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THE Barclays Premier League lead changes hands again but its Manchester City who holds it at the moment after another topsy turvy weekend of action in England.
Here's the Good, Bad and Ugly for round 21, which could see Arsenal re-claim the lead again tomorrow should it beat Aston Villa on the road.
GOOD
SAS BACK IN BUSINESS
What a contest at the Britannia Stadium, pure entertainment as Liverpool gave up a 2-0 lead as Stoke clawed its way back, only for the Reds to claim their first win at Stoke in 29 years.
Daniel Sturridge has been absent since November 23, and in that time Luis Suarez won the player of the month in December.
Normal business resumes for this dream partnership. Source: Getty Images
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But it was normal business resuming upon his return, with Suarez's brace taking his tally to an extraordinary 22 in 16 EPL games, while Sturridge marked his return with his 12th of the campaign.
Stoke will have nightmares over the two goals - an own goal and a long ball to Suarez - and Brendan Rodgers was happy to admit Liverpool got lucky with a penalty awarded -but Liverpool showed its own defensive frailties allowing the hosts back into the contest.
"We made mistakes defensively which wasn't so good and we'll assess that," Rodgers said.
"But to come here and score five goals - I think it's the first time Liverpool have won here in the Premier League - is fantastic. I'm delighted for the players. We were really offensive in our play. We lost our concentration and it's back to 2-2 but that's when we showed the character of the team."
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Sturridge's return and a bright contribution from Raheem Sterling were highlights, and it was interesting to see Steven Gerrard deployed in a deeper role in midfield.
"The manager told me that moving forward I'll be playing this role a lot more," he said afterwards.
"It's going to take a bit of getting used to it. I'll be comfortable in there once I get used to it."
MOYES'S RELIEF
It's was a strange week for Manchester United manager David Moyes. Despite leading the Red Devils to their first three-game losing streak in more than a decade, the Scot has shown he can withstand the pressure and been given the support of both media and fans.
Can we be friends again? Source: AFP
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But even Mores must have breathed a sigh of relief after the whistle blew on United's 2-0 defeat of Swansea, with teenage winger Adnan Januzaj again looking like Old Trafford's brightest young prospect in some years.
"Adnan played very well behind the striker in midweek but he can play in all the positions around the front and I wanted to see if he could give us any more creativity and more chances," Moyes said of the 18-year-old.
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SHARP SPURS
After the stifling boredom of the Andre Villas-Boas reign, Tim Sherwood looks to have done a Darren Lehmann-style management turnaround for Tottenham, bringing back the fun and encouraging his players to enjoy themselves.
Spurs have now won six of their last 10 games - not a bad record for the rookie - who has been giving all of Tottenham's expansive and expensive squad a chance to prove themselves, including Jermaine Defoe, set to leave London for MLS club Toronto.
"It was a typical Jermaine Defoe finish," Sherwood said of his striker's goal to give his side a 2-0 win over Crystal Palace.
"He's pounced on it and struck. I'll be sorry to lose Jermaine. Toronto are getting a fine goalscorer."
Eden Hazard is turning himself into one of the EPL's hottest commodities. Source: AFP
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JOSE'S EDEN
Eden Hazard could be the player to lead Chelsea into the promised land. After a slow start to his Stamford Bridge career, the Belgian is arguably the most improved player of the season, and after another stunning display in the 2-0 victory over Hull, Jose Mourinho is well aware of his importance to the Blues' title hopes.
Hazard has been linked with a possible move to France but Mourinho isn't about to let his star man go.
"The club doesn't want to sell him. Obviously the manager has that decision. Every manager wants players like him.
"Last year you saw a talented Hazard; this year he is a much more mature player. He deserves more than man of the match, probably player of the month. Not many are doing what he is doing."
Welcome relief for Sam Allardyce. Source: Getty Images
IRONS HIT BACK
West Ham fans finally had a reason to smile - they finally had a recognised striker, as Andy Carroll returned from injury, and the Hammers nailed down a much-needed 2-0 win over Cardiff.
