Premier League Table: Final Week 19 2015 Standings, Results and Week 20 Fixtures
Liverpool edged past a plucky Sunderland, 1-0, on Wednesday night, as the Reds drew level with Manchester United on points in the Premier League table, moving into seventh.
Arsenal were the big winners of the Christmas period after their 2-0 success at home to Bournemouth gave them the lead in the English top flight at the turn of the year.
Leicester City relinquished their leading berth after a goalless draw against Manchester City dropped them to the second spot.
TOP NEWS
Madrid Fines Players $590K 😲
'Mbappé Out' Petition Gaining Steam 😳
Star-Studded World Cup Ad 🤩
Here's a look at the full results and latest standings, including next week's fixtures in the Premier League:
| Crystal Palace | 0-0 | Swansea |
| Everton | 3-4 | Stoke City |
| Watford | 1-2 | Tottenham Hotspur |
| Norwich City | 2-0 | Aston Villa |
| WBA | 1-0 | Newcastle United |
| Arsenal | 2-0 | Bournemouth |
| Manchester United | 0-0 | Chelsea |
| West Ham United | 2-1 | Southampton |
| Leicester City | 0-0 | Manchester City |
| Sunderland | 0-1 | Liverpool |
| 1 | Arsenal | 19 | 12 | 3 | 4 | 33 | 18 | +15 | 39 |
| 2 | Leicester City | 19 | 11 | 6 | 2 | 37 | 25 | +12 | 39 |
| 3 | Manchester City | 19 | 11 | 3 | 5 | 37 | 20 | +17 | 36 |
| 4 | Tottenham | 19 | 9 | 8 | 2 | 33 | 15 | +18 | 35 |
| 5 | Crystal Palace | 19 | 9 | 4 | 6 | 23 | 16 | +7 | 31 |
| 6 | Manchester United | 19 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 22 | 16 | +6 | 30 |
| 7 | Liverpool | 19 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 22 | 22 | 0 | 30 |
| 8 | West Ham | 19 | 7 | 8 | 4 | 28 | 23 | +5 | 29 |
| 9 | Watford | 19 | 8 | 5 | 6 | 24 | 20 | +4 | 29 |
| 10 | Stoke | 19 | 8 | 5 | 6 | 20 | 19 | +1 | 29 |
| 11 | Everton | 19 | 6 | 8 | 5 | 35 | 28 | +7 | 26 |
| 12 | Southampton | 19 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 26 | 23 | +3 | 24 |
| 13 | West Bromwich Albion | 19 | 6 | 5 | 8 | 18 | 24 | -6 | 23 |
| 14 | Chelsea | 19 | 5 | 5 | 9 | 23 | 29 | -6 | 20 |
| 15 | Norwich | 19 | 5 | 5 | 9 | 22 | 32 | -10 | 20 |
| 16 | Bournemouth | 19 | 5 | 5 | 9 | 22 | 34 | -12 | 20 |
| 17 | Swansea | 19 | 4 | 7 | 8 | 16 | 24 | -8 | 19 |
| 18 | Newcastle United | 19 | 4 | 5 | 10 | 19 | 34 | -15 | 17 |
| 19 | Sunderland | 19 | 3 | 3 | 13 | 19 | 38 | -19 | 12 |
| 20 | Aston Villa | 19 | 1 | 5 | 13 | 15 | 34 | -19 | 8 |
| Jan. 2 | 12.45 p.m./7.45 a.m. | West Ham United vs. Liverpool |
| Jan. 2 | 3 p.m./10 a.m. | Arsenal vs. Newcastle United |
| Jan. 2 | 3 p.m./10 a.m. | Leicester City vs. Bournemouth |
| Jan. 2 | 3 p.m./10 a.m. | Manchester United vs. Swansea City |
| Jan. 2 | 3 p.m./10 a.m. | Norwich City vs. Southampton |
| Jan. 2 | 3 p.m./10 a.m. | Sunderland vs. Aston Villa |
| Jan. 2 | 3 p.m./10 a.m. | West Bromwich Albion vs. Stoke City |
| Jan. 2 | 3 p.m./10 a.m. | Watford vs. Manchester City |
| Jan. 3 | 1:30 p.m./8:30 a.m. | Crystal Palace vs. Chelsea |
| Jan. 3 | 4 p.m./11 a.m. | Everton vs. Tottenham Hotspur |
Leicester Slip Opens Door For Arsenal
Fans and neutrals will have all agreed, Leicester's stunning run of form was bound to hit a blip at a point over the Christmas period.
And as Jamie Vardy has stopped scoring, the Foxes have stopped winning.
The King Power Stadium club struggled against Manchester City in their last Premier League match, as they searched for a win after falling to defeat to Liverpool at Anfield.
However, the Sky Blues were the superior side, leaving Leicester joined on points with the Gunners at the summit.
James Sharpe of the Leicester Mercury felt Vardy was squeezed out of the game, as the hosts reverted to type from before the current campaign:
Manager Arsene Wenger's side have a better goal difference, but both teams reside on 39 points, with City tucked in behind, three points adrift.
Vardy has been the lifeblood of the Foxes' charge this term, scoring goals on a weekly basis as he terrorises countless defences.
However, his team have failed to score in their last two outings, and the next match against Bournemouth threatens to be a struggle.
The promoted team have tested a number of clubs in recent weeks, beating Chelsea at Stamford Bridge and taking three points from Manchester United.
In the last few months, the game would have looked like a simple win for Leicester, but if Vardy loses his shooting boots, the fairytale might rapidly come to an end.
Arsenal look in great shape as they move into 2016, and Mesut Ozil has recaptured the form he displayed as a Galactico at Real Madrid.
His statistics have hit new levels in England, and the 27-year-old now has 16 assists in 18 Premier League matches, according to WhoScored.com.
Olivier Giroud has been the biggest benefactor, as the big Frenchman nails a run of form not previously seen from the striker.
Ozil has consistently fed his team-mates in almost every match this season in the league, and with a beleaguered Newcastle United in town next, it could be a convincing scoreline in north London.
As the duel continues between the top two, City lurk in the shadows—just a solitary win behind both teams above them.
The Sky Blues looked in fabulous shape against Leicester, as Raheem Sterling and Kevin De Bruyne strutted their quality across the pitch. It would be foolish to rule them out before the race to the line truly begins.
The title is between three teams at present, but that could soon change if Tottenham Hotspur continue to win and United and Liverpool spark into life.
There were positive signs for the Old Trafford giants against Chelsea as they put in their best performance in a number of weeks, and manager Louis van Gaal can add to his squad once the January transfer window swings open on Friday.
It could be curtains for Leicester as they appear to run out of steam, but if Vardy can prove his quality is intact, the Foxes could grab a Champions League finish.
Arsenal and City are likely to battle it out for the league crown until the end of the season, but a number of clubs could silently sneak up behind them and make the race an interesting conclusion.
