Premier League Roundup: Rooney overtakes scoring record as United defeat Swansea
Wayne Rooney scored a superb backheel to ease the pressure on Louis van Gaal and end Manchester United's eight-match winless run with a win against Swansea today.
Rooney moved ahead of Denis Law to become the second-highest goal scorer in United's history when he struck with the final goal in the 2-1 win.
Rooney's first league goal since October could not have come at a better time for his under-fire manager.
Van Gaal's team looked like going nine matches without a win when Gylfi Sigurdsson's header looped over David de Gea to equalise Anthony Martial's eighth United goal.
But luckily for the Dutchman, Rooney came to his rescue when he deftly flicked the ball past Lukasz Fabianski in the 77th minute.
Arsenal laboured to victory over Newcastle to start 2016 with a win and move two points clear at the top of the Barclays Premier League.
The Gunners were largely outplayed by a visiting side desperate to start the new year with a surprise result to lift themselves out of the relegation zone.
Steve McClaren's men certainly created more chances but they were undone when Laurent Koscielny scored his third of the season from close range to secure a 1-0 win for the hosts.
Petr Cech, fresh from sealing the Premier League clean-sheet record, kept out a number of Newcastle chances - most notably Georginio Wijnaldum's early second-half shot.
And it was Arsene Wenger and his players left smiling at the full-time whistle as Koscielny's effort, coupled with Leicester's goalless draw at home to Bournemouth, saw them move clear at the summit.
Leicester lost ground at the top of the Premier League as they began the new year with a goalless draw against 10-man Bournemouth at the King Power Stadium, with Riyad Mahrez missing from the penalty spot.
Claudio Ranieri’s side ended 2015 level on points with leaders Arsenal, despite finishing the year with a defeat at Liverpool and another home stalemate against Manchester City.
They dropped more points on Saturday despite playing for more than half an hour against 10 men following Simon Francis’ red card. That incident led to Leicester winning a penalty but Mahrez saw his spot-kick saved by Artur Boruc.
Jermain Defoe blasted Sunderland to a first victory in six attempts, giving them hope of avoiding relegation from the Barclays Premier League and nudging Aston Villa deeper into the mire.
The 33-year-old, drafted in to save the Black Cats in January last year, struck with 18 minutes remaining and then again in injury time to set up a 3-1 win which moves Sam Allardyce's men seven points clear of basement boys Villa - although they are still in major trouble.
Sunderland gradually grew into a game which they started poorly and took a 30th-minute lead through Patrick van Aanholt's deflected shot, and although Carles Gil levelled after the break with a sumptuous volley, Defoe ensured the points remained on Wearside to the delight and relief of the locals among a crowd of 41,535.
Norwich condemned 10-man Southampton to a sixth defeat in eight Premier League matches thanks to Alex Tettey's wonderful second-half finish.
Victor Wanyama's second-half red card for two bookings tipped an even game in the Canaries' favour.
Two minutes after Wanyama's dismissal, Norwich took the lead as Tettey drilled his shot into the top corner after fine work from substitute Vadis Odjidja-Ofoe.
The win was Norwich's third in four Premier League games and eased their relegation worries.
Jonny Evans struck in stoppage time to clinch a gritty 2-1 win for West Brom over 10-man Stoke.
The defender poked in his first Baggies goal just as it looked like Jonathan Walters' equaliser had rescued a point for the visitors.
Stephane Sessegnon's first goal in over a year had given Albion a second-half lead and Tony Pulis has now won three straight games against his former club.
Geoff Cameron was also sent off with seven minutes left for reacting to a challenge from Claudio Yacob.
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