As the Premier League campaign enters the crucial festive period, Chelsea opened up a six-point lead at the top of the table with their tenth consecutive victory, Manchester United produced a late winner against Crystal Palace and Liverpool returned to their swaggering best against Middlesbrough. Here, The Times picks out the key moments from the midweek action.
Game of the week
Everton 2 Arsenal 1
When Arsenal took a deserved lead through Alexis Sánchez’s deflected free kick, it threatened to be a familiar outcome for Everton, particularly given their limp start. But Ronald Koeman’s side produced a performance with the sort of bite that had been sorely missing for much of the season. Everton hit back through Seamus Coleman shortly before half-time and, after out-fighting their opponents in the second half, were rewarded with a late winner courtesy of Ashley Williams’ header. There was still time for more drama, though, as Phil Jagielka was sent off before Everton twice cleared off the line in injury time.
Goals of the week
Watch the very best strikes from the week including efforts from James McArthur, Salomón Rondón and Divock Origi.
Player of the week
Salomón Rondón (WEST BROMWICH ALBION 3 Swansea City 1)
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It can be a thankless task playing as a lone striker in a team that that tends to defend deep. But you would be hard-pushed to find anyone more willing than Rondón to fulfil the duties required of such a player. His relentless workrate was rewarded last night with a stunning 13-minute hat-trick — all headers — to fire West Brom back up to seventh in the league.
Saves of the week
Watch the best saves of the week, including sensational stops from Thibaut Courtois and Ben Foster.
Quote of the week
“From the sidelines, it did look bad. He jumps two-footed and we go to all these meetings where that’s a red card.”
Alan Pardew was unhappy that Marcos Rojo escaped with just a yellow card following a dangerous tackle on Wilfried Zaha.
Miss of the week
Sam Vokes (West Ham United 1 BURNLEY 0)
It looked harder to miss than score when Vokes was presented with a relatively open goal against West Ham but his header, from six yards out, somehow went over the bar. In fairness, West Ham defender Angelo Ogbonna had swung a foot in Vokes’ direction but the striker would have been kicking himself all the same.
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Controversy of the week
Rash Rojo
The Argentine defender was fortunate to stay on the pitch, for the second time in the past fortnight, following a two-footed lunge on Wilfried Zaha during Manchester United’s victory against Crystal Palace last night. Mourinho recently claimed his side were the unluckiest in the Premier League — but Rojo is certainly getting more than his fair share of good fortune.
Eye off the ball
Stroppy Shaqiri
No one expects a player that has just been substituted to be thrilled about it but Xherdan Shaqiri’s reaction — punching the chair in frustration before aiming a look of disdain in the direction of his manager, Mark Hughes, was petulant, and that is being kind.