Chelsea returned to winning ways only days after sacking Jose Mourinho with a 3-1 victory over Sunderland at Stamford Bridge to ease away from the Premier League’s bottom three on Saturday while Leicester City moved five points clear at the top thanks to a brilliant win against in-form Everton.
As the home fans sang the name of the man who was sacked on Thursday after Chelsea’s worst start to a season since 1978 and newly-appointed interim coach Guus Hiddink watched from the stands, goals from Branislav Ivanovic, Pedro and Oscar restored some sense of normality in west London.
Leicester’s remarkable title challenge continued with a 3-2 victory at Everton that ensures they will spend Christmas top of the table, a year after occupying bottom place heading into the hectic holiday schedule.
Two Riyad Mahrez penalties and a goal from Shinji Okazaki put Leicester on 38 points from 17 games, with chasing Arsenal and Manchester City, who clash on Monday, on 33 and 32 respectively.
{{/usCountry}}Two Riyad Mahrez penalties and a goal from Shinji Okazaki put Leicester on 38 points from 17 games, with chasing Arsenal and Manchester City, who clash on Monday, on 33 and 32 respectively.
{{/usCountry}}With Mourinho sacked, the managerial spotlight intensified on Manchester United’s Louis van Gaal as his side suffered a third consecutive defeat, lowly Norwich City winning 2-1 for their first victory at Old Trafford since 1989.
Tottenham Hotspur took advantage of United’s woes to move into fourth place thanks to a 2-0 win at Southampton while Crystal Palace remain sixth after a 2-1 win at Stoke City.
Bournemouth claimed a third consecutive league victory with a late Charlie Daniels penalty sealing a 2-1 victory at West Bromwich Albion who had James McClean sent off in the first half and Salomon Rondon in stoppage time.