Man Utd and Man City both started the New Year with convincing wins, while Tottenham went third after coming from behind against Reading.
Manchester clubs on top; Arsenal draw at Southampton
Manchester United and Manchester City both started 2013 with convincing wins, while Tottenham went third after coming from behind against Reading.
It was not such a happy New Year for Arsenal, who could only manage a draw at Southampton.
Beleaguered Aston Villa were pegged to a last-gasp draw at Swansea, while West Ham inflicted another defeat on Norwich and Fulham put an end to their winless run with success at West Brom.
Manchester United started the New Year on a high note as they thumped
Wigan 4-0 at the DW Stadium to maintain their seven-point lead at the top of the table, with Javier Hernandez and Robin van Persie both netting doubles for the leaders.
The Red Devils cracked the hosts' defence in the 35th minute thanks to Hernandez, who pounced in the box to tuck the ball into the net from close range after Patrice Evra saw his low shot parried by Latics goalkeeper Ali Al Habsi.
Double
Van Persie then added his 15th league goal of the season when he collected the ball in the area, turned away from Wigan defender Ivan Ramis and curled a fine right-footed strike into the top right-hand corner.
Hernandez contributed his second of the afternoon just after the hour mark when Van Persie's deflected free-kick fell to him just inside the box and the Mexican blasted home with another tidy finish.
And the Dutchman completed the commanding win in the 88th minute, slipping in United's fourth with ease in front of goal after some dubious defending from the hosts.
Manchester City kept the heat on leaders United with a home victory over
Stoke at the Etihad Stadium, seeing off the Potters 3-0 to end their 10-game unbeaten streak.
The impressive Pablo Zabaleta broke the deadlock for City on the stroke of half-time as he paired up with James Milner, side-footing the midfielder's pull-back past Asmir Begovic from yards out.
Some poor goalkeeping from Begovic then allowed Edin Dzeko to score his third goal in two games as the shot-stopper's weak clearance from Sergio Aguero's shot fell to the Bosnian, who poked the ball into the net with ease.
Aguero went from provider to scorer in the late stages as City were awarded a penalty after David Silva was brought down by Steven N'Zonzi, with the striker rolling home from the spot to evade Begovic's low dive.
Tottenham climbed into third place above Chelsea, who play on Wednesday, as they came from behind to beat struggling
Reading 3-1, leaving the Royals still stranded in the relegation zone.
The visitors took the early advantage at White Hart Lane as Pavel Pogrebynak reacted fastest to nod home Ian Harte's rebounded free-kick just four minutes in after the defender's delivery had struck the crossbar.
But the home side wasted little time getting back on level standings as Michael Dawson headed his first goal at the Lane for four years, meeting Gylfi Sigurdsson's well-taken corner from point-blank range.
Andre Villas-Boas' men then went ahead soon after half-time when Aaron Lennon shrugged off Harte with some good work down the right wing before floating in a pinpoint cross for Emmanuel Adebayor, who directed it just inside the left post with a towering header.
Clint Dempsey wrapped up Spurs' win with his first home league goal for the club, giving goalkeeper Adam Federici little chance as his
