1) Wayne Rooney closes in on scoring record
Following their goalless draw against Chelsea on Monday night, there was a sense of relief amongst the fans. The result was again lacking in goals, but the performance was much improved and supporters recognised that they were playing more like the Manchester United of old.
Louis van Gaal has taken another step away from the edge with today's 2-1 victory over Swansea, his first against the club in the whole of his reign.
But more than the result, it was a big day for Wayne Rooney.
The 27-year-old bagged his first goal for United since he scored the winner against CSKA Moskow at the start of November and his first league goal since October 17.
Today, Rooney was excellent. He showed desire to chase for every ball, as he has in previous weeks, but what made him different was the positions he was getting into. Ashley Young gave a masterclass in crossing the ball and on two occasions did the England striker goal close after getting on the end of a ball whipped in at pace.
Heads dropped after Gylfi Sigurðsson's equaliser cancelled out Anthony Martial's 47th minute opener.
But Rooney stepped up and scored the winner with 13 minutes remaining, becoming United's second highest scorer of all time, now just 11 goals behind the great Sir Bobby Charlton.
The goal was nothing short of what he deserved and the returning confidence may be just what United need to push on in the second half of the season.
Wayne Rooney celebrates scoring United's second goal of the game. Image: Martin Rickett / PA Wire/Press Association Images
2) Leicester reach the magic number
Claudio Ranieri has consistently played down the expectation upon his high-flying Leicester side and after today's goalless draw with Bournemouth many people questioned their ability to compete with the top clubs in the New Year.
However, under the nose of everybody, Ranieri did what he originally set out to do: reach 40 points.
The magic number on his lips all season has been to hit that number, which would all but secure his side's Premier League status.
"A draw is not okay as it is only one point, but it is okay as we have 40 points which was the goal – it is champagne for my players!" he said after the game.
"We knew it was a difficult match and we started playing too late. Bournemouth moved the ball very quickly but in the second half we were much better."
The Foxes have overachieved this season, that goes without saying, but we shouldn't let today's disappointing result overshadow a remarkable season. A team which began the campaign in disarray, hotly tipped to go down, remain second in the league.
A toast to Claudio Ranieri and a his side of overachievers.
The next target? 79 points.
3) Aston Villa look doomed
It shouldn't come as a shock that Aston Villa lost again this afternoon as they continued on one of their worst runs in Premier League history.
Villa suffered a club record 18 league matches without a win and sit bottom on eight points, 11 adrift of safety.
Remi Garde compiled a list of players who must be culled in January in order to survive, but with the way things are going it would take a miracle to keep the side up.
"I'm going to try [to sign players]. In life and football you have to believe - if you don't you have no chance. But it's more and more difficult" said Garde.
"But every season in every league, a side can keep losing and suddenly win four, five or six in a row. But for that probably we will need to bring in one, two or three new players.
"Today I didn't see a side who didn't give everything they could. When you concede so many goals it's difficult to win games. You cannot be positive when you lose. I'm not here to lose - I'm here to try to make the team win."
Aston Villa have taken eight points from their opening 20 games and worryingly only two Premier League sides have claimed fewer points (Sunderland had six in 2005-06 and Derby had seven in 2007-08).
Home games against Crystal Palace and Leicester City look difficult on paper, but in reality every game is now a must win for Aston Villa.
Aston Villa slump to another defeat against relegation rivals Sunderland. Image: Owen Humphreys / PA Wire/Press Association Images
4) Consistency the key as Klopp continues to grapple with Liverpool puzzle
Just when you think Jurgen Klopp has it figured out at Liverpool, he's thrown a curveball.
Their 4-1 rout of Manchester City was their first of four consecutive wins. They then went went four games without a win.
A promising win against table toppers Leicester was followed by more success against Sunderland. He's definitely got it this time!
Not quite. Today's timid display resulted in West Ham's second victory over the Reds this season and they were full value for their win. Only on two occasions did Liverpool look like scoring and for the most part their forward line were off the pace.
"I'm really angry today because we could have got so much more because everybody could see in the moments we play football what could happen. Today, we deserved to lose" Klopp told BBC Sport after the game.
"We always had the ball, we could have made much more chances but we didn't. We have to again accept that we didn't play like we should."
Should Liverpool make a bid for European football next year, they'll need to aim for consistency in their performances. There really is no excuse for beating teams like Manchester City and Leicester and then being beaten so convincingly by Watford and West Ham.
Klopp has every right to be angry.
Klopp still has a lot to do based on today's performance. Image: Adam Davy / PA Wire/Press Association Images
5) City show championship credentials after big win.
80 minutes passed and Manchester City trailed by a goal. They looked dangerous at points, yes, but today was destined to be a famous win for Watford.
Ben Watson would come back to haunt Manchester City after his FA Cup heroics and hand the Hornets all three points. Fast forward five minutes and it's actually City who provide the last sting in the tail.
Pellegrini showed courage to withdraw (an admittedly below par) Mangala in defence and bring on another striker.
Yaya Toure's goal from a corner was fair considering the pressure City had put applied, but Sergio Aguero's winner five minutes from time really displayed title winning credentials.
For large swathes of the match possession had been split evenly, both sides had created chances and both sides were capable of scoring. In the end, it was City drew on their experience to pull them through.
Credit to Watford for their performance, but many should look on Manchester City's display with fear. They had the courage to use the attacking options at their disposal, never let their heads drop and even against one of the most determined sides this season they just had enough to pull them through.
Not the prettiest performance but they won't mind that. They came for the three points and boy did they get them.
Late drama at Vicarage Road as City snatch an unlikely winner. Image: John Walton / PA Wire/Press Association Images
6) Arsene sees no need to strengthen after gritty win
Arsene Wenger insisted after today's win that he would not rush into the transfer market.
He conceded that his side could not go behind, however, as they did not have the quality in today's performance to score twice.
Whether that is true or not, they managed to scrape by strugglers Newcastle 1-0 at the Emirates and took the outright lead in the Premier League.
Their performance today was akin to Manchester City's, not their biggest of the season and not their best, but one which reaffirmed them as title contenders. Possibly favourites.
With Leicester City without a win in their last three games and having only picked up two points from a possible nine over the festive period, Arsenal now move into pole position to claim a first league title in over a decade.
Consistency remains a big part of their success and they've shown it by winning five of their last six Premier League matches.
With just under half the season remaining, Arsenal have shown this could (finally) be there year.
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