Chelsea moved eight points clear at the top of the Premier League courtesy of a 2-0 victory over struggling Hull on Sunday.

The Blues welcomed striker Diego Costa back into the side after he missed the win at Leicester last weekend, and the 28-year-old set Antonio Conte’s men on their way to victory with his 15th league goal of the campaign in the first half.

Gary Cahill added a second for the hosts to secure an 18th league win of the season, and it means that they are now eight points clear of their nearest challengers, who are now Arsenal after they left it late to beat Burnley 2-1 on Sunday.

The Gunners have leapfrogged both Tottenham and Liverpool after the latter lost 3-2 at home to bottom side Swansea on Saturday, while Mauricio Pochettino’s Spurs came from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 at Manchester City on Saturday.

Sixth place Manchester United also lost ground on the top four after they could only manage a 1-1 draw at Stoke, although the occasion did see Wayne Rooney net his 250th United goal, and in turn become the club’s all-time leading goal-scorer.

Everton picked up a third straight win with a 1-0 success at Crystal Palace, who fall into the bottom three as a result, while West Brom remain eighth after beating David Moyes’ Sunderland 2-0 at the Hawthorns.

Slaven Bilic’s West Ham are into the top half after a fine 3-1 win at Middlesbrough, and they remain a point ahead of Southampton, who dispatched champions Leicester 3-0 at St Mary’s.

In the weekend’s other game, Eddie Howe’s Bournemouth twice came from behind to deny Watford a first win since December 10, as the two sides drew 2-2 at the Vitality Stadium.

In what was a thrilling weekend of top-flight football, here is What’s Hot and What’s Not from this weekend’s Premier League action…

HOT – Diego Costa and Chelsea

Photo: Charlotte Wilson

A lot had been said with regard to Diego Costa’s absence from the Chelsea side that won at Leicester last weekend, yet the Spaniard all but ended any speculation about his future with a fine display against Hull on Sunday.

The 28-year-old netted his 15th Premier League goal of the season to set Conte’s men on their way to an 18th win of the campaign, a result which sends them eight points clear of their nearest title challengers.

Costa was cheered by the home fans throughout the contest, and showed a display full of commitment and endeavour to surely end speculation about a potential move to China.

He looked fresh and fit enough to lead Chelsea to the Premier League title over the coming months.

NOT – Liverpool

Photo: Marc Atkins / Offside.

It was a game that Liverpool could not afford to lose, but they did exactly that.

Klopp’s men were beaten 3-2 at home by struggling Swansea on Saturday afternoon and, coupled with Chelsea’s win over Hull on Sunday, it now means that the Reds are ten points adrift of the leaders in the title race.

Liverpool were lacklustre in the first half and didn’t carry the same attacking intensity that we’ve seen from them this season and, when they did up it in the second half, they then defended poorly against a side that had scored just 23 times in the league prior to Saturday.

Ten points may be too much to overcome but, with Chelsea visiting Anfield on January 31, it’s not quite over yet for Klopp’s men, but they need to improve fast after a stuttering start to 2017.

HOT – Wayne Rooney

Photo: Marc Atkins / Offside.

Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney netted a late equaliser to secure Jose Mourinho’s men a 1-1 draw at Stoke, but the goal had much more meaning to the England captain than a mere late leveller.

It was his 250th goal for the Red Devils, thus meaning that he has surpassed Sir Bobby Charlton’s long-standing record of 249 goals as United’s all-time leading goal-scorer.

Rooney equalled the mark against Reading in the FA Cup on January 7, but has since failed to get over the line in home games against Hull and Liverpool.

Nonetheless, the England captain has finally got the goal that will take him into yet another record book, as he is now his club’s all-time top goal-scorer, as well as his country’s.

Huge congratulations to Wayne Rooney from everyone here at Shoot!

NOT – Crystal Palace

Photo: Marc Atkins / Offside.

Although Sunderland moved to the bottom of the table after a fourth defeat in five games, it’s Sam Allardyce’s Crystal Palace that are embarking on the longest winless run of any Premier League side.

The Eagles conceded an 87th minute Seamus Coleman goal to lose 1-0 at home to Everton on Saturday, a result which plunged them into the bottom three, and now means that they haven’t won any of their last eight league games.

A 3-0 win over Southampton back on December 3 was the last time the Selhurst Park faithful had something to cheer, and since then Palace have picked up just two points out of a possible 24.

Allardyce has still yet to win a league game in charge of the Eagles, and they need to buck their ideas up fast if they are to avoid relegation come May.