Liverpool remain top of the Premier League after a packed round of festive action with implications throughout the table.
Sadio Mane put Liverpool in front after only 12 minutes as he chested down and fired in from Joel Matip’s long ball, only for Semi Ajayi to snatch a late point for 19th placed West Brom via his header deflecting in off the right post in a 1-1 draw at Anfield as the Reds remain top.
Everton improved to second and sit three points behind their Merseyside rivals after Gylfi Sigurdsson rifled in a 80th minute winner from Abdoulaye Doucoure’s lay-off, which proved enough to edge past rock-bottom Sheffield United at Bramall Lane.
Leicester and Manchester United sit third and fourth respectively after contesting a 2-2 draw at the King Power Stadium in which the Foxes twice came from behind through Harvey Barnes and Jamie Vardy to level with Utd, who had taken lead via Marcus Rashford then Bruno Fernandes.
Tottenham round out the top five after Romain Saiss cancelled out Tanguy Ndombele’s first-minute opener, snatching Wolves a vital point in Sunday Night Football at Molineux.
Down in the relegation battle, Fulham remain just inside the relegation zone after snatching a lucky goalless draw against Southampton, with the Saints seeing two goals ruled out by VAR at Craven Cottage.
Burnley sit just above the drop after losing a scrappy encounter at Leeds after Patrick Bamford scored his first-ever Premier League penalty, in a match marred by controversial refereeing from referee, Rob Jones.
Brighton found themselves held to a 2-2 draw at West Ham after Neal Maupay gave them the lead before Ben Johnson scored his maiden top-flight goal, levelling for the Hammers before Lewis Dunk put them back ahead until Tomas Soucek’s header rescued the hosts a point.
Elsewhere, Manchester City climbed to sixth with a routine two goal win over Newcastle United as Ilkay Gundogan and Ferran Torres struck for last season’s vice-champions.
Aston Villa battered Crystal Palace in a three goal display as goals from Bertrand Traore, Kourtney Hause and Anwar El Ghazi sent the Villains seventh, despite Tyrone Mings finding himself sent off just before half-time.
Finally, Arsenal moved six points clear of relegation after thrashing Chelsea 3-1, despite Tammy Abraham’s late consolation for the visitors.
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