Former Manchester City winger Adam Johnson grabbed Sunderland's winner in the second half to leave City only four points above Chelsea who won 1-0 at Norwich City thanks to a superb strike by Juan Mata. With half the season gone United, who have already scored 48 goals, have 46 points with City on 39 and Chelsea, who have a game in hand, on 35.
In the race for the fourth place Everton nudged ahead with a 2-1 win over struggling Wigan Athletic at Goodison Park where Everton's Phil Neville made his 500th Premier League appearance. West Bromwich Albion continued to impress with a 2-1 victory at Queens Park Rangers in a match delayed after West Brom's coach was late arriving at Loftus Road.
Harry Redknapp's QPR sunk back to the bottom of the table with a mere 10 points after Reading jumped above them on goal difference with a 0-0 draw at home to Swansea City. Fulham drew 1-1 with visiting Southampton who remain just above the bottom three.
The Boxing Day programme is completed later with Aston Villa trying to bounce back from an 8-0 drubbing by Chelsea at home to Tottenham Hotspur and Stoke City hosting Liverpool.