United top of the Christmas tree

Manchester leads the way at Christmas with United on top and City 4 points behind them. Since losing 1-0 at Norwich, the Red Devils picked up 5 straight wins including a 3-2 last gasp victory at Manchester City before drawing 1-1 at Swansea. City, who finished bottom of their Champions League group, dropped points in a 1-1 draw at home to Everton and played goalless matches at Chelsea and West Ham. Chelsea with new interim manager Raffa Benitez are in 3^rd place with a game in hand after returning from Japan (where they failed to win the World Club Cup) to annihilate Aston Villa 8-0, while Arsenal's topsy turvy season sees them in 4^th place after 3 straight wins including a 5-2 routing at Reading. The Gunners, who had earlier thumped North London rivals Tottenham 5-2, lost points at home in a 3-3 draw with Fulham and 2-0 defeat to Swansea. Everton, Tottenham and West Bromwich Albion are equal with Arsenal on points but behind them on goal difference. Liverpool may have drawn 2-2 at Everton and 1-1 at Chelsea, but they have been less than convincing at home losing 3-1 to Swansea and Aston Villa. Stoke and Norwich make the remaining top ten equal on points with Liverpool with the Canaries having registered 1-0 home wins over Arsenal and Manchester United. An inconsistent Swansea find themselves in 11^th spot followed by London teams West Ham and Fulham. Newcastle and Sunderland are dangerously close to the relegation zone with Aston Villa also going through worrying times. Southampton and Wigan are sharing the last relegation spot, with Queens Park Rangers (having recently elected Harry Redknapp as their boss) and Reading rooted to the bottom of the table.