Pardew can now focus on his slick 'Dance' moves after being sacked by Crystal Palace.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/38408138
After a few more games, Pardew should be able to apply for the job at Swansea or Sunderland.
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Chitchat The Official TCSS Thread
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After a few more games, Pardew should be able to apply for the job at Swansea or Sunderland.
Chelsea announce £60 million Oscar transfer to Shanghai SIPG
Oscar will complete his move from Chelsea to Shanghai SIPG in January, the Premier League leaders have announced.
The deal will see Oscar, 25, massively increase his £90,000-a-week wages at Stamford Bridge and become the Blues' record sale at £60 million, according to ESPN FC sources, eclipsing the £50m fee received from Paris Saint-Germain for David Luiz in the summer of 2014.
The fee will be the fourth-largest ever paid to a Premier League club. The current world record is the £85m Real Madrid paid to Tottenham Hotspur for Gareth Bale in 2013, exceeding the £80m Manchester United charged the Spanish giants for Cristiano Ronaldo four years earlier. Liverpool sold Luis Suarez to Barcelona in 2014 for £65m.
Oscar will complete his move from Chelsea to Shanghai SIPG in January, the Premier League leaders have announced.
The deal will see Oscar, 25, massively increase his £90,000-a-week wages at Stamford Bridge and become the Blues' record sale at £60 million, according to ESPN FC sources, eclipsing the £50m fee received from Paris Saint-Germain for David Luiz in the summer of 2014.
The fee will be the fourth-largest ever paid to a Premier League club. The current world record is the £85m Real Madrid paid to Tottenham Hotspur for Gareth Bale in 2013, exceeding the £80m Manchester United charged the Spanish giants for Cristiano Ronaldo four years earlier. Liverpool sold Luis Suarez to Barcelona in 2014 for £65m.
His compatriots like Hulk, Alex Texeira, Renato Augusto and Paulinho are still being called up by Brazil, despite playing in China.
Sam Allardyce appointed new Crystal Palace manager
Sam Allardyce is the new manager at Crystal Palace, the club announced on Friday.
Allardyce, who was sacked as England boss after just 67 days on the job this summer, will replace Alan Pardew at the post. He has signed a two-and-a-half year contract with the London side.
Pardew was sacked by the club on Thursday after managing just one win over the past 11 Premier League games. Palace are currently 17th in the league table.
Allardyce will take charge of the club with immediate effect, and will be on the sidelines for the club's Boxing Day clash with Watford.
"We are delighted to be able to make an appointment so quickly and fortunate that someone of Sam's calibre and experience was available," Palace chairman Steve Parish told the club's website.
Allardyce had told Sky Sports News he was at Crystal Palace to "complete talks" with Parish upon his arrival at the club's training ground on Friday afternoon, with negotiations between Palace and the former West Ham and Sunderland boss' advisors nearing a conclusion.
Sources told ESPN FC on Thursday that Allardyce was the favoured candidate of Parish and the club's American co-owners, Joshua Harris and David Blitzer, to succeed Pardew, and that there was a chance he would be installed before the match against Watford.
Having managed five clubs in the top flight -- Bolton, Newcastle, Blackburn, West Ham and Sunderland -- Allardyce has never been relegated.
The former defender kept Blackburn and Sunderland in the division against the odds after taking charge of both clubs in mid-season at a time when they were languishing in the bottom three.
Sam Allardyce is the new manager at Crystal Palace, the club announced on Friday.
Allardyce, who was sacked as England boss after just 67 days on the job this summer, will replace Alan Pardew at the post. He has signed a two-and-a-half year contract with the London side.
Pardew was sacked by the club on Thursday after managing just one win over the past 11 Premier League games. Palace are currently 17th in the league table.
Allardyce will take charge of the club with immediate effect, and will be on the sidelines for the club's Boxing Day clash with Watford.
"We are delighted to be able to make an appointment so quickly and fortunate that someone of Sam's calibre and experience was available," Palace chairman Steve Parish told the club's website.
Allardyce had told Sky Sports News he was at Crystal Palace to "complete talks" with Parish upon his arrival at the club's training ground on Friday afternoon, with negotiations between Palace and the former West Ham and Sunderland boss' advisors nearing a conclusion.
Sources told ESPN FC on Thursday that Allardyce was the favoured candidate of Parish and the club's American co-owners, Joshua Harris and David Blitzer, to succeed Pardew, and that there was a chance he would be installed before the match against Watford.