Assistant coach Neil McDonald said the recent embarrassing defeats and media criticism finally brought some fighting spirit out of Sam Allardyce's relegation-battling side.
"I think the whole squad has galvanised together, probably because of the criticism we've received," McDonald said. "They showed they were willing to put their bodies on the line."
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BLUE HEAVEN
How long can this Everton run go on? And if it does, will Roberto Martinez win manager of the year? The Toffees just can't stop winning and are playing the sort of football Goodison Park hasn't witnessed in 20 years.
Up to fourth after dispatching Norwich, Martinez was right to praise his team yet again, although they will be without rising star Ross Barkley, out for a few weeks with a suspected broken toe - although the 20-year-old will still be on the club's training camp in Spain.
"Knowing Ross, being a young man, hopefully with the sun - a bit of vitamin D intake, it will accelerate the healing process," Martinez said.
Alan Pardew and Manuel Pellegrini kissed and made up. Source: Getty Images
BAD
F*** OLD c***MANCHESTER City goes back to the top of the summit but that's the least of the talking points after Manuel Pellegrini's side returned from St James's Park with three points.
Edin Dzeko put City up 1-0, but all the focus is on Cheick Tiote disallowed 34th minute effort - a superb drive disallowed by referee Mike Jones, who judged that Yoan Gouffran, lingering in an off-side position, interfered with Joe Hart.
Yoan Gouffran looks a fair way from Joe Hart. Source: Getty Images
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Technically, Jones might have got it correct. But in reality, it was a really tough call, one that has split the debate in England and prompted Alan Pardew to lose his cool and Pellegrini a "f*** old c***", which he apologised for later.
"Cheik's scored a goal that Joe Hart's not going to reach," Pardew claimed. "It was such a clean hit it was going in the top corner. Hart's vision was not impaired by Yoan. He [Mike Jones] got that wrong and it's a massive call. He's gone on a real tiny technicality here and I think he's wrong. To make a call like that, a player has to be clearly interfering.
"When I spoke to the referee he actually thought it had got deflected, which it hadn't - it was a clean strike. It's hard, it all happened so quickly, but a call like that is going to affect the game. It was all getting a little bit heated. It affected the players."
Of course, Pellegrini thought it was correct - but James Milner revealed even Joe Hart wasn't sure.
Cheik Ismael Tiote was angered by Mike Jones's decision. Source: Getty Images
"Harty also said he wasn't sure if he would have got it anyway, but Gouffran was in his way. If someone is in your way you are not going to dive on them. Maybe he wasn't interfering, but it is such a hard one to get right. I can see both sides. It was an amazing strike and it was unfortunate for them, but it's the grey area of the off-side rule."
City's win was a classic example of a title challenger winning when not playing well, and Pardew's ability to nullify Yaya Toure and Fernadinho went a long way to that, with David Silva the most lively.
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The major concern for City is the injury to Samir Nasri, stretchered off after Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa hacked him down late in the game.
"It was very unfair and I don't understand why it wasn't a sending-off," he said.
COTTAGE NEEDS WORK
The battle at the bottom of the Premier League is getting ridiculous. Getting thrashed 4-1 at home by the last-placed team and your relegation rivals Sunderland is as bad as it gets.
Fulham manager Rene Meulensteen was brought in to stop the rot under former boss Martin Jol, but the Cottagers have lost seven of their last 10 games.
"It is a massive blow for us," Meulensteen admitted. "We know how important it is to win your home games, especially against the teams near you in the table, but it's a massive opportunity missed for us to move up the league.
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UGLY
THIS MAKES McBREEN LOOK GOOD
Tony Pulis was mortified that Crystal Palace was not rewarded for its first-half endeavour against Tottenham - and a fair bit had to do with Jason Puncheon's penalty effort.
"He took a penalty the other week and scored.
"He's changed his mind last minute, if you do that it causes you problems, you can't do that taking penalties."
The timing was even worse given Sunderland and West Ham both won, leaving the Eagles consigned to the foot of the ladder again.
Jason Puncheon of Crystal Palace looking for somewhere to hide. Source: Getty Images
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