Yaya Toure returned to the Manchester City ranks on Saturday after his public apology to manager Pep Guardiola and scored both goals in a 2-1 win at Crystal Palace to lift them back to the top of the Premier League alongside leaders Liverpool.
While Liverpool's progress was halted with a goalless draw at Southampton, City clambered back level with the Reds on 27 points thanks to the double from Toure.
On an afternoon when Jose Mourinho moaned that Manchester United were "the unluckiest team in the Premier League" after Arsenal had snatched a 1-1 draw with an 89th-minute equaliser at Old Trafford, there was nothing lucky about City's victory.
Guardiola took the chance to reintroduce Toure for his first league appearance of the season.
He repaid the Spaniard's faith with a 39th-minute run and shot and, after Connor Wickham had equalised in the second half, netted an 83rd-minute winner.
The Ivorian sounded emotional as he talked of being applauded back into the dressing room by his team mates.
"They have always been brilliant with me, always supportive. I always want to be there to help them. I am professional, I always want to improve my game," he told the BBC.
"I was prepared mentally and I knew that one day my manager would need me. You must always stay professional."
Liverpool's recent progress ended in driving rain at St Mary's, although they did extend their unbeaten sequence to 10 games.
It left them still leading the table on the strength of having scored more goals than City after Arsenal missed the chance to go top.
A last-gasp header from substitute Olivier Giroud earned them a barely deserved point at Manchester United.
Juan Mata had put United ahead in the second half of a game they dominated but Giroud's late rescue act left Mourinho cursing his luck.
"We are the unluckiest team in the Premier League," Mourinho said. "I'm not going to say they (Arsenal) didn't want to win but they couldn't be the way they normally play football.
"They were the lucky ones and we were the unlucky ones - but that's football."
The draw left Arsenal fourth on 25 points, the same as Chelsea.
Tottenham are one point adrift in fifth after Harry Kane netted twice in three dramatic late minutes to earn a pulsating 3-2 win over West Ham United at White Hart Lane.
The England striker hammered home the winner from the penalty spot in stoppage time as Spurs came roaring back from 2-1 down to protect their record as the only unbeaten team in the league.
And Swansea City are now at rock bottom, with American Bob Bradley still looking for his first win as manager after Seamus Coleman equalised for hosts Everton in the 89th minute to secure a 1-1 draw.
Leicester City's difficult reign as champions continued as they went behind at Watford after 33 seconds and ended up losing 2-1, a defeat that left them just two points above the relegation zone.
Reuters