Having managed five clubs in the top flight -- Bolton, Newcastle, Blackburn, West Ham and Sunderland -- Allardyce has never been relegated.
The former defender kept Blackburn and Sunderland in the division against the odds after taking charge of both clubs in mid-season at a time when they were languishing in the bottom three.
No big surprise on Allardyce's appointment.
But as I've mentioned previously, the England job is cursed.
Not since Sir Bobby Robson has there been a single decent manager. Taylor, Keegan, Hoddle, Eriksson, McClaren, Capello and Hogdson did their careers no favours after England.
Isn't Woy still looking for work?
But as I've mentioned previously, the England job is cursed.
Not since Sir Bobby Robson has there been a single decent manager. Taylor, Keegan, Hoddle, Eriksson, McClaren, Capello and Hogdson did their careers no favours after England.
Isn't Woy still looking for work?
In my humble opinion, what is much more important is the quality of the team's players, combined with the relatively lower quality of the team's opponents at any point in time, that enables the team to win games.
I dare say, most managers are decent enough, but very few are lucky enough to get the chance to manage a team of high-quality players.
Prickhead...you know nothing about football, so don't try to sucker people by your acquired googled knowledge and showing off your pea size brain intelligence. Get a Job!In my humble opinion, what is much more important is the quality of the team's players, combined with the relatively lower quality of the team's opponents at any point in time, that enables the team to win games.
I dare say, most managers are decent enough, but very few are lucky enough to get the chance to manage a team of high-quality players.
In the English Championship, struggling QPR take on second placed Brighton.
Come On You RRRRRRRRrrrrrrrrrrrssssssssss!!!
The appointment of Ian Holloway has made little difference to the team's performance.
We'll be lucky not to get relegated to the third tier of English soccer. What happened to the glory days of the Premier League?
We've sold off all our good players - we couldn't hold on to Charlie Austin who frankly deserved better than playing for a mediocre Championship side.
Won't be surprised if Fernandes sells off his ownership and focussed just on his Air Asia travel and leisure business.
He clearly has no idea about F1 or English soccer.
QPR should not have sold their best player Matt Philips to West Brom. :(
Crystal Palace has made their best signing of the season in Big Sam Allardyce. apparently, he is an expert in avoiding relegation. they should be safe now.
match of the day. Man Utd vs Sunderland. David Moyes' emotional return to Old Trafford. how will the crowd react ? :o
match of the day. Man Utd vs Sunderland. David Moyes' emotional return to Old Trafford. how will the crowd react ? :o
Crystal Palace has made their best signing of the season in Big Sam Allardyce. apparently, he is an expert in avoiding relegation. they should be safe now.
match of the day. Man Utd vs Sunderland. David Moyes' emotional return to Old Trafford. how will the crowd react ? :o
Apparently Big Sam is due a 4 million pound bonus if he keeps Palace up.
Apparently Big Sam is due a 4 million pound bonus if he keeps Palace up.
HT: Watford 0 -1 Crystal Palace
Should have been 0-2 had Benteke had not missed a poorly taken penalty.
Big Sam should keep them up I think.
On the Man Utd Sunderland game later, Mourinho will put another nail in Moyes managerial career at Sunderland.
Final Score: Watford 1 Crystal Palace 1
Sam Allardyce was denied victory in his first match as Crystal Palace manager after Troy Deeney's penalty earned Watford a 1-1 draw.
The former England manager succeeded in coaxing an improved performance from some of the players whose poor form had contributed to predecessor Alan Pardew being sacked, and they were on course to win as he resumed his Premier League career at the same ground he oversaw his last match with Sunderland.
Yohan Cabaye's first-half finish had given Palace the lead as they pursued only a fifth league win of the season, but the penalty that ended substitute Troy Deeney's long wait for his 100th Watford goal delivered a reminder to Allardyce of the relegation battle which lies ahead. It could all have been very different if Christian Benteke had converted a first-half penalty chance, but his weak effort was comfortably saved by Hornets goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes.
One of the unavoidable conclusions at the time of Pardew's departure was that, despite a strong team and significant money spent on the £13million Andros Townsend among others, individuals like the England international were continuing to under-perform.
Townsend had requested to play on the right wing earlier in the season, but after Pardew chose to retain Wilfried Zaha there he struggled on the left before being dropped.
