Arsenal returned to the top of the Premier League tree, for a couple of hours at least, with a 3-1 win against an uninspiring West Ham United.
Carlton Cole pounced on a Wojciech Szczęsny error to give the Hammers a fortuitous lead shortly after the pause, but the Pole was outdone by Adrián, who somehow allowed Theo Walcott's tame strike to beat him for the leveller. The England international then diverted Kieran Gibbs's cross past the Spaniard to put Arsenal in front for the first time, and Lukas Podolski ended the contest on his first outing since August.
A crazy first half at St James's Park ended with one saved penalty, two goals and three red cards, as Stoke players Glenn Whelan and Mark Wilson were dismissed and manager Mark Hughes was sent to the stands. Oussama Assaidi had given the Potters the lead, but Loïc Rémy cancelled that out less than a minute after Thomas Sørensen denied him.
Newcastle capitalised on their two-man advantage, predictably thanks to Frenchmen, as Yoann Gouffran struck his seventh of the season and Rémy clinched victory. Yohan Cabaye then made it a French quartet before Senegalese Papiss Cissé hit a fifth from the penalty spot.
On Merseyside, Everton's unbeaten home Premier League record for the calendar year was ended by basement club Sunderland. Tim Howard was sent off for upending Ki Sung-Yueng midway through the first 45 and the South Korean converted the subsequent spot-kick to give Gustavo Poyet a first League win in seven weeks.
Malky Mackay's position at Cardiff City became less secure following a dreadful first half in which two Jay Rodriguez goals and a Rickie Lambert strike put Southampton 3-0 up at half-time. No goals were added after the break, and Cardiff have slipped down to 16th.
Howard receives his first red card in English football at Goodison Park
Tottenham could only draw versus West Brom in Tim Sherwood's first match as head coach. Christian Eriksen scored his first Spurs League goal but the lead lasted just two minutes, as Jonas Olsson arrowed in an equaliser for the managerless Albion.
René Meulensteen earned a second and pivotal Fulham victory at Norwich City. Gary Hooper struck his fifth Premier League goal in eight games for the Canaries' lead, but Pajtim Kasami levelled with a neat free-kick and it was Scott Parker who rifled in a winner three minutes from time.
In West London, Eden Hazard scored the only goal as Chelsea returned to winning ways against Swansea City at Stamford Bridge to move up to second.
Hull City 2-3 Manchester United: A Turning Point For David Moyes?
Pity the poor folk at Villa Park, who witnessed Aston Villa nil Crystal Palace nil. Oh wait... Palace scored a stoppage-time winner courtesy of Dwight Gayle to make it three wins from six under Tony Pulis.
And in the early kick-off, David Moyes managed his first true Manchester United comeback as the champions recovered from a two-goal deficit to defeat Hull City 3-2 at the KC Stadium.