England captain Wayne Rooney was back on the mark for the first time in 2016 as he scored Manchester United's winner against Swansea City on Saturday.
It looked as though Louis van Gaal's side would have to settle for a point at Old Trafford after Anthony Martial's opening goal was cancelled out by Gylfi Sigurdsson with 20 minutes remaining.
Rooney's goal ensured a winning start to 2016 for United
But Rooney responded in perfect fashion seven minutes later, by brilliantly flicking home Martial's cross to secure three points and a winning start to the new year for the Reds.
It was also a memorable day for another England man as West Ham United striker Andy Carroll scored against his former club Liverpool in a 2-0 win at the Boleyn Ground, with a classic far-post header from former Under-21s captain Mark Noble's cross.
Andy Carroll heads home West Ham United's winner against his former club Liverpool in Saturday's first game
Across the capital, Arsenal continued their challenge at the top of the Premier League with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Newcastle United at the Emirates Stadium.
England wingers Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Theo Walcott both started for Arsene Wenger's men, before Kieran Gibbs and U21s defender Calum Chambers came on as a late substitutes to help the Gunners to victory thanks to Lauren Koscielny's winner.
U21s pair Nathan Redmond and James Ward-Prowse were in action from the start on opposite sides at Carrow Road, where Norwich City hosted Southampton, who also boasted Ryan Bertrand among their line-up.
But it was Redmond who was left celebrating as the Canaries took all three points thanks to a second-half goal from Alex Tettey.
Adam Armstrong scored his first senior hat-trick against Crewe Alexandra
Elsewhere, England Under-19s striker Adam Armstrong further cemented his place at the top of the goalscoring chart in League One after netting a hat-trick for Coventry City in their 5-0 win at Crewe Alexandra.
It was Armstrong's first ever senior treble in what is proving to be a profitable loan spell at the Ricoh Arena from Newcastle United. He was joined in the Sky Blues line-up by Under-20s and Liverpool playmaker Ryan Kent, who is also on loan with Tony Mowbray's men.