Rebuilding his form and confidence appeared an obvious way of instantly improving Palace's fortunes, so it was perhaps little surprise he was recalled to start on the right, with Zaha on the left.
There was also only a second start for another of Pardew's summer signings, Mathieu Flamini, and a vastly-improved performance from the £10million Cabaye, another too often below his best.
It was Cabaye who provided Palace's first true goal threat, in the 25th minute with a shot just wide of the left post after Benteke's poor control conceded possession, and only a minute later the Frenchman had given the Eagles the lead.
Townsend had done well to win the ball on the right wing before turning brilliantly and playing Cabaye through on goal, where with time and space he casually finished into the bottom left corner beyond the onrushing Gomes.
Cabaye had again shot just wide of the left post when, in the 37th minute, a poor back pass from Sebastian Prodl gifted the ball to Benteke, who was then brought down in the area by the exposed Gomes.
Watford had posed so little of an attacking threat that a second goal looked likely to prove decisive, but Benteke - completely lacking in any conviction - casually stroked the ball to the right and close to Gomes, giving the goalkeeper an easy save.
Palace needlessly allowed their hosts to pull level when, from a routine 70th-minute corner, Damien Delaney clumsily brought down Prodl to leave referee Mark Clattenburg with little choice but to award the game's second penalty.
Substitute Deeney, who had gone his past 10 games without a goal and who unexpectedly had been left out of Walter Mazzarri's starting XI, then powerfully struck straight down the middle and beyond Wayne Hennessey who had dived to his left.
An increasingly scrappy second half ensured neither team could find a winning goal, leaving Palace with a record of one win in 11, and Watford with two in eight.
Sam Allardyce was denied victory in his first match as Crystal Palace manager after Troy Deeney's penalty earned Watford a 1-1 draw.
The former England manager succeeded in coaxing an improved performance from some of the players whose poor form had contributed to predecessor Alan Pardew being sacked, and they were on course to win as he resumed his Premier League career at the same ground he oversaw his last match with Sunderland.
Yohan Cabaye's first-half finish had given Palace the lead as they pursued only a fifth league win of the season, but the penalty that ended substitute Troy Deeney's long wait for his 100th Watford goal delivered a reminder to Allardyce of the relegation battle which lies ahead. It could all have been very different if Christian Benteke had converted a first-half penalty chance, but his weak effort was comfortably saved by Hornets goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes.
One of the unavoidable conclusions at the time of Pardew's departure was that, despite a strong team and significant money spent on the £13million Andros Townsend among others, individuals like the England international were continuing to under-perform.
Townsend had requested to play on the right wing earlier in the season, but after Pardew chose to retain Wilfried Zaha there he struggled on the left before being dropped.
Rebuilding his form and confidence appeared an obvious way of instantly improving Palace's fortunes, so it was perhaps little surprise he was recalled to start on the right, with Zaha on the left.
There was also only a second start for another of Pardew's summer signings, Mathieu Flamini, and a vastly-improved performance from the £10million Cabaye, another too often below his best.
It was Cabaye who provided Palace's first true goal threat, in the 25th minute with a shot just wide of the left post after Benteke's poor control conceded possession, and only a minute later the Frenchman had given the Eagles the lead.
Townsend had done well to win the ball on the right wing before turning brilliantly and playing Cabaye through on goal, where with time and space he casually finished into the bottom left corner beyond the onrushing Gomes.
Cabaye had again shot just wide of the left post when, in the 37th minute, a poor back pass from Sebastian Prodl gifted the ball to Benteke, who was then brought down in the area by the exposed Gomes.
Watford had posed so little of an attacking threat that a second goal looked likely to prove decisive, but Benteke - completely lacking in any conviction - casually stroked the ball to the right and close to Gomes, giving the goalkeeper an easy save.
Palace needlessly allowed their hosts to pull level when, from a routine 70th-minute corner, Damien Delaney clumsily brought down Prodl to leave referee Mark Clattenburg with little choice but to award the game's second penalty.
Substitute Deeney, who had gone his past 10 games without a goal and who unexpectedly had been left out of Walter Mazzarri's starting XI, then powerfully struck straight down the middle and beyond Wayne Hennessey who had dived to his left.
An increasingly scrappy second half ensured neither team could find a winning goal, leaving Palace with a record of one win in 11, and Watford with two in eight.
