Following a welcome or unwelcome hiatus for the 2022 World Cup - depending on your stance on international matches - the Premier League is back in full swing with a dazzling round of festive fixtures.
Arsenal's five-point lead at the top of the table remains intact following a 3-1 come-from-behind win over West Ham United, and Manchester City kept the pressure on the Gunners with victory over Leeds United by the same scoreline.
Newcastle United had briefly jumped up to second thanks to a 3-0 success over Leicester City, while Tottenham Hotspur are clinging onto fourth despite being held to a 2-2 draw by Brentford.
Manchester United are now just one point adrift of the Lilywhites after thumping Nottingham Forest 3-0, while Liverpool continued their top-four charge with a 3-1 success over Aston Villa.
Further down the bottom half, Brighton & Hove Albion made Nathan Jones's first Premier League home game in charge of Southampton a miserable one with a 3-1 win, while Chelsea got the better of a virus-ravaged Bournemouth 2-0 at Stamford Bridge.
Wins on the road were the theme lower down too, as Fulham saw off nine-man Crystal Palace 3-0, and Julen Lopetegui's first top-flight game in charge of Wolverhampton Wanderers ended in a dramatic late 2-1 success at Everton.
Here, Sports Mole picks its Premier League Team of the Week for the round of festive fixtures.
DEFENCE
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Not conceding multiple goals is normally a prerequisite for a goalkeeper to make our Team of the Week, but Leeds number one Illan Meslier - who has recently been battling glandular fever - kept his side in the fight for long periods against Man City, making six saves and two successful high claims to leave the field with his head held high.
Newcastle captain Kieran Trippier is close to nailing down his spot in the Team of the Season, with the right-back once again starring at the King Power. As well as contributing defensively with four interceptions and three tackles, Trippier's corner was on the money for Joelinton to head home - one of his four key passes on the day.
The timeless qualities of Virgil van Dijk were also on show at Villa Park during the Liverpool defender's first game back since the World Cup break, as the Dutchman produced a striker's finish to double his side's lead in the first half while also making nine clearances and three interceptions to keep the Lions largely at bay.
Speaking of centre-backs producing eye-catching finishes, Fulham defender Tim Ream did exactly that at Selhurst Park for his first-ever Premier League goal. The USA international thumped the ball into the roof of the net following a corner, and he had an eye for a pass, successfully completing eight of his nine long ball attempts in a domineering display.
Finally, Liverpool fans can rejoice in knocking Everton off the top of one Premier League category, with Andrew Robertson now boasting the division's all-time assist record for defenders. The Scottish left-back found Mohamed Salah for his 54th Premier League assist - having previously been level on 53 with Leighton Baines - and one would suspect that there are a few more to come.
MIDFIELD
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The Saints were not exactly marching in during their defeat to Brighton, but Solly March lived up to his name on the South Coast, sending a sensational long-range strike - albeit one that took a slight deflection - into the top corner, and his delicate cross also found ex-Southampton man Adam Lallana for an opening goal that Gavin Bazunu should arguably have done much better with.
The rain-soaked conditions at Old Trafford did not impact the brilliance of Casemiro against Nottingham Forest, with the Man United man demonstrating his world-class qualities throughout the 90. With the Red Devils already a goal to the good, Casemiro stepped forward before releasing Fred to put the game to bed, and the Brazilian also made five tackles in a dominant engine room performance.
For all of Martin Odegaard's intricate passes and tricks against West Ham, the Arsenal captain recorded one of the most fortuitous assists of the Premier League season. With the Gunners 1-0 down, Odegaard's scuffed shot fell very kindly for Bukayo Saka, but the Norwegian's second assist of the day for Eddie Nketiah was a perfectly good one, as he led a barnstorming Arsenal comeback.
Chelsea playmaker Mason Mount did not exactly set the world alight during the World Cup, but the England international was in full flow during the visit of Bournemouth, providing the perfectly-weighted pass for Raheem Sterling to set up Kai Havertz before getting in on the act himself with a peach of a curler from the edge of the box.
ATTACK
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Crystal Palace fans cannot erase the name Aleksandar Mitrovic from their memories quickly enough, with the Serbia international proving an all-around nuisance at Selhurst Park. From successfully getting James Tomkins sent off, to setting up Bobby Decordova-Reid and Ream, and directing a deft header into the far corner for Fulham's third, Mitrovic's next trip to the Eagles' territory cannot come soon enough.
For all of Meslier's staunch efforts in keeping Man City at bay on Wednesday night, trying to quell Erling Braut Haaland is a futile act. With his father and former Leeds man Alf Inge Haaland watching on with a wry smile, Haaland's first goal back in his hometown was a simple tap-in before a composed first-time effort proved too strong for Meslier to keep out - taking him up to the 20-goal mark from just 14 Premier League matches.
SPORTS MOLE'S PREMIER LEAGUE TEAM OF THE WEEK
Sports Mole's Premier League Team of the Week (4-4-2): Meslier; Trippier, Van Dijk, Ream, Robertson; March, Odegaard, Casemiro, Mount; Haaland, Mitrovic
