New year's Premier League fixtures - in pictures

Sir Alex Ferguson on the occasion of his 70th birthday, looks on as his side attempt to go three points clear of rivals Manchester City Photograph: Andrew Yates/AFP/Getty Images

Manchester United's Phil Jones goes over the top of goalscorer Yakubu Photograph: Phil Noble/Reuters

Christopher Samba and Dimitar Berbatov go up for the ball Photograph: Martin Rickett/PA

David de Gea stands dejected after Blackburn score a third to win at Old Trafford for the first time since 2005 Photograph: Martin Rickett/PA

Didier Drogba controls the ball in the Aston Villa penalty area Photograph: Andy Rain/Epa

Darren Bent and Stephen Ireland are both on the scoresheet as Aston Villa win at Stamford Bridge for the first time since 2002 Photograph: Jed Leicester/Action Images

Fernando Torres and Didier Drogba look dejected as the prepare to restart as Villa take a 3-1 lead Photograph: Phil Cole/PA

A fan gives Petre Cech seasonal wishes as Chelsea struggle Photograph: Neville Williams/Aston Villa via Getty Images

Arsenal's Laurent Koscielny vies with Queens Park Rangers' Radek Cerny Photograph: Glyn Kirk/AFP/Getty Images

Neil Warnock vents his frustration during QPR's game at the Emirates against Arsenal Photograph: Eddie Keogh/Reuters

Robin van Persie celebrates scoring his 35th Premier League goal of the year. Van Persie falls one short Alan Shearer's record set in 1995 when he netted 36 Photograph: Clive Mason/Getty Images

Thierry Henry watches the action as Arsenal look to capitalise on dropped points elsewhere and move into the top four. Henry is set to return to the club on a two-month loan deal from New York Red Bulls Photograph: Eddie Keogh/Reuters

Fulham's Moussa Dembele and Norwich City's Andrew Surman go for a high ball Photograph: John Sibley/Action Images

Simeon Jackson (left) celebrates his last-minute equaliser as Norwich finish the year on a high Photograph: Jamie McDonald/Getty Images

Peter Crouch has an effort on goal in the game between Stoke City and Wigan Athletic Photograph: Carl Recine/Action Images

Victor Moses celebrates with team-mates after scoring the first goal for Wigan Photograph: Craig Brough/Action Images

Cameron Jerome celebrates putting Stoke ahead in the 84th minute – only for Wigan to draw level three minutes later Photograph: Carl Recine/Action Images

Swansea defend a corner during the home game against Tottenham Photograph: Richard Heathcote/Getty Images

Rafael van der Vaart scores as Swansea City's Ashley Williams and Neil Taylor fail to block his shot Photograph: Toby Melville/Reuters

Scott Sinclair celebrates with Stephen Dobbie after scoring the equaliser for Swansea Photograph: Matthew Childs/Action Images

Leighton Baines goes down under a challenge from West Brom's Billy Jones Photograph: Alex Morton/Action Images

Everton's Tim Cahill, right, avoids a challenge by West Bromwich Albion's James Morrison Photograph: Jon Super/AP

Everton's Victor Anichebe celebrates scoring the only goal of the game Photograph: Nigel French/PA

Wolves' Wayne Hennessey can only watch as Sam Ricketts puts Bolton ahead Photograph: Paul Burrows/Action Images

Bolton's Gary Cahill goes up with Sylvan Ebanks Blake. Cahill is playing in what could be his last game for the club ahead of a £7m move to Chelsea Photograph: Lee Smith/Action Images

Sunderland's Stéphane Sessègnon shoots wide of Joe Hart's post Photograph: Lee Smith/Action Images

Yaya Touré watches as another City chance goes begging Photograph: Lee Smith/Action Images

Edin Dzeko show his frustration Photograph: Owen Humphreys/PA

Ji Dong-won celebrates after scoring Sunderland's goal to beat Manchester City Photograph: Lee Smith/Action Images