Chelsea beat Bournemouth to set club record for Premier League wins
Chelsea set a new club record of 12 straight Premier League wins and extended their lead at the top of the table with a 3-0 victory over Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge on Monday.
Two goals from Pedro Rodriguez and and another Eden Hazard sealed the points as the Blues showed no signs of missing top scorer Diego Costa, who missed the match through suspension along with midfielder N'Golo Kante.
Pedro opened the scoring midway through the first half before Hazard scored his 50th Premier League goal for Chelsea from the penalty spot shortly after half-time. Pedro then added another goal in injury time, via a heavy deflection, to put the gloss on the victory.
The win moves Antonio Conte's side nine points clear of second-placed Liverpool, who play Stoke City at Anfield on Tuesday, while Manchester City can go within seven points of the leaders with a win at Hull City later on Boxing Day.
Chelsea are now two wins short of matching the longest winning streak in Premier League history, set by Arsenal across the 2001-02 and 2002-03 seasons.
The Blues host Stoke on New Year's Eve and then travel to London rivals Tottenham Hotspur four days later for what could be their chance to equal Arsenal's win record. If they succeed, they will travel to defending champions Leicester City on Jan. 14 looking set a new mark of 15 straight league wins.
Bournemouth won this fixture 12 months ago in the final weeks of Jose Mourinho's second spell, when even the Stamford Bridge faithful turned on Hazard. The Belgium playmaker, Chelsea's star in the 2014-15 title-winning season, has regained the affection of the home support.
Elusive out of possession and equally evasive on the ball, Hazard showed why Conte had opted against a straight swap for Costa, which left Michy Batshuayi still waiting for a first league start.
Costa will come back in against Stoke, especially as Pedro received a fifth yellow card of the season to prompt a suspension. But Hazard showed Chelsea can cope without the striker.
After taking time to find their shape, Hazard set to work and found Cesc Fabregas, in for Kante. Fabregas in turn fed Pedro, who curled in left footed from the edge of the area.
The former Barcelona winger, in for Costa, was the able deputy once more. It was Pedro who filled the void created by Willian's compassionate leave earlier in the season, scoring in wins over Manchester United, Everton and Tottenham.
Jack Wilshere was a lively presence for the visitors and took on Gary Cahill in the Chelsea box before forcing Thibaut Courtois into a smart save. The on-loan Arsenal midfielder next had a volley blocked and Adam Smith then ran into Nemanja Matic, seeing a forlorn penalty appeal dismissed.
Hazard's confidence level, meanwhile, was demonstrated by a Rabona shot which Artur Boruc tipped over. Whether Hazard knew Fabregas had already conceded a foul before the audacious attempt was unclear.
Chelsea's second came four minutes into the second half when Simon Francis, who had struggled to get near Hazard in the previous 49 minutes, stuck out a leg and tripped the playmaker in the Bournemouth box. Hazard sent Boruc the wrong way to bring up his half-century of league goals in England.
Next Hazard shot wide across goal with Pedro lurking, Willian forced Boruc to save smartly and Victor Moses shot wide. Hazard was enjoying himself so much he even flicked the ball over a prone Fabregas at one point.
Pedro shot wide and Hazard fired against Dan Gosling, but it was not all one way as Courtois saved from substitute Benik Afobe.
Conte called for Courtois to kick the ball out so he could take off Hazard -- to give him a rousing reception -- and send on Batshuayi. But he had to wait as Courtois failed to find touch and Pedro netted a deflected goal on the break. Only the restart remained, but Conte got his wish and Hazard the reception he deserved.
Chelsea set a new club record of 12 straight Premier League wins and extended their lead at the top of the table with a 3-0 victory over Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge on Monday.
Two goals from Pedro Rodriguez and and another Eden Hazard sealed the points as the Blues showed no signs of missing top scorer Diego Costa, who missed the match through suspension along with midfielder N'Golo Kante.
Pedro opened the scoring midway through the first half before Hazard scored his 50th Premier League goal for Chelsea from the penalty spot shortly after half-time. Pedro then added another goal in injury time, via a heavy deflection, to put the gloss on the victory.
The win moves Antonio Conte's side nine points clear of second-placed Liverpool, who play Stoke City at Anfield on Tuesday, while Manchester City can go within seven points of the leaders with a win at Hull City later on Boxing Day.
