Manchester United remain in charge at the summit after seeing off Sunderland, with Manchester City on their heels following victory away to Newcastle, while Wolves' home defeat to Wigan saw them fall to the foot of the table.
West Ham came from behind to beat Fulham as the Cottagers slipped into the drop zone, Tottenham won away to Aston Villa with just 10 men, new Blackburn boss Steve Kean watched his side come unstuck at home to Stoke and Bolton overcame West Brom at the Reebok Stadium.
Arsenal's clash at home to Chelsea on Monday evening, live on Sky Sports HD1, could now be pivotal in the title race with the Gunners five adrift of United and the Blues a point further back.
Dimitar Berbatov bagged a Boxing Day brace to keep Manchester United in control at the top of the table with a 2-0 victory over Sunderland.
The Red Devils made the perfect start at Old Trafford, with Ryan Giggs forging forward and feeding Wayne Rooney and the striker's lifted cross was headed home by Berbatov at the far post.
And the beguiling Bulgarian made it 2-0 at the start of the second period, although the effort with the outside of his boot took a significant deflection off Anton Ferdinand's backside to leave Craig Gordon with no chance.
Manchester City remain two points adrift of their fierce rivals, albeit having played two games more, after defeating Newcastle 3-1 at St James' Park.
City were gifted the lead after just 74 seconds as Tim Krul's attempt to pass the ball out of his own area found only Carlos Tevez and he fed Gareth Barry to slot home.
Moments later City doubled their lead as Tevez played a pass to James Milner, with the winger's cross turned home by the Argentina international from six yards out.
Despite the shocking start, Newcastle continued to battle and were allowed back into the contest in the 72nd minute when Roberto Mancini's defence obligingly allowed Andy Carroll a free close-range header from a corner.
The Magpies poured forward in search of an equaliser but were stung nine minutes from time when Tevez completed the scoring courtesy of a deflection off Fabricio Coloccini.
Predatory
Carlton Cole's brace helped West Ham drag themselves off the foot of the Premier League table with a 3-1 victory in an error-strewn clash at fellow strugglers Fulham.
The hosts went ahead when Aaron Hughes was left unmarked six yards out to head home, but Dickson Etuhu's blunder allowed Cole to level.
Frederic Piquionne put the Hammers ahead in added time at the end of the first half after more slack marking, with Cole again showing good predatory instincts to seal the success in the 73rd minute after Hughes' inadvertent flick on.
Wolves find themselves looking up at the rest of the Premier League after going down 2-1 at home to fellow strugglers Wigan.
Hugo Rodallega fired Wigan into the lead inside the first 10 minutes at Molineux, holding off the home defence and blasting home from a tight angle on the turn after the hosts failed to fully clear a corner.
And the Latics were two goals to the good soon after as some slack Wolves play allowed Rodallega to slot the ball through for Tom Cleverley to beat Wayne Hennessey and leave Mick McCarthy fuming.
Steven Fletcher did pull one back for the hosts three minutes from time but they were unable to find a leveller and are facing a real battle to retain their Premier League status.
Rafael van der Vaart scored twice as 10-man Tottenham increased the pressure on under-fire Aston Villa boss Gerard Houllier with a 2-1 victory at Villa Park.
Spurs took the lead in the 23rd minute when Luka Modric's raking crossfield pass found Alan Hutton breaking down the right and his pullback was slotted home by the Dutchman following James Collins' slip.
But the visitors were reduced to 10 men soon after with Jermain Defoe issued with a very harsh red card by referee Martin Atkinson after he caught Collins with an elbow as they competed for an aerial ball.
Despite being a man down, Harry Redknapp's men hit Villa on the break midway through the second period with Gareth Bale bursting clear to find Aaron Lennon, who set up Van der Vaart to calmly beat Brad Friedel from the edge of the box.
Marc Albrighton's curling cross beat everyone to find the bottom corner of Heurelho Gomes' net and give Villa hope eight minutes from time, but there was to be no dramatic late leveller.
Talents
New Blackburn boss Steve Kean, who has been placed in charge until the end of the season, watched his Rovers side suffer a 2-0 Ewood Park defeat at the hands of Stoke City.
Robert Huth headed home the opening goal early in the second half as he applied a glancing touch at the near post to Matthew Etherington's whipped corner from the right.
And Marc Wilson ensured Rovers would leave the field to a cacophony of boos as he was allowed time and space in the box to control fellow substitute Ricardo Fuller's cross before beating Paul Robinson from eight yards out.
Bolton striker Johan Elmander continued to prove his worth to the Trotters and advertise his talents to interested parties with the clinching goal in a 2-0 victory over West Brom.
Owen Coyle's men edged ahead shortly before the interval as Lee Chung-yong got in behind the West Brom defence and rounded Carson only to go wide of goal, before showing great awareness to feed Matt Taylor to slot home.
And Elmander, who is out of contract in the summer and has been attracting admiring glances from elsewhere, made the game safe in the closing stages as he burst through the Baggies defence before firing home at the second attempt.
Blackpool's home meeting with Liverpool and Everton's clash with Birmingham at Goodison Park both fell foul of the arctic conditions which have gripped the country recently.
Cathe Friedrich Serena Williams Andrew Napolitano Ana Ivanovic
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