Riyad Mahrez was Africa's star performer in Europe this weekend as the Premier League signed off before Christmas, with the Algeria star netting in Manchester City's comfortable victory over Newcastle United.
Amidst a Prem schedule ravaged by COVID-19 cases and fixture postponement, Romain Saiss excelled again as Wolverhampton Wanderers neutralised Chelsea, while Samuel Chukwueze was also on the scoresheet in Spain.
Man City had scored 106 goals in the Premier League so far in this calendar year -- a club record, and the best by an English top flight team since 1963.
As the curtain falls on a remarkable year, few City players are in as irresistible form as Algeria's Mahrez.
The attacker has now had a hand in five goals in his last three matches, following up with a goal in the loss at RB Leipzig and a goal and an assist against Leeds United in midweek with another strong showing against Newcastle on Sunday.
His recent run comes in contrast to his recent toils in front of goal, where a sensational display against Paris Saint-Germain in late November hasn't entirely masked an eight-game run in which he scored just once and failed to register a single assist.
City hardly needed to break a sweat to see off Newcastle or their new head coach Eddie Howe, who has lost every one of the 11 matches he has managed against the club.
Mahrez flexed his creative muscles early on to set up Joao Cancelo for City's second in the 27th minute; the pair exchanging quickfire passes before the full-back sent a 20-yarder beyond Martin Dubravka.
His goal was also a touch of class, as he met a Oleksandr Zinchenko cross with a zinging volley beyond the Slovak keeper before wheeling off in celebration.
There was initial bemusement as the on-field officials ruled out the strike for offside, only for VAR to overrule Martin Atkinson's decision and award the goal -- City's third in a 4-0 victory -- to the 30-year-old.
"We just have to keep going and we are in a very good moment," Mahrez said after the match. "We just try to take it one game at a time and try to win it. We will see where we will be at the end.
"We just have to win game after game and try to play good to win the game. That is the most important thing.
"The numbers at the end, if we make a lot of wins, it is nice to know, but the most important thing is just to focus on the next game."
City's victory means they can enjoy Christmas Day at the top of the table; they've won the league on both of the previous occasions they've sat in top spot on December 25, but Mahrez is taking nothing for granted.
"I don't know if it is a good omen," he concluded. "I don't really believe in superstitions and these types of things. I just believe in winning games and trying to be there until the end."
Amid the many talking points and controversies that accompanied reaction to Liverpool's entertaining draw at Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, Mohamed Salah's performance -- and lack of goal contribution -- has gone under the radar.
Against Newcastle United in midweek, the Egypt superstar scored after 25 minutes to give the Reds the lead and, in the process, equalled a Premier League record.
His effort extended his run of Prem games in which he's either scored or assisted to 15, equalling a record set by Jamie Vardy during Leicester City's unforgettable 2015-16 campaign.
Salah could have broken that record if he'd extended his run against Spurs, but delivered an uncharacteristically muted performance as Jurgen Klopp's side dropped points at the New White Hart Lane, infuriating Fantasy Premier League gamers in the process.
The forward nonetheless had a hand in the Liverpool goals -- and in the controversy -- when his deflected effort was pawed away by Hugo Lloris in the 69th minute.
The ball fell to Trent Alexander-Arnold, who fired it back across the goalmouth for Andy Robertson to touch home.
Spurs protested that Salah had handled in the build-up, but the referee's decision was not contested by VAR, and the goal stood...much to the hosts' chagrin.
His run may have come to an end, but it was yet another decisive contribution -- albeit a dubious one -- from the in-form attacker.
He's been joined on double figures this season by Diogo Jota -- who netted his sixth header of the campaign -- representing the first time since 1979 that two Liverpool players have hit 10 or more goals for the club before Christmas.
Sadio Mane largely got the better of a nervy Emerson Royal in the tussle between the pair down Liverpool's left, while Naby Keita undermined a lively display in which he forced a fine save from Hugo Lloris by picking up a booking for simulation.
Also in the Prem, Morocco's Saiss followed up on his matchwinner against Brighton & Hove Albion in midweek with a commanding display as Wolves held Chelsea 0-0.
Only Liverpool and Man City -- one goal each -- have breached Saiss and the Old Gold's rearguard in their last seven matches, with the European champions becoming the latest side to fail to find a way through their fearsome back three.
It was a game of few chances, with Chelsea largely neutralised by Saiss' heroic defensive contributions.
As well as registering a game-high five interceptions, he also cleared the ball on five occasions (no one did so more often), and completed three successful tackles during the contest.
The Atlas Lion received praise from teammate Ruben Neves for his attacking prowess following his winner against Brighton in midweek, but here, Saiss reminded observers why he ought to be considered one of the Prem's most underrated defenders.
Edouard Mendy was largely untroubled on the day, although he was forced into stops to deny Raul Jimenez and Leander Dendoncker as Wolves sought an upset.
His form may have been questioned recently, but the Senegal stopper's contribution to a memorable 2021 for Chelsea was recognised on Monday as he was named the Chelsea Fans' Footballer of the Year.
He received 39.2 percent of the supporter vote, pipping second-placed N'Golo Kante by almost 10 percent of the vote.
The final fixture in a depleted Premier League programme this weekend game at Elland Road, where Leeds United's troubles continued as they were dispatched 4-1 by Arsenal.
Thomas Partey -- impressive in the midfield alongside Granit Xhaka -- was the only one of the Gunners' African stars to feature, with Nicolas Pepe, Eddie Nketiah and Mohamed Elneny all among the unused substitute.
That 'privilege' wasn't even afforded Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who had been eligible to play -- according to Mikel Arteta's post-match interview following the West Ham United bout -- after serving his internal suspension.
With the frost appearing still to thaw between manager and deposed captain, the question of Auba's Arsenal future -- with the January transfer looming -- becomes more pertinent than ever.
The striker has been named in Gabon's Nations Cup squad, and with teams set to assemble in late December, it remains to be seen whether the one-time Gunners talisman will feature for the club again.
At the other end of his Prem career, Gambian youngster Cody Drameh made his full debut for Leeds at right-back, although this was another chastening experience for the 20-year-old, who was previously introduced as a sub in the 7-0 demolition by Manchester City.
Finally to Spain, where Chukwueze was again among the goals as Villarreal defeated Real Sociedad 3-1.
A combination of Unai Emery's desire not to rush the Nigeria winger back from injury too soon, and the fine performances of the Yellow Submarine's other attackers, mean the 22-year-old has endured a frustrating start to the campaign.
All of his 13 appearances across the Spanish LaLiga and the Champions League so far this term have been from the bench, although Emery turned to the winger with half an hour still to play on Saturday, with the two teams tied at 1-1, and rewarded his manager with Villarreal's third.
Despite his limited gametime, the wideman has already scored five in all competitions so far this term, and could yet be a major asset for Nigeria at next month's Africa Cup of Nations.
His compatriot -- AFCON-bound Kevin Akpoguma -- also netted an injury-time equaliser for Hoffenheim as they drew 1-1 with Borussia Monchengladbach in the German Bundesliga.