Chelsea are now two wins short of matching the longest winning streak in Premier League history, set by Arsenal across the 2001-02 and 2002-03 seasons.
The Blues host Stoke on New Year's Eve and then travel to London rivals Tottenham Hotspur four days later for what could be their chance to equal Arsenal's win record. If they succeed, they will travel to defending champions Leicester City on Jan. 14 looking set a new mark of 15 straight league wins.
Bournemouth won this fixture 12 months ago in the final weeks of Jose Mourinho's second spell, when even the Stamford Bridge faithful turned on Hazard. The Belgium playmaker, Chelsea's star in the 2014-15 title-winning season, has regained the affection of the home support.
Elusive out of possession and equally evasive on the ball, Hazard showed why Conte had opted against a straight swap for Costa, which left Michy Batshuayi still waiting for a first league start.
Costa will come back in against Stoke, especially as Pedro received a fifth yellow card of the season to prompt a suspension. But Hazard showed Chelsea can cope without the striker.
After taking time to find their shape, Hazard set to work and found Cesc Fabregas, in for Kante. Fabregas in turn fed Pedro, who curled in left footed from the edge of the area.
The former Barcelona winger, in for Costa, was the able deputy once more. It was Pedro who filled the void created by Willian's compassionate leave earlier in the season, scoring in wins over Manchester United, Everton and Tottenham.
Jack Wilshere was a lively presence for the visitors and took on Gary Cahill in the Chelsea box before forcing Thibaut Courtois into a smart save. The on-loan Arsenal midfielder next had a volley blocked and Adam Smith then ran into Nemanja Matic, seeing a forlorn penalty appeal dismissed.
Hazard's confidence level, meanwhile, was demonstrated by a Rabona shot which Artur Boruc tipped over. Whether Hazard knew Fabregas had already conceded a foul before the audacious attempt was unclear.
Chelsea's second came four minutes into the second half when Simon Francis, who had struggled to get near Hazard in the previous 49 minutes, stuck out a leg and tripped the playmaker in the Bournemouth box. Hazard sent Boruc the wrong way to bring up his half-century of league goals in England.
Next Hazard shot wide across goal with Pedro lurking, Willian forced Boruc to save smartly and Victor Moses shot wide. Hazard was enjoying himself so much he even flicked the ball over a prone Fabregas at one point.
Pedro shot wide and Hazard fired against Dan Gosling, but it was not all one way as Courtois saved from substitute Benik Afobe.
Conte called for Courtois to kick the ball out so he could take off Hazard -- to give him a rousing reception -- and send on Batshuayi. But he had to wait as Courtois failed to find touch and Pedro netted a deflected goal on the break. Only the restart remained, but Conte got his wish and Hazard the reception he deserved.
Chelsea, Man United, Arsenal and City win; Swansea thrashed
Chelsea, without Diego Costa and N'Golo Kante because of suspension, won a 12th consecutive Premier League game as they beat Bournemouth 3-0 at Stamford Bridge.
Antonio Conte's side, who lined up without a traditional striker, took the lead when Pedro curled a left-footed shot into the top corner in the 24th minute.
And Eden Hazard scored his 50th Premier League to double their advantage from the penalty spot in the 49th minute after the Belgian was fouled by Bournemouth's Simon Francis.
Pedro added a third to seal the points with a deflected effort that left Bournemouth goalkeeper Artur Boruc wrongfooted.
Late goals from Yaya Toure and Kelechi Iheanacho gave Manchester City a 3-0 win against Hull City and moved them into second place.
Toure scored on his third successive Boxing Day when he put Pep Guardiola's team ahead from the penalty spot in the 72nd minute, after Raheem Sterling had been fouled by Andy Robertson.
And good work from Kevin De Bruyne and David Silva allowed substitute Iheanacho to add a second six minutes later, before Curtis Davies turned in Sterling's cross in added time for the third.
John Stones had been recalled to the City XI for the game but departed after only 11 minutes due to injury.
Daley Blind, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Henrikh Mkhitaryan all scored as Manchester United beat Sunderland 3-1 on David Moyes' first return to Old Trafford.
The breakthrough came six minutes before half-time as Ibrahimovic controlled the ball in the corner of the box and laid off for the on-rushing Blind to fire a low shot into the net.
The points looked to have been sealed with eight minutes to play when Paul Pogba picked off a Papy Djilobodji pass and played through Ibrahimovic, who picked his spot to score his 50th goal for club and country in 2016.
