Boxing Day blues for Leicester, United, Arsenal

Leicester City, now two points clear at the top of the table, may have cause to be concerned though.

Manchester City need to get back to winning ways if they are to sustain their push for a third Premier League title into the New Year when they face Premier League strugglers Sunderland on Boxing Day (15:00). The other traditional powers in the Premier League are not playing as well as they usually do.

However, full-back Cuco Martina marked his first Premier League start of the season with a superb swerving 25-yard strike to put the Saints ahead after 19 minutes before Shane Long (55) doubled the lead.

Earlier, Stoke eased to a 2-0 win over Manchester United at the Britannia Stadium.

Hernandez’s injury-time goal stole all three points for United who went seven points clear of rivals Manchester City at the top of the Premier League table. Manchester has a couple of impressive strikers, but all seem to be out of form, including veteran Wayne Rooney.

Captain Vincent Kompany is set to return to City’s starting eleven after recovering from a calf problem; meaning one of his fellow centre-half partners, Nicolas Otamendi and Eliaquim Mangala, will likely drop out.

Interim manager Guus Hiddink begun his second spell in charge of Chelsea with an entertaining 2-2 draw with Watford.

Meanwhile, West Brom and a seemingly doomed Aston Villa share only four wins from 29 and for them it could well be another bleak midwinter.

The visitors, who had won at Manchester United last weekend, fell behind on 26 minutes to Kane’s penalty.

Arsenal are the overwhelming favorites to take three points on Saturday against Southampton. Crystal Palace and Bournemouth were among the teams regarded as sure contenders for relegation, but both of them are far from the risky area and could settle for a draw.