EPL: Leicester Top league this Christmas, Chelsea kick start life without Mourinho with a victory

Chelsea kick off life without Mourinho with a home win to Sunderland, Norwich City stunned Man United at Old Trafford, Leicester stay top of league for Christmas 

Chelsea began life without Jose Mourinho by returning to winning ways with a 3-1 victory over Sunderland at Stamford Bridge.

A dismal start to the Premier League campaign culminated in the Portuguese coach parting company with the club on Thursday following back-to-back domestic defeats against AFC Bournemouth and leaders Leicester City. 

Else where in Old Trafford, Louis van Gaal felt the pressure on his shoulder build further as Manchester United suffered a 2-1 home loss to Norwich City – their fourth Premier League game in a row without a win.

Wayne Rooney, making his 500th appearance for the club, returned from injury and helped United make a promising start at Old Trafford, but they were stunned by Cameron Jerome's goal shortly before the break, as Norwich capitalised on their first chance of the half.

Also at the Goodison Park, Riyad Mahrez scored two penalties as Leicester City won 3-2 at Everton on Saturday to ensure they will be top of the Premier League at Christmas.

The in-form winger scored a spot-kick in each half, either side of Romelu Lukaku netting in his seventh consecutive league game for the hosts.

Shinji Okazaki appeared to have wrapped up the points, before a late strike from substitute Kevin Mirallas set up a dramatic finish as Claudio Ranieri's men held on.

Leicester's eighth victory from 10 games means they are guaranteed to be top of the league at Christmas and the omens look good for a shock title bid as five of the last six teams to have held that status went on to be crowned champions.

Mean while at St Mary's stadium, Tottenham climbed to fourth in the Premier League as first-half goals from Harry Kane and Dele Alli helped them down Southampton 2-0 at St Mary's Stadium.

The visitors saw their 14-game unbeaten league run ended by Newcastle United last weekend, but after enduring a nervy opening 20 minutes, they proved too strong for a Southampton side that has now gone six games without a win in all competitions.

The victory, Tottenham's third on the road in the top flight this season, proved enough to lift them into the final Champions League qualification spot as Manchester United fell to a shock home loss against Norwich City.

And Charlie Daniels' late penalty gave AFC Bournemouth a third successive Premier League win as Eddie Howe's side defeated nine-man West Brom 2-1 at The Hawthorns.

With three minutes to go, Darren Fletcher tangled with Dan Gosling on the edge of the penalty area and Daniels sent Boaz Myhill the wrong way from the spot.

Also, at the Britannia Stadium Lee Chung-yong came off the bench to earn Crystal Palace a 2-1 Premier League win with a superb strike at Stoke City.

The teams had scored a penalty apiece prior to Lee's 88th-minute scorcher, which he buried from just outside the penalty area after Stoke failed to clear their lines from a corner.

And Finally at the St James Park, A second-half Jordan Ayew stunner helped rock-bottom Aston Villa earn a much-needed 1-1 draw against Newcastle United at a sodden St James' Park on Saturday.

The Ghana striker showed great feet in the area before unleashing an unstoppable effort past Rob Elliot to cancel out Fabricio Coloccini's first-half opener.