Four minutes later, Ibrahimovic sent in a cross behind substitute Mkhitaryan, who might have been offside but still managed to flick the ball into the net with a spectacular back-heeled volley.
Sunderland scored a late consolation when Fabio Borini sent in a fine strike of his own from distance in added time.
Olivier Giroud marked his first Premier League start of the season by heading home a late winner as Arsenal eked out a 1-0 victory over a resolute West Bromwich Albion at Emirates Stadium.
In an effort to recover from back-to-back defeats against Everton and Manchester City, Arsene Wenger named an attacking lineup that included Giroud, Mesut Ozil, Alexis Sanchez and Alex Iwobi.
But it looked for 86 minutes as though Tony Pulis' gameplan would work to perfection as the visitors limited the Gunners to only a handful of chances, with Ben Foster on top form in the Baggies' goal.
But it would be Giroud, largely a bit-part player for Arsene Wenger this season, who headed home Ozil's cross to secure a much-needed Boxing Day triumph for the hosts following back-to-back defeats against Everton and Manchester City.
Kevin Mirallas and Romelu Lukaku struck to sink Leicester City and hand Everton their first away win since September.
The pair scored breakaway second-half goals to send the Toffees seventh in the Premier League following a 2-0 victory at the King Power Stadium, which increases the champions' relegation worries.
It was only Everton's third triumph from their last 13 Premier League games but Ronald Koeman's side ground out all three points in a low-quality game.
The last time Leicester hosted the Toffees, in May, they lifted the Premier League trophy afterwards, but this time they are three points above the relegation zone.
West Ham United turned up the heat on Swansea City manager Bob Bradley with a 4-1 win at the Liberty Stadium.
Andre Ayew -- with his first Hammers goal following his move from Swansea in August -- Winston Reid, Michail Antonio and Andy Carroll helped the Londoners claim a third successive win for the first time since March.
Fernando Llorente, on as a substitute, claimed a Swansea consolation two minutes from time with his fifth goal in six games, but even then Carroll had the final word.
The victory takes West Ham towards midtable but leaves Swansea second-bottom and four points from safety.
Sam Allardyce was denied victory in his first match as Crystal Palace manager after Troy Deeney's penalty earned Watford a 1-1 draw.
The former England manager succeeded in coaxing an improved performance from some of the players whose poor form had contributed to predecessor Alan Pardew being sacked, and they were on course to win as he resumed his Premier League career at the same ground he oversaw his last match with Sunderland.
Yohan Cabaye's first-half finish had given Palace the lead as they pursued only a fifth league win of the season, but the penalty that ended substitute Troy Deeney's long wait for his 100th Watford goal delivered a reminder to Allardyce of the relegation battle which lies ahead.
It could all have been very different if Christian Benteke had converted a first-half penalty chance, but his weak effort was comfortably saved by Hornets goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes.
Andre Gray volleyed in his second Premier League goal 10 minutes from time to earn Burnley a 1-0 win over Middlesbrough at Turf Moor.
The former non-league forward had not scored since netting against Liverpool in August, after which historical anti-gay posts on social media came to light that saw the Football Association hand him a four-game ban.
Last year's Championship Player of the Year has not been a regular since returning, but he provided the key contribution in a dull affair here with a late strike that earned the Clarets a sixth home win of the season.
It had been four years since Burnley had scored in a Boxing Day encounter and their 3-0 loss to Hull 12 months ago was their final defeat before a 23-match unbeaten streak guided them to the Championship title.
Chelsea, without Diego Costa and N'Golo Kante because of suspension, won a 12th consecutive Premier League game as they beat Bournemouth 3-0 at Stamford Bridge.
Antonio Conte's side, who lined up without a traditional striker, took the lead when Pedro curled a left-footed shot into the top corner in the 24th minute.
And Eden Hazard scored his 50th Premier League to double their advantage from the penalty spot in the 49th minute after the Belgian was fouled by Bournemouth's Simon Francis.
Pedro added a third to seal the points with a deflected effort that left Bournemouth goalkeeper Artur Boruc wrongfooted.
Late goals from Yaya Toure and Kelechi Iheanacho gave Manchester City a 3-0 win against Hull City and moved them into second place.
Toure scored on his third successive Boxing Day when he put Pep Guardiola's team ahead from the penalty spot in the 72nd minute, after Raheem Sterling had been fouled by Andy Robertson.
