Liverpool v Cardiff City Here's a caption that you don't see very often "An elderly Liverpool fan poses alongside two elfs on stilts prior to the Barclays Premier League match between Liverpool and Cardiff City at Anfield" Photograph: Clive Brunskill/Getty ImagesInside the ground the Cardiff City fans show their support for under-fire manager Malky Mackay and their displeasure of Cardiff owner Vincent Tan …Photograph: Clive Brunskill/Getty ImagesNot that he looks particularly bothered Photograph: Clive Brunskill/Getty ImagesLuis Suárez, here shielding the ball from Steven Caulker, opens the scoring midway through the first half. He begins and ends the move that leads to Liverpool's opener, volleying past David Marshall with perfect technique from the edge of the penalty areaPhotograph: Andrew Boyers/Action ImagesThree minutes before half-time Luis Suárez turns provider, latching on to a long defence-splitting pass from the back to catch the Cardiff City back four flat-footed. With David Marshall's goal at his mercy, he unselfishly rolls the ball a couple of yards right to Raheem Sterling, who was up in support and had the simple job of rolling the ball into the netPhotograph: Clive Brunskill/Getty ImagesWonder if Cardiff City manager Malky Mackay is checking how long is left in the half or how long he has left in his jobPhotograph: Clive Brunskill/Getty ImagesThen on the stroke of half-time Luis Suárez begins and ends another move that results in a goal. Picking out Jon Flanagan with a move down the left flank, he takes up a position on the edge of the penalty area to pick up the return pass. It duly arrives and Suárez shuttles a couple of yards to his right and then unleashes an unstoppable curler into the top right-hand corner that leaves David Marshall at full-stretch and clawing at fresh airPhotograph: Andrew Boyers/Action ImagesLuis Suarez isn't getting his teeth out again, he's just dejected after a missed chance. As Liverpool captain he wouldn't have been happy just before the hour mark when Cardiff pull one back from a set piece. They had a free-kick on the right flank, which Pete Whittingham swung towards the far post. Ben Turner played interference, illegaly holding Mamadou Sakho so he could couldn't jump to stop the ball flying over his head and Jordan Mutch was unmarked at the back post to head across the face of goal and into the bottom right-hand cornerPhotograph: Andrew Boyers/Action ImagesMidway through the second half the ball's played through the centre from the back and Andrew Taylor tries and fails to play Raheem Sterling offside. The winger sprints after the ball and goes down under a challenge from David Marshall, before he can shoot. The ball breaks to Suarez, who shoots from a tight angle. His effort hits the postPhotograph: Clive Brunskill/Getty ImagesCardiff attempt to get back into the match but the home side have no intention of taking anything but three points from this match. After the final whistle goes Cardiff City manager Malky Mackay applauds his sides fans. Final score: Liverpool 3-1 Cardiff CityPhotograph: Clive Brunskill/Getty ImagesCrystal Palace v Newcastle United There are protest too at Selhurst Park, this time about the price of away tickets rather than a disliked chairmanPhotograph: Tony O'Brien/Action ImagesThe Palace fans had something else to grumble about midway through the first half when Newcastle's Yohan Cabaye, seen here jinking past Joel Ward and Mile Jedinak, popped the ball into the back of the net following Moussa Sisoko's cut backPhotograph: Jed Leicester/Action ImagesYoan Gouffran leaps over Mile Jedinak's challenge. The home side's challenge was over six minutes before half-time when Danny Gabbidon shovelled the ball into his own net. Ben Arfa grabbed a third four minutes from time. Final score: Crystal Palace 0-3 Newcastle UnitedPhotograph: Christopher Lee/Getty ImagesStoke City v Aston Villa Festive merchandise on sale outside the Britannia Stadium Photograph: Paul Thomas/Getty ImagesThere was also a festive coloured flare set of by the Aston Villa fans inside the groundPhotograph: Michael Regan/Getty ImagesEarly in the second half Charlie Adam gave the Potters the lead when he latched on to a Crouch knockdown before slotting home. Their lead lasted just 16 minutes when Libor Kozak pounced on a poor headed backpass from Erik Pieters to notch Villa's equaliserPhotograph: Michael Regan/Getty ImagesJust four minutes later Peter Crouch, seen here controlling the ball from Matthew Lowton, puts Stoke back in front after keeper Brad Guzan missed a cross, and the ball fell for Crouch to net from close range. The win extends Stoke's unbeaten home league run to six games and moves them up to 10th. Final score: Stoke City 2-1 Aston Villa Photograph: Michael Regan/Getty ImagesSunderland v Norwich City There's not much excitement at the Stadium of LightPhotograph: Ed Sykes/Action ImagesThe scrappy game was full of endeavour but quality was sparse. Late in the game Wes Brown jumped into a challenge with substitute Ricky van Wolfswinkel to earn himself an early bath. The Black Cats find themselves cemented to the bottom of the table five points from safety Final score: Sunderland 0-0 Norwich City Photograph: Ed Sykes/Action ImagesManchester United v West Ham United Hang on a minute, I thought he was a Stoke fanPhotograph: Richard Sellers/EMPICS SportMidway through the first half Danny Welbeck drove the ball home from an angle for his first Old Trafford goal in 14 monthsPhotograph: Jason Cairnduff/Action ImagesTeenager Adnan Januzaj, seen here tormenting a number of West Ham players, bent home his maiden Old Trafford goal ten minutes laterPhotograph: Andrew Yates/AFP/Getty ImagesAshley Young added a third goal before Carlton Cole notched a consolation goal. The win gives David Moyes' side their fourth straight win and quietens the dissenting voices. Final score: Manchester United 3-1 West Ham United Photograph: John Peters/Man Utd via Getty ImagesFulham v Manchester City Not everyone at Craven Cottage was full of the Christmas spiritPhotograph: Clive Rose/Getty ImagesThat Fulham fan would have been even more grumpy at half-time after Yaya Toure bent home a wonderful 20 yard free-kick and Vincent Kompany tapped home from close range after Martin Demichelis's header was parried by Maarten StekelenburgPhotograph: Stephen Pond/PAFulham got back on level terms in the second half when Kieran Richardson finished off a counter-attacking move and then Kompany sliced the ball into his own net. However goals by Jesús Navas, above, and James Milner gave the visitors a deserved win which moves them up to second place. Final score: Fulham 2-4 Manchester City Photograph: John Sibley/Action ImagesWest Bromwich Albion v Hull City Yannick Sagbo comes of worst as he and Billy Jones tussle for the ball Photograph: Matthew Lewis/Getty ImagesHull took the lead just before the half-hour mark courtesy of a smart first-time finish by Jake Livermore. Just four minutes before the final whistle a late equaliser from Matej Vydra, above, rescued a point for the home side. Final score: West Bromwich Albion 1-1 Hull CityPhotograph: Richard Heathcote/Getty Images
