Suarez double lifts Liverpool table top

Liverpool provisionally moved ahead of their closest rivals after they defeated Cardiff City 3-1 at Anfield on Saturday. The Reds took the opportunity to put pressure on their rivals by winning handsomely to go top. Luis Suarez netted twice to bring his tally to 19 goals in 12 games, while Jamaican-born winger Raheem Sterling scored the other for Liverpool.

Manchester City recorded only their third away win this season after seeing off a spirited Fulham fightback to claim a 4-2 win. City’s away form remained imperfect after letting a two-goal advantage slip. However, substitutes Jesus Navas and James Milner finished off their opponents with a late strike.

M United 3 — West Ham 1

Swansea City 1 — Everton 2

Southampton 2 — Tottenham 3

Barcelona stays top

Barcelona fought back after being two-nil down to defeat Getafe 5-2 away from home. The win ensured the reigning champions kept their league lead going into the New Year despite pressure from closest rivals Atletico Madrid. Spanish winger Pedro put on a splendid performance to score three and set up another two that was converted by Cesc Fabregas.

Leading goal-scorer Diego Costa scored a brace in rescuing Atletico Madrid after conceding early in their 3-2 win against Levante. Andreas Ivanschitz scored in the first minute for Levante to take a surprise lead, but the two Diegos — Godin and Costa — ensured there were no upsets to be had for Atletico.

Valencia 2 — Real Madrid 3

A Bilbao 2 — Vallecano 1

Villareal 1 — Sevilla FC 2

Bianconeri maintain five point lead

The Turin black and white express (or simply, Juventus) ran through another team this week to consolidate their lead in the race for the Scudetto. Juventus won at Atalanta 4-1 on Sunday with in-form striker Carlos Tevez, Fernando Llorente, Paul Pogba and Arturo Vidal all netting one each for Juve.

Roma returned to winning ways with a comprehensive 4-0 win over Catania. Defender Mehdi Benatia netted one in each half while Mattia Destro and Gervinho scored the others.

Sassuolo 0 — Fiorentina 1

Internazionale 1 — AC Milan 0

Cagliari 1 — Napoli 1

Leverkusen stumble in Bayern’s absence

Second place Bayer Leverkusen were unable to close points on the inactive leaders Bayern Munich after losing 1-0 at Werder Bremen. Bremen needed a dramatic late winner from Santiago Garcia to earn the win. The result lifted the hosts out of the relegation zone.

Borussia Dortmund too stumbled at home to lose 2-1 to Hertha Berlin. Goals from Adrian Ramos and Sami Allagui capitalised on the inadequacies of Dortmund’s makeshift defence. Marco Reus scored the lone goal for the hosts.

Nurnberg 0 — Schalke 0

Hamburg SV 2 — Mainz 3

Borussia M’gladbach 2 — Wolfsburg 2