And good work from Kevin De Bruyne and David Silva allowed substitute Iheanacho to add a second six minutes later, before Curtis Davies turned in Sterling's cross in added time for the third.
John Stones had been recalled to the City XI for the game but departed after only 11 minutes due to injury.
Daley Blind, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Henrikh Mkhitaryan all scored as Manchester United beat Sunderland 3-1 on David Moyes' first return to Old Trafford.
The breakthrough came six minutes before half-time as Ibrahimovic controlled the ball in the corner of the box and laid off for the on-rushing Blind to fire a low shot into the net.
The points looked to have been sealed with eight minutes to play when Paul Pogba picked off a Papy Djilobodji pass and played through Ibrahimovic, who picked his spot to score his 50th goal for club and country in 2016.
Four minutes later, Ibrahimovic sent in a cross behind substitute Mkhitaryan, who might have been offside but still managed to flick the ball into the net with a spectacular back-heeled volley.
Sunderland scored a late consolation when Fabio Borini sent in a fine strike of his own from distance in added time.
Olivier Giroud marked his first Premier League start of the season by heading home a late winner as Arsenal eked out a 1-0 victory over a resolute West Bromwich Albion at Emirates Stadium.
In an effort to recover from back-to-back defeats against Everton and Manchester City, Arsene Wenger named an attacking lineup that included Giroud, Mesut Ozil, Alexis Sanchez and Alex Iwobi.
But it looked for 86 minutes as though Tony Pulis' gameplan would work to perfection as the visitors limited the Gunners to only a handful of chances, with Ben Foster on top form in the Baggies' goal.
But it would be Giroud, largely a bit-part player for Arsene Wenger this season, who headed home Ozil's cross to secure a much-needed Boxing Day triumph for the hosts following back-to-back defeats against Everton and Manchester City.
Kevin Mirallas and Romelu Lukaku struck to sink Leicester City and hand Everton their first away win since September.
The pair scored breakaway second-half goals to send the Toffees seventh in the Premier League following a 2-0 victory at the King Power Stadium, which increases the champions' relegation worries.
It was only Everton's third triumph from their last 13 Premier League games but Ronald Koeman's side ground out all three points in a low-quality game.
The last time Leicester hosted the Toffees, in May, they lifted the Premier League trophy afterwards, but this time they are three points above the relegation zone.
West Ham United turned up the heat on Swansea City manager Bob Bradley with a 4-1 win at the Liberty Stadium.
Andre Ayew -- with his first Hammers goal following his move from Swansea in August -- Winston Reid, Michail Antonio and Andy Carroll helped the Londoners claim a third successive win for the first time since March.
Fernando Llorente, on as a substitute, claimed a Swansea consolation two minutes from time with his fifth goal in six games, but even then Carroll had the final word.
The victory takes West Ham towards midtable but leaves Swansea second-bottom and four points from safety.
Sam Allardyce was denied victory in his first match as Crystal Palace manager after Troy Deeney's penalty earned Watford a 1-1 draw.
The former England manager succeeded in coaxing an improved performance from some of the players whose poor form had contributed to predecessor Alan Pardew being sacked, and they were on course to win as he resumed his Premier League career at the same ground he oversaw his last match with Sunderland.
Yohan Cabaye's first-half finish had given Palace the lead as they pursued only a fifth league win of the season, but the penalty that ended substitute Troy Deeney's long wait for his 100th Watford goal delivered a reminder to Allardyce of the relegation battle which lies ahead.
It could all have been very different if Christian Benteke had converted a first-half penalty chance, but his weak effort was comfortably saved by Hornets goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes.
Andre Gray volleyed in his second Premier League goal 10 minutes from time to earn Burnley a 1-0 win over Middlesbrough at Turf Moor.
The former non-league forward had not scored since netting against Liverpool in August, after which historical anti-gay posts on social media came to light that saw the Football Association hand him a four-game ban.
Last year's Championship Player of the Year has not been a regular since returning, but he provided the key contribution in a dull affair here with a late strike that earned the Clarets a sixth home win of the season.
It had been four years since Burnley had scored in a Boxing Day encounter and their 3-0 loss to Hull 12 months ago was their final defeat before a 23-match unbeaten streak guided them to the Championship title.
Bob Bradley or David Moyes will be the next manager fired from their clubs.
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