On a day where many people were revelling in the New Year celebrations, the Premier League started 2015 with a full programme and one which saw defences disappear at most grounds on a high-scoring afternoon.
The early kick-off saw Stoke and Manchester United share the points in a 1-1 draw that has the feel of game too soon for some players after the packed schedule.
Stoke made the perfect start with a strike from Ryan Shawcross inside two minutes stunning the visitors but United soon drew level with a 26th minute equaliser from Falcao whose goal was enough to claim a point.
Aston Villa and Crystal Palace started the year as they ended the previous one by taking part in a 0-0 draw which will please neither side given their lower league positions. Everton's poor form from 2014 continued as they slipped to a 2-0 defeat away to Hull who sit just outside the bottom three.
Ahmed Elmohamady gave the home side the lead in the 33rd minute before former Toffees striker Nikica Jelavic added a second in the 43rd minute before a miserable afternoon for the visitors was made worse by the 86th minute dismissal of Antolin Alcaraz.
Liverpool started the year by letting a 2-0 lead slip at home to bottom side Leicester who battled back to secure a point. The Reds opened the scoring in the 17th minute with a controversially awarded penalty from Steven Gerrard before the Liverpool captain added a second spot kick in the 40th minute. Leicester came back superbly with a volley from David Nugent in the 58th minute rapidly followed by an equaliser from Jeff Schlupp on the hour mark.
After blowing a lead in their previous game, Manchester City repeated their defensive frailties before claiming a 3-2 victory at home to Sunderland. Yaya Toure put the home side in front in the 5th minute before Stevan Jovetic added a second in the 66th minute before Sunderland reduced the deficit just row minute later with Jack Rodwell striking against his former club. Adam Johnson converted a spot kick in the 71st minute to make it 2-2 before Frank Lampard sealed the win for the hosts just two minutes later.
Newcastle and Burnley shared the points in a six goal thriller that ended 3-3 with the Magpies taking the lead inside 15 minutes through Steven Taylor before an unfortunate own goal from Paul Dummett just three minutes later brought Burnley. Jack Colback regained the lead for the home side in the 26th minute before Danny Ings equalised for the Clarets in the 66th minute. Moussa Sissoko put the Magpies in front for a third time in the 78th minute but the win wasn't to be for them as George Boys secured a point for the visitors in the 86th minute.
QPR will be cursing their luck after blowing a 1-0 lead late on to allow Swansea to secure a point in a 1-1 draw.
Leroy Fer put the home side in front in the 20th minute, a lead that lasted well into the game and Swansea's hopes of levelling suffered a blow with the dismissal of Wayne Routledge in the 86th minute but the 10-men did draw level with a last-gasp strike from Wilfried Bony.
Southampton improved their top-four hopes with a superb 2-0 win over a poor Arsenal side who fell behind to a 34th minute strike from in-form Sadio Mane.
The Saints extended their lead to two with a 56th minute strike from Dusan Tadic whose goal ensured all three points and put his side into fourth place.
West Ham and West Brom shared the points in a 1-1 draw that saw new Baggies manager Tony Pulis make an unbeaten start after his side came from behind after Diafra Sakho had given the Hammers a 10th minute lead. The Baggies secured a point with a goal in the 41nd minute from Saido Berahino which could be his last with a move rumoured in the transfer window.
The late kick-off brought the day to an end superbly as Tottenham and Chelsea shared eight goals in a thriller that saw the league leaders well beaten by their London rivals. Diego Costa put the visitors in front in the 18th minute before Harry Kane levelled on the half hour mark. Danny Rose and Andros Townsend's spot kick in the space of two minutes put Spurs 3-1 up at the interval before Harry Kane's second put them 4-1 in front. Eden Hazard pulled one back in the 61st minute but Nacer Chadli made it 5-3 to the hosts in the 78th minute with John Terry's 87th minute strike sheer consolation for the visitors.
The early kick-off saw Stoke and Manchester United share the points in a 1-1 draw that has the feel of game too soon for some players after the packed schedule.
Stoke made the perfect start with a strike from Ryan Shawcross inside two minutes stunning the visitors but United soon drew level with a 26th minute equaliser from Falcao whose goal was enough to claim a point.
Aston Villa and Crystal Palace started the year as they ended the previous one by taking part in a 0-0 draw which will please neither side given their lower league positions. Everton's poor form from 2014 continued as they slipped to a 2-0 defeat away to Hull who sit just outside the bottom three.Ahmed Elmohamady gave the home side the lead in the 33rd minute before former Toffees striker Nikica Jelavic added a second in the 43rd minute before a miserable afternoon for the visitors was made worse by the 86th minute dismissal of Antolin Alcaraz.
After blowing a lead in their previous game, Manchester City repeated their defensive frailties before claiming a 3-2 victory at home to Sunderland. Yaya Toure put the home side in front in the 5th minute before Stevan Jovetic added a second in the 66th minute before Sunderland reduced the deficit just row minute later with Jack Rodwell striking against his former club. Adam Johnson converted a spot kick in the 71st minute to make it 2-2 before Frank Lampard sealed the win for the hosts just two minutes later. Newcastle and Burnley shared the points in a six goal thriller that ended 3-3 with the Magpies taking the lead inside 15 minutes through Steven Taylor before an unfortunate own goal from Paul Dummett just three minutes later brought Burnley. Jack Colback regained the lead for the home side in the 26th minute before Danny Ings equalised for the Clarets in the 66th minute. Moussa Sissoko put the Magpies in front for a third time in the 78th minute but the win wasn't to be for them as George Boys secured a point for the visitors in the 86th minute. Leroy Fer put the home side in front in the 20th minute, a lead that lasted well into the game and Swansea's hopes of levelling suffered a blow with the dismissal of Wayne Routledge in the 86th minute but the 10-men did draw level with a last-gasp strike from Wilfried Bony.
Southampton improved their top-four hopes with a superb 2-0 win over a poor Arsenal side who fell behind to a 34th minute strike from in-form Sadio Mane.The Saints extended their lead to two with a 56th minute strike from Dusan Tadic whose goal ensured all three points and put his side into fourth place.
West Ham and West Brom shared the points in a 1-1 draw that saw new Baggies manager Tony Pulis make an unbeaten start after his side came from behind after Diafra Sakho had given the Hammers a 10th minute lead. The Baggies secured a point with a goal in the 41nd minute from Saido Berahino which could be his last with a move rumoured in the transfer window.
The late kick-off brought the day to an end superbly as Tottenham and Chelsea shared eight goals in a thriller that saw the league leaders well beaten by their London rivals. Diego Costa put the visitors in front in the 18th minute before Harry Kane levelled on the half hour mark. Danny Rose and Andros Townsend's spot kick in the space of two minutes put Spurs 3-1 up at the interval before Harry Kane's second put them 4-1 in front. Eden Hazard pulled one back in the 61st minute but Nacer Chadli made it 5-3 to the hosts in the 78th minute with John Terry's 87th minute strike sheer consolation for the visitors. 
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