Manchester United showed plenty of resolve but wasted a glut of chances in a goalless draw with Chelsea, while Arsenal went top of the Barclays Premier League on Monday.
United boss Louis van Gaal has come under increasing pressure in the last month following four consecutive defeats and a series of tepid performances, but the Red Devils showed glimpses of their best against the Blues at Old Trafford.
Juan Mata and Anthony Martial were both denied by the woodwork in a pulsating opening half, although at the other end Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea produced a fine save to keep out a John Terry header.
Thibaut Courtois produced an outstanding reaction save from Ander Herrera's point-blank toe poke after the break, while Chelsea midfielder Nemanja Matic wasted a glorious opportunity when he blazed high over the crossbar when clean through.
Barclays Prem
Norwich 2 - 0 A Villa
Everton 3 - 4 Stoke
C Palace 0 - 0 Swansea
Watford 1 - 2 Tottenham
W Brom 1 - 0 Newcastle
West Ham 2 - 1 So'ton
Man Utd 0 - 0 Chelsea
Arsenal 2 - 0 B'mouth
Wayne Rooney miscued a volley from six yards but the United captain was perhaps fortunate to receive only a yellow card after a studs-up challenge on Oscar late on as the game petered out into a draw - a result that keeps the Red Devils sixth.
Arsenal moved above Leicester for at least 24 hours after Mesut Ozil inspired the Gunners to a 2-0 victory over Bournemouth.
The German's corner was headed home by centre-back Gabriel in the 27th minute while Ozil himself finished a fine move just after the hour mark to help Arsene Wenger's side bounce back from their 4-0 mauling at Southampton on Boxing Day.
They are now a point clear of the Foxes, who could reclaim top spot for the start of 2016 if they beat title rivals Manchester City at the King Power Stadium on Tuesday night.
Marko Arnautovic's late penalty snatched a dramatic 4-3 victory for Stoke at Everton in a match featuring a goal-of-the-season contender from his team-mate Xherdan Shaqiri.
The Swiss opened the scoring in a cracking Barclays Premier League game at Goodison Park by finishing off a smart move involving Bojan Krkic and Arnautovic but Romelu Lukaku levelled from James McCarthy's pass.
Shaqiri then scored a peach to restore Stoke's lead on the stroke of half-time with a sublime chip over Tim Howard but again Lukaku struck after converting a wonderful pass from Tom Cleverley for his 11th goal in 10 games.
Gerard Deulofeu's goal pushed Everton in front but Stoke recovered superbly as Howard could only palm a cross into the path of Joselu to score, and Arnautovic snatched the three points with a penalty after he had been fouled in the box by John Stones.
Tottenham underlined their top-four credentials with a 2-1 win at Watford which took them up to third.
Watford, who had won four in a row prior to their draw at Chelsea on Boxing Day, fell behind when Craig Cathcart lost possession in a dangerous position and Erik Lamela swept the ball home in the 17th minute, but Odion Ighalo drew Watford level after holding off Eric Dier to score in a sixth consecutive match.
The Hornets were reduced to 10 men in the 63rd minute as Nathan Ake was dismissed for a high challenge on Lamela and the extra man told as Son Heung-min turned home Kieran Trippier's cross in the 89th minute.
Norwich earned a crucial win in the battle to avoid relegation, moving 12 points clear of bottom side Aston Villa with a 2-0 win at Carrow Road.
Jonny Howson's left-foot volley gave the Canaries the lead in the 24th minute and Dieumerci Mbokani made sure by heading in Wes Hoolahan's cross with three minutes to go.
Andy Carroll came off the bench to score the winner as West Ham hit back from a goal down to claim a 2-1 win at Southampton, who had gone ahead through Carl Jenkinson's own goal only to be pegged back by second-half headers from Michail Antonio and Carroll.
The match between Crystal Palace and Swansea at Selhurst Park finished goalless, with Swans goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski's save denying Brede Hangeland early in the second half.
The result means the Eagles are now unbeaten in six.
Barclays Prem
1 Arsenal 39
2 Leicester 38
3 Tottenham 35
4 Man City 35
5 C Palace 31
6 Man Utd 30
7 West Ham 29
8 Watford 29
9 Stoke 29
10 Liverpool 27
11 Everton 26
12 So'ton 24
13 W Brom 23
14 Chelsea 20
15 Norwich 20
16 B'mouth 20
17 Swansea 19
18 Newcastle 17
19 S'land 12
20 A Villa 8