Liverpool 3-1 Newcastle: The New Year's weekend started with Steven Gerrard returning to action and inspiring his side to victory. It was Newcastle who took the lead through Daniel Agger's own goal after 25 minutes but Craig Bellamy equalised four minutes later. Bellamy then made it 2-1 after 67 minutes with Gerrard putting his name on the score sheet from a tight angle to secure the points twelve minutes later.
Manchester United 2-3 Blackburn: New Year's Eve kicked off with the birthday boy, Alex Ferguson, entering his 71st year with a shock defeat to bottom of the league Blackburn. It was a game United were seemingly in control of until Dimitar Berbatov hauled Christopher Samba down in the box after sixteen minutes, Yakubu stepped up and converted the spot kick. It got worse for United, who could have been top of the league at the end of 2011 if they prevented defeat, when Michael Carrick failed to defend properly and Yakubu doubled his tally six minutes into the second half. It took just 23 seconds for United to respond and it was Berbatov who headed past Mark Bunn and then levelled ten minutes later to set up a grandstand finish. From there, the game could have gone either way and it was David De Gea who decided it, the Spaniard came but failed to collect a corner and Grant Hanley took full advantage to give Blackburn a precious three points.
Arsenal 1-0 QPR: Arsenal became the big winners of the New Year's Weekend after overcoming a tough test against QPR. It would be their talisman, Robin Van Persie, who spared Arsenal's blushes on the hour mark. This left the Dutchman one goal short of Alan Shearer's record of goals in a calender year.
Swansea 1-1 Tottenham: Spurs should have won the match but a defensive frailty cost them two points. Rafael Van Der Vaart gave the visitors the lead just before half-time. But poor defending and a mistake from Brad Friedel allowed Scott Sinclair to equalise from two yards six minutes from time.
Chelsea 1-3 Aston Villa: Chelsea received strong boos around the terraces of Stamford Bridge after their latest disappointing result. Richard Dunne conceded a penalty in the 23rd minute which Didier Drogba converted to give Chelsea the lead, Stephen Ireland equalised two minutes later. Chelsea's lack of defending cost them as Villa hit them on the break and Stiliyan Petrov made it 2-1 with seven minutes to go. Darren Bent then secured the points three minutes, another shock to end the year.
Norwich 1-1 Fulham: Norwich secure another hard fought point despite falling behind. Orlando Sa gave Fulham the lead after just seven minutes but Simeon Jackson rescued a point in second half injury time to move up to eleventh.
Bolton 1-1 Wolves: Two teams already facing a relegation fight secured a point apiece at the Reebok. Sam Ricketts put the hosts ahead after 22 minutes before Steven Fletcher equalised four minutes into the second half.
Stoke 2-2 Wigan: Another struggling club found themselves a point in a game full of controversy. Wigan took the lead through Victor Moses just before half-time. Stoke were then awarded a penalty with fourteen minutes to go when Gary Caldwell handled on the line, the defender rightly received a red card and Jon Walters converted the penalty. Cameron Jerome then scored his first goal in 33 games to give Stoke the lead with six minutes later. But Wigan were awarded a lifeline when they were awarded a penalty three minutes later, substitute Ben Watson stepped up to equalise with his first kick of the game.
West Brom 0-1 Everton: The New Year kicked off at The Hawthornes and David Moyes received the best possible start to 2012. The only goal of the game came Victor Anichebe three minutes from time to move up to ninth and still have a game in hand on their closest rivals.
Sunderland 1-0 Manchester City: With United losing on New Year's Eve, City had a great chance to start the New Year by stretching a lead. The visitors did hit the woodwork on two occasions but couldn't break the Sunderland defence down. Then the first shock of the year came in the final moments when Sunderland broke, Ji Dong-Won received the ball in an offside position but the linesman didn't give it. The South Korean played on and round Joe Hart before rolling the ball into the net with the last kick of the game.
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