City, Chelsea lose at home as United maul Cardiff 5-1

Premier League champions Manchester City were stunned at home by Crystal Palace yesterday, as Chelsea were beaten by Leicester City.

Second-placed City remain four points behind leaders Liverpool after losing 3-2, with Andros Townsend scoring a stunning 30-yard volley as Palace won for just the third time in 12 league games.

Liverpool had extended their lead at the top with a Mohamed Salah-inspired 2-0 victory at Wolves on Friday.

Chelsea stayed fourth as a Jamie Vardy goal was enough to end Leicester’s three-game winless run with victory at Stamford Bridge.

Arsenal are level on points with the Blues after beating Burnley 3-1 in yesterday’s early game, with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scoring twice to top the league’s goalscoring charts with 12 this season.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer got off to a perfect start as Manchester United’s interim manager with a 5-1 thrashing of his former club Cardiff.

The former United striker succeeded boss Jose Mourinho, who was sacked in midweek, and got his first win courtesy of a performance that will encourage United fans as some of their more marginalised talent came to the fore in a performance full of attacking intent.

Fulham will be bottom of the table at Christmas following an uninspiring 0-0 draw at Newcastle, with Huddersfield above them only on goal difference after losing 3-1 to Southampton.

David Brooks scored twice as Bournemouth climbed up to eighth with a 2-0 win over Brighton.

And Watford are one point and two places above the Cherries, with Troy Deeney’s penalty and a Gerard Deulofeu goal enough to end West Ham’s four-game winning run.