Chelsea Back To Winning Way, Leicester Stay On Top

• Man U, Everton Suffer Home Defeat
• Rooney Makes 500th Club Appearance For United
CHELSEA’S players responded to Jose Mourinho’s departure by recording a comfortable 3-1 win over Sunderland at Stamford Bridge.

Branislav Ivanovic opened scoring for the hosts after just five minutes, Pedro then doubled Chelsea’s lead shortly after before Oscar scored from the penalty spot with 50 minutes gone.

Leicester moved five points clear at the top of the Premier League table after they held on for a 3-2 victory at Everton.

Riyad Mahrez scored from the penalty spot after 27 minutes before Romelu Lukaku netted for the seventh successive league game to draw the hosts level.

But another Mahrez penalty – after Jamie Vardy was brought down by Tim Howard – saw Leicester retake the lead. Shinji Okazaki then scored a third with 20 minutes remaining.

Kevin Mirallas struck late on to ensure a nervy ending for Claudio Ranieri’s side, but the Foxes saw out the win to occupy the top spot on Christmas Day, having being bottom at the same stage last year.

Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal was placed under further pressure after his side slipped to a shock 2-1 defeat at home to Norwich City.

Wayne Rooney returned to make his 500th appearance for United, but the captain was unable to inspire the shot-shy hosts, who mustered just two attempts on target – one of those being Anthony Marital’s 66th minute goal.
Norwich were already leading by two at that stage, thanks to strikes from Cameron Jerome and Alex Tettey, and the Canaries hung on to claim their first win at Old Trafford in 26 years.

• Culled from Sportinglife.com