Leaders Manchester United began their holiday fixtures with a resounding 3-0 victory at Aston Villa as the goals flowed in the Premier League yesterday.
A double from an inspired Cristiano Ronaldo and a thumping Paul Scholes volley, all in the second half, briefly gave United a five-point lead before champions Chelsea responded with a last-gasp 3-2 win at Wigan Athletic to slice it to two again.
At the halfway point of the season United have 47 points from 19 games while Chelsea have 45.
Liverpool remained a distant third at the halfway stage, 13 points behind United after Craig Bellamy and Xabi Alonso sealed a 2-0 home win over bottom club Watford.
Arsenal stayed in the last Champions League qualifying spot with a 6-2 thrashing of free-falling Blackburn Rovers.
Arsenal were shocked into action after three minutes when Shabani Nonda scored a penalty, but the rampant Gunners replied three times before half-time with Gilberto Silva, Alexandr Hleb and Emmanuel Adebayor's penalty.
Nonda scored again after the break as Rovers threatened a comeback only for Robin van Persie to score a late double before Matthieu Flamini completed the rout in added time.
Wayne Rooney was left on the bench for United's trip to Villa Park having missed training due to a family bereavement, but his sidekick Ronaldo took centre stage.
The Portuguese cut through the Villa defence to break the deadlock after 59 minutes and then grabbed the killer third goal either side of Scholes' thumping volley that went in off the underside of the crossbar.
"After 11 games in a row it was a good time to give Wayne Rooney a rest," United manager Alex Ferguson told Sky Sports.
"But Ronaldo was fantastic, he's having a great season for us," added Ferguson who celebrated the 2,000th United goal under his command when Ronaldo scored the opener.
"Maybe I'll give him a bottle of wine," he joked.
Chelsea's victory took the day's goal tally to 32, but they looked to have blown victory when Emile Heskey's brace cancelled out goals from Frank Lampard and Salomon Kalou. However, in the third minute of stoppage time Robben cut in from the right to fire the winner that keeps Chelsea breathing down United's neck.
Earlier at St James' Park, Newcastle United won 3-1 against a Tottenham Hotspur side looking for a sixth straight victory in all competitions.
Kieron Dyer and in-form striker Obafemi Martins gave the hosts a two-goal lead, Danny Murphy pulled one back for Spurs before Scott Parker struck again, all before halftime.
Facing one of his old clubs, Nicolas Anelka scored both goals for Bolton as they consolidated fifth place with a 2-0 victory at Manchester City, who had Joey Barton sent off late on.
Portsmouth, who are also flying high, came from behind to beat Sheffield United 3-1 and stay sixth.
Everton striker Andy Johnson, accused of diving by Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho last week, responded with a goal in Everton's 2-0 win at Reading.
Charlton's misery
Charlton Athletic completed a miserable week to increase the pressure on manager Les Reed.
Thrashed by Liverpool the previous Saturday and beaten by fourth division Wycombe in the League Cup on Tuesday, second-bottom Charlton lost 2-0 at Middlesbrough in a relegation battle. Charlton have now gone 24 away matches without a victory.
Middlesbrough's win left West Ham in the bottom three despite a battling 0-0 draw at Fulham. The East London side, without an away goal since August, had Paul Konchesky sent off five minutes from time.
Top scorers
10 goals - Drogba (Chelsea)
9 goals - Kanu (Portsmouth)
8 goals - Doyle (Reading), Saha (Man. United), Rooney (Man. United), Ronaldo (Man. United)
7 goals - Johnson (Everton), Lampard (Chelsea), Van Persie (Arsenal), Martins (Newcastle)
Upcoming fixtures...
Tuesday (Boxing Day): Premier League - 2 p.m. Chelsea vs Reading; Tottenham vs Aston Villa; West Ham vs Portsmouth. 4 p.m. Blackburn vs Liverpool; Bolton Wanderers vs Newcastle; Everton vs Middlesbrough; Manchester United vs Wigan Athletic; Sheffield United vs Manchester City. 6.30 p.m. Watford vs Arsenal.
Wednesday: Premier League - 9 p.m. Charlton vs Fulham.
Saturday, December 30: Premier League - 1.45 p.m. Charlton vs Aston Villa. 4 p.m. Blackburn vs Middlesbrough; Bolton vs Portsmouth; Chelsea vs Fulham; Everton vs Newcastle; Manchester United vs Reading; Tottenham vs Liverpool; Watford vs Wigan; West Ham vs Manchester City. 6.15 p.m. Sheffield United vs Arsenal.
Monday, January 1: Premier League - 1.45 p.m. Liverpool vs Bolton. 4 p.m. Fulham vs Watford; Manchester City vs Everton; Middlesbrough vs Sheffield United; Portsmouth vs Tottenham; Reading vs West Ham; Wigan vs Blackburn. 6.15 p.m. Newcastle vs Manchester United.
Tuesday, January 2: Premier League - 8.45 p.m. Arsenal vs Charlton. 9 p.m. Aston Villa vs Chelsea.