Premier League review:Sergio Aguero turned in another scintillating performance with two goals in a 3-0 victory against Stoke to send Manchester City top of the table on Christmas Day for the first time since 1929.
The South American striker bagged a goal in each half in a comfortable win over a Potters side City overcame in last season's FA Cup final.
Adam Johnson was also on target at the Etihad Stadium as Roberto Mancini's men maintained their 100 per cent record on home soil.
Manchester United
kept up the pressure on City by flattening
Fulham
5-0 at Craven Cottage. Danny Welbeck, Nani and Ryan Giggs were on target in a first half which was dominated by United with Wayne Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov completing the rout after the interval.
The only disappointment from the evening was Phil Jones' exit in the 20th minute after the England defender was caught by Clint Dempsey's arm while duelling for the ball.
Charlie Adam missed a penalty as Liverpool's disappointing run against Wigancontinued with a goalless draw at the DW Stadium.
The Scotland international's effort was saved by Ali Al Habsi after Gary Caldwell had handled an overhead kick from Luis Suarez, playing 24 hours after learning he had been given an eight-match ban by the Football Association.
Wigan were well worth their point and probably should have had a penalty of their own in the first half when Martin Skrtel appeared to bring down Victor Moses.
Aston Villawinger Marc Albrighton scored the 20,000th goal in the Premier League but a late header from Arsenalsubstitute Yossi Benayoun earned the visitors a 2-1 victory at Villa Park.
Albrighton's milestone effort came nine minutes into the second half after a mistake by Gunners defender Thomas Vermaelen.
Arsenal striker Robin van Persie equalled Thierry Henry's club record - 34 - for the most Premier League goals in a calendar year before Benayoun's 87th-minute decider.
Villa defender Alan Hutton was sent off in stoppage time for two bookable offences.
West Brommidfielder Paul Scharner struck at the death to extend Newcastle's winless league run to six games as they edged a five-goal thriller 3-2 at the Sports Direct Arena.
The Austrian stabbed home the winner five minutes from time just when it looked as thought Demba Ba has rescued a point for the home side with an 81st-minute equaliser.
Peter Odemwingie had opened the scoring with 20 minutes gone, but Ba cancelled out his strike with a 34th-minute free-kick before Gareth McAuley restored the visitors' lead a minute before the break.
Wes Brown's last minute header earned Sunderlanda 3-2 victory at Loftus Road - just when it looked like they had gifted QPRa valuable point.
Sunderland were 2-0 up and in control courtesy of goals from Nicklas Bendtner and Stephane Sessegnon when slack defending allowed QPR back into the game with goals from Heidar Helguson and Jamie Mackie.
Goalkeeper Paddy Kenny kept it 2-2 with two magnificent saves but he was powerless to prevent Brown clinching the victory for Sunderland with a header from Kieran Richardson's corner.
Leon Osman scored the only goal to earn Evertontheir third win at Goodison Park this season as Swansea's away-day struggles continued.
The Swans have picked up only three points on their travels and, although their miserly defence withstood a flurry of chances at the end of the first half, they could not prevent Osman heading in Royston Drenthe's corner on the hour mark.
The visitors had only one chance of note but Danny Graham should have made it count rather than heading straight at Tim Howard, while Swans keeper Michel Vorm twice saved well from Everton substitute Magaye Gueye
