Manchester City defeat Stoke as Manchester United humiliate Fulham

Sergio Aguero produced another fantastic performance with two goals in a 3-0 victory against Stoke to send Manchester City top of the table on Christmas Day for the first time since 1929.

Manchester City are top of the table for the first time since 1929
Manchester City are top of the table for the first time since 1929

The South American striker bagged a goal in each half in a comfortable win over Stoke.

Adam Johnson was also on target at the Etihad Stadium as Roberto Mancini's men maintained their 100% record on home soil.

Manchester United kept up the pressure on City by flattening Fulham 5-0 at Craven Cottage.

Danny Welbeck, Nani and Ryan Giggs were on target in a first half which was dominated by United with Wayne Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov completing the rout after the interval.

Charlie Adam missed a penalty as Liverpool's disappointing run against Wigan continued with a goalless draw at the DW Stadium.

Aston Villa winger Marc Albrighton scored the 20,000th goal in the Premier League but a late header from Arsenal substitute Yossi Benayoun earned the visitors a 2-1 victory at Villa Park.

Albrighton's milestone effort came nine minutes into the second half after a mistake by Gunners defender Thomas Vermaelen.

Arsenal striker Robin van Persie equalled Thierry Henry's club record - 34 - for the most Premier League goals in a calendar year before Benayoun's 87th-minute decider.

West Brom midfielder Paul Scharner struck at the death to extend Newcastle's winless league run to six games as they edged a five-goal thriller 3-2 at the Sports Direct Arena.

The Austrian stabbed home the winner five minutes from time just when it looked as though Demba Ba had rescued a point for the home side with an 81st-minute equaliser.

Peter Odemwingie had opened the scoring with 20 minutes gone, but Ba cancelled out his strike with a 34th-minute free-kick before Gareth McAuley restored the visitors' lead a minute before the break.

Wes Brown's last-minute header earned Sunderland a 3-2 victory at Loftus Road - just when it looked like they had gifted QPR a valuable point.

Sunderland were 2-0 up and in control courtesy of goals from Nicklas Bendtner and Stephane Sessegnon when slack defending allowed QPR back into the game with goals from Heidar Helguson and Jamie Mackie.

Leon Osman scored the only goal to earn Everton their third win at Goodison Park this season as Swansea's away-day struggles continued.

The Premier League campaign continues on December 2 and 26.