Manchester United 4 - 3 Newcastle

For long periods on Boxing Day it had seemed the championship race would be further narrowed. Leaders Manchester United, however, eventually won a seven-goal thriller at the death, after going behind thrice against Newcastle. This put them a commanding seven points clear with neighbours City downed by old boy Adam Johnson's winner for Sunderland.

Chelsea meanwhile are catching up, on the back of a third successive win since returning from Tokyo. Aston Villa have now conceded 12 in two matches after a Gareth Bale-led Tottenham thrashed them 4-0. Liverpool continued their Britannia jinx, losing 3-1 to a superior Stoke.

For the second Boxing Day in a row Arsenal did not play the traditional fixture as their tie with West Ham was postponed due to a possible Tube strike.