Carlos Tevez of Manchester City and Dimitar Berbatov of Manchester United emerged the top scorers with 20 goals in the English Premier League season, which concluded on Sunday. Arsenal's Robin van Persie, with 18 goals, was next best.
An opening-day Premier League defeat, a growing injury list and the weight of an unspent transfer kitty hang heavily over Arsenal as they head into Wednesday's Champions League playoff clash with Fenerbahce.
Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester United celebrated the festive season with victories on Friday while Arsenal, the other member of the 'big four', squandered a 2-0 lead to draw 2-2 at Aston Villa. Liverpool beat Bolton Wanderers 3-0 at Anfield with Robbie Keane scoring twice to give the leaders 42 points, one ahead of Chelsea as the Premier League season reached the halfway point.
However, one goal proved enough for City who picked up their sixth successive league win to move four points clear of Liverpool, who host Aston Villa later on Saturday, at the top of the standings.
"What's important for me is to give the best of myself for my club, and we're looking forward for Leo (Messi) to return to continue scoring and winning matches."
Daniel Sturridge struck twice to keep Liverpool's Premier League title hopes alive with a thrilling 4-3 win over Swansea City on Sunday.
Should Manchester United win their next two games, the gap will be cut to four points and while only a collapse of astonishing proportions would deny Manchester City the title.
Chelsea winger Eden Hazard will miss Wednesday's Europa League final against Benfica with a hamstring strain while John Terry's ankle problem is still being assessed, interim manager Rafa Benitez said.
Manchester United defender Patrice Evra wasted no time in poking fun at Luis Suarez for his latest misdemeanour, pretending to chomp on a fake dismembered arm after his side clinched a 20th English title by beating Aston Villa on Monday.
Images from the English Premier League matches played on Sunday.
Everton missed the chance to confirm a place in next season's UEFA Cup when they were beaten 1-0 by Arsenal in the Premier League on Sunday. Liverpool, knocked out of the Champions League by Chelsea on Wednesday, won their final home Premier League game, Fernando Torres notching his 32nd goal of the season in all competitions to earn a 1-0 victory over Manchester City.
Everton missed the chance to secure a place in next season's UEFA Cup when they were beaten 1-0 by Arsenal in the Premier League on Sunday.
Aston Villa thrashed local rivals Birmingham City 5-1 to take their goal tally to 15 in their last three EPL games.
Arsenal scored a late goal to force a 1-1 draw against Aston Villa but saw their lead at the top of the Premier League cut to one point after Manchester United won 3-0 at Fulham.
Newcastle United's Moussa Sissoko says the Premier League was made for him after the France international midfielder began his career in England with two goals and an assist in his first two matches.
The 32-year-old will also be dropped for the Gunners' league game against West Ham.
Cavani suspended by FA for three games over use of racial term
Veteran goalkeeper Brad Friedel has signed a new contract with Tottenham Hotspur through to 2014, the Premier League club said on Wednesday.
Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill has emerged as the early favourite to succeed Steve McClaren as England manager, English bookmakers said on Friday.
Manchester City moved to the brink of the Premier League title with an emphatic 4-0 win over Aston Villa on Wednesday as Edin Dzeko scored twice to leave them needing just a point from the final game of the season.
Brighton and Hove Albion scored late to earn a 1-1 draw at Crystal Palace. Sheffield United and Fulham also drew 1-1 as both teams picked up their first points.
Manchester City beat Aston Villa 1-0 to move into second place in the Premier League.
Images from football matches played across Europe over the weekend.
Brief reports of Premier League matches on Saturday.
Sixth-placed Arsenal slumped to a 3-2 home defeat by West Ham United.\n
Upcoming fixtures in the English Premier League.
A World Cup qualifier between Argentina and Brazil was suspended amid farcical scenes on Sunday after Brazilian health authorities accused a number of Premier League players of violating the country's COVID-19 quarantine rules.
English player of the year Gareth Bale scored a spectacular late winner to boost Tottenham Hotspur's Champions League hopes with a 1-0 victory over Southampton in the Premier League on Saturday.
EPL was suspended on March 13 due to the pandemic and teams resumed training in small groups before voting last week to return to contact training ahead of a June 17 restart.
Manchester United striker Robin van Persie will be treated with respect on his return to Arsenal, his former manager Arsene Wenger said on Thursday.
Fulham fixed their penalty jinx as Ivan Cavaleiro's spot kick eased them out of the relegation zone with a shock 2-1 win at high-flying Leicester City in the English Premier League on Monday.
Manchester United winger Ashley Young will miss the rest of the season with an ankle injury, manager Alex Ferguson said on Friday.
For all the millions splashed out by Manchester City's Abu Dhabi owners on attacking talents, it is the English champions' grit in defence that is keeping them in the Premier League title hunt.
The Arsenal defender will be sidelined for two weeks after sustaining an ankle injury.
The defending champions beat Blackburn Rovers 2-0 to move to fourth place in the Premier League.
The title credentials of leaders Arsenal and third-placed Liverpool will come under scrutiny when they meet in a heavyweight Premier League clash on Saturday.
Mauricio Pochettino has left his job as Chelsea manager by mutual consent, the Premier League side announced on Tuesday.
Manchester City and Arsenal closed in on Premier League leaders Liverpool with contrasting victories on Saturday as Manchester United's bubble was burst by Fulham.
Norwich City's Jamal Lewis threw his relegation-threatened side a lifeline with a a 70th-minute goal to beat visiting Premier League high-flyers Leicester City 1-0 and secure a vital three points on Friday. Norwich remain bottom of the table but are now only four points from the safety zone -- three adrift of Watford and West Ham United with Aston Villa another point ahead.
