7 Truths: Wayne Rooney inspired, Liverpool rocked, Chelsea big winners

Manchester United looked for all the world as though they were going to see their unbeaten run ended in hugely disappointing fashion at Stoke City, but with seconds to go, Wayne Rooney stepped up and saved the day. It had been a thoroughly frustrating day with Juan Mata's own goal - and subsequent open-goal miss - separating the sides, but Rooney's class from the bench demonstrated just how valuable he can still be for Jose Mourinho's side.

The free-kick was exquisite and a fitting way for Rooney to make history. From being a much-maligned figure on the fringes of the United team, this was at least a perfect way for Rooney to break the record in style, with a goal that will be remembered as one of his best in a United shirt - and with Sir Bobby Charlton and Sir Alex Ferguson in attendance. For United, the goal was significant; for Rooney, the goal was perfect.

It’s been said before and it will be said again – Liverpool’s defence will be the reason that they don’t win the Premier League. For all of Swansea’s good football, Liverpool should have had enough to win this game… but they don’t, and they didn’t. Chelsea could pull 10 points clear of Liverpool, which isn’t necessarily out of reach in theory, but it will be in practice given Liverpool’s defensive Achilles heel.

Jurgen Klopp knew that shoring up his defence would be absolutely crucial if his side would achieve anything this season and it appears that he is still a long way from achieving that aim. Liverpool's defending was shocking against Swansea and it has meant that the consistency the club should have with such an array of exciting attacking options has not been found.

On a day of strange results and even stranger performances, Chelsea have come out of it the big winners. As Tottenham and Manchester shared a bizarre draw, Manchester United were held and Liverpool suffered a chastening defeat, Antonio Conte's side must have looked on with delight.

While City and United will, in particular, rue missed chances and squandered opportunities from their games, Chelsea will see what has unfolded before their eyes as a perfect gift for them ahead of their home clash with Hull City on Sunday. The very real possibility of moving nine points clear of second-placed Tottenham would represent a significant shift in the title race.

City fans have long been bemoaning the lack of form and vibrancy of David Silva, and that is only because of how crucial he is to the club. The midfielder's form was always going to be integral to the way Guardiola plays through that type of player and he has simply not been at his best so far this season.

However, the Spaniard was back to his best in City's domination of Spurs and the way he floated between the lines made him virtually unstoppable at times. Had City's forwards been more clinical with the opportunities presented to them by Silva, Guardiola would not have cut such a frustrated figure, but at least his playmaker is back in form.

It seems unfathomable that Tottenham somehow managed to claim a point from their battering at the hands of City, but they did it. Pochettino's side were well and truly outplayed at the Etihad, but the fact that they still managed to emerge with a draw may well prove crucial for the club in their title chase.

While Guardiola was left to lament his side's profligacy in front of goal and inability to close out a dominant display and two-goal advantage, Tottenham were left delighted and relieved in equal measure at taking a draw from a game in which they were thoroughly outplayed throughout. It bodes very well indeed for any title pursuit when defeats are turned into draws, particularly against clubs as dangerous as City.

Another game, another goal for Dele Alli. The Tottenham midfielder now has eight goals in his last six Premier League games and continues to thrive in the attacking role presented to him by Pochettino. In scoring against City when Tottenham really needed it, he hauled his struggling side back into the game at a crucial moment.

As for his personal exploits, Alli has now equalled Harry Kane with five Premier League goals in 2017 and no other player in Europe's top-five leagues has more than three this year - it's a remarkable feat for a player who was playing much deeper last season and has only very recently adopted a very different role.

It's hard to think of a defender particularly similar to Sergio Ramos at times. The Real Madrid captain scored twice as Zinedine Zidane's side edged out Malaga at the Bernabeu and he did so in a dominant performance in which he hauled his team to victory to go four points clear at the top of La Liga.

The Spain defender scored his fifth and sixth La Liga goals of the season which already represents his best ever total and we are only in January. Ramos has 66 goals for Real Madrid in total and continues to show up in the most unexpected ways when his side need him most.