alonso finished off a counter-attack late on to wrap up the points.
Arsenal 6 Blackburn 2
Arsenal remained just a point behind after recovering from an early blow to thrash Blackburn Rovers 6-2 at the Emirates Stadium. Kolo Toure’s clumsy challenge on David Bentley allowed Shabani Nonda to give Rovers a third-minute lead from the spot but Gilberto headed in Robin van Persie’s inswinging corner to level. Alexander Hleb then showed fantastic footwork to put the Gunners ahead before Lucas Neill upended Van Persie and Emmanuel Adebayor made it 3-1 from the spot before half-time. Nonda’s overhead kick made it 3-2 after substitute Matt Derbyshire headed against the bar but two late Van Persie strikes and one from Mathieu Flamini gave the scoreline a flattering look.
Manchester City 0 Bolton 2
Bolton Wanderers stayed level on points with the Gunners as Nicolas Anelka returned to haunt Manchester City with a brilliant brace at the City of Manchester Stadium. The France striker converted Nicky Hunt’s terrific ball just eight minutes in before slotting home Henrik Pedersen’s slide-rule pass to seal a 2-0 success. It got worse for City when Joey Barton was shown a straight red card late on for bringing down Abdoulaye Faye.
Portsmouth 3 Sheffield United 1
In-form Portsmouth staged a second-half fightback at Fratton Park to end Sheffield United’s fine recent run with a 3-1 win. Rob Hulse’s fourth-minute header was the only goal of the game until Benjani’s cross deflected off Phil Jagielka and Rob Kozluk to draw Pompey level shortly after half-time. Sol Campbell then scored his first goal for the club by heading in Matt Taylor’s corner before Noe Pamarot followed suit from Pedro Mendes' flag-kick.
Middlesbrough 2 Charlton 0
Second-bottom Charlton Athletic’s woes continued with a 2-0 defeat at Middlesbrough, Aiyegbeni Yakubu’s stabbed effort and Julio Arca’s fine finish sealing a comfortable Boro win.
Newcastle 3 Tottenham 1
Newcastle United came flying out of the traps to beat Tottenham Hotspur 3-1, Kieron Dyer curling a precise finish home before Obafemi Martins headed in Scott Parker’s right-wing cross. Danny Murphy’s mishit strike took a wicked deflection off Steven Taylor to get Spurs back in the game, but Paul Robinson then spilled a free-kick and Parker capitalised on a goalmouth scramble to head home before half-time.
Reading 0 Everton 2
Andy Johnson ended his 12-game goal drought as Everton ran out 2-0 winners at Reading. The England squad striker, who earned an apology from Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho this week, converted Mikel Arteta’s low cross via a deflection off Ibrahima Sonko to put the visitors ahead. Johnson then turned provider, robbing Ivar Ingimarsson and crossing for James McFadden to fire home from eight yards.
Fulham 0 West Ham 0
In the early kick-off, West Ham United defender Paul Konchesky was sent off as a glut of missed chances saw their lively London derby against Fulham finish goalless at Craven Cottage. Konchesky was given his marching orders with six minutes of normal time left after being deemed the last man in bringing down Wayne Routledge just outside the area.
Hammers striker Marlon Harewood squandered the best opportunity of the afternoon when he hit the post from six yards, while Mathew Etherington saw a shot strike the crossbar before being cleared off the line by Liam Rosenior.