DANNY DRINKWATER’S FIRST Premier League goal and second-half strikes from Jamie Vardy and Leonardo Ulloa sent Leicester City back to the top of the table in a convincing 3-0 win over Stoke City.
Leicester went into today’s contest at the King Power Stadium level on points with Arsenal, who play Chelsea tomorrow, and second only on goal difference.
And Claudio Ranieri’s side — who had won just one of their past five top-flight games — were ahead at half-time when Drinkwater showed great technique to fire low into the bottom left-hand corner, albeit with the help of a Marc Wilson deflection.
The game was put beyond all doubt in the 66th minute when Vardy brilliantly rounded Jack Butland to score his first goal since December 14, before substitute Ulloa added gloss in the closing stages.
All wonder strike inspires Spurs to 3-1 victory
Dele Alli scored a late wonder goal as Tottenham recorded a dramatic 3-1 victory at Crystal Palace.
The hosts had taken the lead through a Jan Vertonghen own goal to breach an opponents’ backline for the first time in six Premier League games, but they could not hold on to earn what would have been a first win since December 19.
Harry Kane started the comeback by netting for the fifth time in seven league matches with a second-half header in a match that saw Spurs extend their unbeaten run to 10 away games.
And moments after Palace had struck the crossbar twice, Alli netted with a remarkable volley, a goal that may not be bettered for quality this season.
Nacer Chadli then put the icing on the cake with a long-range goal in the fifth minute of stoppage-time.
The win sees Tottenham stay fourth in the table but increases their lead over Manchester United to five points, while the hosts slip down to 11th place.
Ighalo back on target as Watford end losing streak
Odion Ighalo and Craig Cathcart scored as Watford broke a run of four straight Premier League defeats to record a 2-1 home win over Newcastle United.
After a poor first period Watford took the lead 44 seconds into the second half. Troy Deeney lofted a through-ball in behind for Ighalo, who hit his seventh goal in seven games at Vicarage Road.
Cathcart soon put the hosts in control with the second goal, thrashing home a loose ball in the penalty area, to put Watford on track for a third win against Newcastle this season in all competitions.
Jamaal Lascelles gave Newcastle a route back into the match with a 71st-minute header, but Watford held on to secure their first ever Premier League double.
The three points lifts Watford back into the top half of the Premier League, while Newcastle remain in the relegation zone after their fourth straight defeat away from home.
Villa extend unbeaten run but desperately need to start winning
West Brom missed the chance to clinch a first Premier League double over Aston Villa in a dour 0-0 draw at The Hawthorns.
Despite bottom-of-the-league Villa enduring a rotten campaign, Tony Pulis’ side have been lacking goals this season and they failed to register a shot on target in a derby they were expected to win.
The likes of £12m (€16m) signing Salomon Rondon, who has just three goals to his name since arriving from Zenit, could not find a way past a Villa defence whose frailties are a major factor in their recent demise.
Villa are now unbeaten in five matches in all competitions, but manager Remi Garde must start to pick up wins if they are to stand any chance of avoiding relegation.
Van Aanholt rescues point for struggling Sunderland
Patrick van Aanholt’s second goal in as many Premier League matches rescued a point for Sunderland in their relegation clash with AFC Bournemouth.
Van Aanholt, who learnt in midweek that the league’s Goal Accreditation Panel had taken away his strike at Swansea earlier in January, responded in perfect fashion with a fine finish in first-half stoppage time to cancel out Benik Afobe’s opener for the visitors at the Stadium of Light.
