Fulham 3 - 0 Manchester United Highlights

Fulham 3 - 0 Manchester United Highlights

Manchester United nemesis Danny Murphy hit a sweet 20-yarder with the sidestep of his right boot, the ball bouncing of a diving Kuszczak, to fire Fulham ahead. The Cottagers needed 20 seconds after the break to double their advantage, Dempsey rising high to head the ball down to in-form Bobby Zamora who cracked in his fourth goal in three games. A terrible United performance was compounded with the goal of the game 15 minutes from time, Zamora did fanatically to control a high ball on his chest and play on Damien Duff who cracked in a third on the volley.

Portsmouth 2 - 0 Liverpool Highlights

Portsmouth 2 - 0 Liverpool Highlights

It was a seventh league defeat of the season for the Merseysiders who had Javier Mascherano sent off for a tackle on Tal Ben Haim just before half-time.

Eyebrows were raised when Benitez picked Dossena ahead of Benayoun and Babel of Liverpool’s left, and after thirty scrappy minutes where the Reds failed to control the game Nadir Belhadj thrashed home a stunning volley into Reina’s near post as Pompey moved ahead. Then came the big talking point as Javier Mascherano clattered into Ben Haim under the nose of ref Mason who whipped out a controversial red card to give the Argentine Christmas off. Liverpool threatened to fall apart after the break, Fernando Torres lucky to escape an early bath after elbowing Ben Haim in a challenge, and ten minutes from time Pompey wrapped up the points when Yebda was allowed to whip in a cross from the right and Frederic Piquionne beat Carragher to the ball before firing a volley across Riena in the far post.

Tottenham Hotspur 3 - 0 Manchester City Highlights

Tottenham Hotspur 3 - 0 Manchester City Highlights

Niko Kranjcar put Tottenham Hotspur in front with an opportunist close-range strike after 38 minutes. England winger Aaron Lennon set up the chance with his cross to the far post, with Kranjcar finishing after Peter Crouch had his header blocked.

Jermain Defoe thumped the second on 54 minutes, latching onto a flick on from Peter Crouch to volley home on the run.

Kranjcar rounded off a good night for the home side with a third two minutes into stoppage-time. He cut in sharply from the right following a short corner to prod home his second.

It was a wretched evening for Manchester City who are likely to be without England defender Joleon Lescott until the New Year after he underwent surgery on his knee.

The 27-year-old was understood to have gone under the knife to remove floating bone in the joint. He is expected to miss the next four or five weeks.

Liverpool 2 - 1 Wigan Athletic Highlights

Liverpool 2 - 1 Wigan Athletic Highlights

David N'Gog and Fernando Torres were the men on target for the Reds, with Charles N'Zogbia netting for Wigan.

David Ngog jumped high to glance home an Aurelio cross from the right as Liverpool took an 8th minute lead over Wigan. Dirk Kuyt was denied handing Liverpool a second when Kirkland pulled off a point-blank save. Fernando Torres made sure of the points for Liverpool with a second 11 minutes from time as El Nino ran onto a ball over the top and beat Kirkland after seeing his initial shot blocked by Bramble. A late goal from Charles N’Zogbia proved mere consolation for the Latics.

Burnley 1 - 1 Arsenal Highlights

Burnley 1 - 1 Arsenal Highlights

Arsenal were held to a 1-1 draw against a battling Burnley side at Turf Moor.
Tenacity from Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas put the Gunners in front at Burnley as the skipper harasses Carlisle out of possession on the edge of the Clarets box and the Spaniard side-footed his effort past Jensen. The Clarets equalised just before the half hour when Vermaelen fouled Bikey in the Arsenal and Graham Alexander converted from 12 yards.

Chelsea 2-1 Portsmouth Highlights

Chelsea 2-1 Portsmouth Highlights

Nicolas Anelka fired the home side in front after 23 minutes but Frederic Piquionne shocked the leaders by thumping an equaliser six minutes after the break.

However Frank Lampard sealed a hard-fought victory with a penalty 11 minutes from time to move the Blues three points clear at the top of the table.

Tottenham Hotspur 9 - 1 Wigan Athletic Highlights

Tottenham Hotspur 9 - 1 Wigan Athletic Highlights

Tottenham striker Jermain Defoe scored five times to send his side back into the Champions League places as Harry Redknapp's men threatened to rack up double figures against Wigan at White Hart Lane.

Paul Scharner netted a consolation goal for Wigan, who had little chance of a victory with Defoe in such rampant form, with Aaron Lennon, Peter Crouch, David Bentley and Niko Kranjcar grabbing the other goals.

The match was played on a Sunday following an agreement between the clubs so players could rest after the international break - and Defoe seemed the freshest of the players on display by grabbing his goals in the second half.