The Premier League is, after all, the only major football league not to shut down over the holidays.
Some supporters had more reason to cheer than others, and on that note, here’s a look at the winners and losers in the Premier League during its busiest time of the season.
Winners
Manchester City: One of the standout results over the Christmas period had to be defending champion Manchester City slumping to a 2-2 draw with Burnley — at home and after holding a 2-0 second-half lead.
But that was the lone blemish for Manuel Pellegrini’s men, despite nearly squandering another two-goal advantage at home to Sunderland on New Year’s Day.
City collected 10 of 12 points, scoring 11 goals in the process without talismanic striker Sergio Aguero. City was also without the services of the perhaps equally influential Vincent Kompany in the heart of the defense.
Once eight points behind Chelsea, City and the Londoners are now level atop the table.
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Chelsea: The festive period began perfectly for Chelsea. Playing at one of the toughest grounds in England, the Blues beat Stoke 2-0. Then came another 2-0 win, against a then in-form West Ham.
Chelsea looked unstoppable.
But slip-ups ensued at Southampton and Tottenham, with Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho not happy with the referee on both occasions.
A Mourinho team has always won the league when it has led at the end of a year, but Chelsea’s dip has given Manchester City hope.
Read: Kane mesmerizes Chelsea
