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Who were the best Premier League players from the weekend? We take a look at the man-of-the-match performances in our hotlist.
Having seen Tottenham draw at Manchester City and Liverpool and Manchester United drop points on Saturday, Chelsea extended their lead at the top of the table to eight points with a 2-0 win over Hull on Sunday.
Arsenal kept their title hopes alive with a dramatic 2-1 win over Burnley while Southampton beat defending champions Leicester 3-0.
Bournemouth twice came from behind to draw 2-2 against Watford and there were wins for Everton, West Ham and West Brom.
But who were the standout players? Read on to see who caught the eye - and let us know who you think deserves the plaudits by leaving a comment or tweeting us @SkyFootball…
Costa doesn’t sit and wait for chances to come his way, nor does he hang about on the shoulder of defenders for 90 minutes relying on his team-mates’ build-up and delivery.
On Sunday, the returning striker pretended nothing had ever happened by putting in a man-of-the-match performance as Chelsea beat Hull 2-0.
Costa dropped deep, threw himself about (legally), competed for every aerial ball and even helped out in his own penalty area as Chelsea ground out a victory, even when they were not at their best.
He nearly scored within 10 seconds with a volley, then netted vitally on the brink of half-time with Chelsea looking flat, while his all-round game gave a glimpse into what the Blues would be missing if he was to leave Stamford Bridge.
Mustafi’s seamless transition to life at the Emirates has gone under the radar this season, so good has his adaptation to the Premier League been.
On Sunday, the German rightfully took a share of the headlines after playing a central role in a thrilling top-flight encounter.
Mustafi’s first goal in Arsenal colours got the ball rolling in north London after a testing first half, while a commanding defensive display laid the foundations for the drama that unfolded.
Arsenal fans were crying out for Arsene Wenger to buy a partner for Laurent Koscielny, and halfway through Mustafi’s first season it looks like he might be the perfect fit.
The Southampton midfielder opened the scoring against champions Leicester City at St Mary’s on Sunday afternoon with a well-taken goal after a lovely flowing move down the right from the hosts.
And no wonder there was a huge smile on the England U21 international’s face after the ball found the bottom left-hand corner of the net with that strike being his first in 22 games in all competitions for the Saints, a run stretching back to September when he netted against West Ham.
However, it was not just the goal that caught the eye on the south coast, with Ward-Prowse’s dangerous set plays from both corners and free-kicks also a constant thorn in the Foxes’ side.
In a game that Man City dominated from almost start to finish, Sane was one of the standout players.
The German returned to the starting line-up after a spell out with injury and was a threat throughout on the left flank.
His work-rate helped keep Spurs pinned back and he made more high-intensity sprints (91) than any other City player has managed in a game all season.
He was rewarded for his fine individual display with a goal, and City manager Pep Guardiola was full of praise for the 21-year-old afterwards.
“I’m so happy for the performance from Leroy,” he said. “It’s not easy to come here and play, he was injured, I encourage him to keep going at that level he has special qualities for us I’m so happy for him.”
While Man Utd and Wayne Rooney may have stolen the headlines, Stoke’s defensive performance up to the 94th minute cannot be underplayed.
At the heart of that stubborn backline was Shawcross, who dealt with United’s aerial threat superbly alongside Bruno Martins Indi, who also deserves a mention.
Shawcross won eight aerial duels, second only to Peter Crouch, and threw himself in front of everything that went goalwards as United attempted 25 shots.
When Shawcross emptied his pockets upon returning home from the bet365 Stadium on Saturday night, we wouldn’t be surprised if the contents included: keys, wallet, phone, Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Llorente seems to have finally found his form with the Welsh club and there was no better way to nab his first away goals in the Premier League than with a quick-fire double at the start of the second half to put the visitors 2-0 ahead.
The second in particular was a strong header, but it wasn’t just his attacking ability that caught the eye on Saturday afternoon. He also contributed defensively as one of the tallest players on the pitch, and produced a number of fine tackles despite being a naturally attacking player.
The victory pulled Swansea out of the relegation places by two points and if Llorente can continue his form in front of goal, Paul Clement’s side should continue their climb out of danger.
The striker scored two goals in a Premier League away game for the first time in his career, picking up right where he left off after that explosive bicycle kick against Crystal Palace last week.
Carroll was everywhere during his 67 minutes on the pitch, holding up the ball, linking up well with his fellow forwards Michail Antonio, Manuel Lanzini and Sofiane Feghouli. His average position was just above the half-way line, in fact, despite scoring both his goals inside the box.
While he was forced off with a groin problem, he downplayed the injury afterwards and said he is looking forward to the next game.
Barkley has endured a difficult first season under Ronald Koeman. Dropped in early December against Manchester United and Watford, and with the January transfer window looming, the England international’s long-term future at Goodison Park was cast into doubt.
Koeman demanded a response from the 23-year-old, and the Toffees boss has got just that, with Barkley recovering from that public setback stronger than ever.
It has been a case of ‘New Year, new me’ for Barkley, who has really caught the eye. He marked his recovery with an accomplished display at Selhurst Park as Everton strengthened their grip on seventh spot.
The Merseysiders have their sights set on the top six, an aspiration that will undoubtedly hinge on Barkley’s form going forward.
Everything good from West Brom seems to come through Matt Phillips. The Scottish winger always wants the ball, and will constantly look to bring his team forward.
And in a midfield which is solid yet lacking flair, Phillips is the perfect player to ensure Salomon Rondon - or whoever may be up front - does not cut an isolated figure.
Few can cross the ball better in the league than Phillips, while his link-up play down the right with the returning Allan Nyom caused Sunderland many a problem.
It was an entertaining clash at the Vitality Stadium between two teams that looked low on confidence. However, individual quality was lacking throughout and it was a tough choice to pick an outstanding individual in a game littered with defensive mistakes.
Smith gets the nod just ahead of Watford goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes, who made two decent stops in the first half. The Bournemouth full-back always provided an attacking outlet on the right flank. He grabbed his fourth assist of the Premier League season as Bournemouth made it 1-1 through Josh King.
Smith beat two men, including nutmegging Christian Kabasele, before firing a low cross into the six-yard box which was swept home by the Cherries striker.
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