Manchester United suffered a second straight defeat as Norwich won at Old Trafford for the first time since 1989 after goals from Cameron Jerome and Alexander Tettey earned a shock 2-1 win, with Anthony Martial scoring a consolation goal.
Van Gaal and his lads were booed by the home fans after failing to win for a sixth game in succession. United have now won just four of their last 15 matches in all competitions.
The result also made for a miserable afternoon for captain Wayne Rooney on the occasion of his 500th appearance for the club.
Chelsea returned to winning ways as they start their post-Mourinho era with a 3-1 win over Sunderland at a discontented Stamford Bridge.
Goals from Branislav Ivanovic, Pedro and Oscar had put Chelsea three goals ahead, but Sunderland pulled a goal back through Fabio Borini.
The fans were angry with a banner accusing ‘The Three Rats’; Cesc Fabregas, Diego Costa and Eden Hazard, for getting Mourinho sacked while another read ‘you let Jose down’.
Hiddink watched on alongside owner Roman Abramovich and former striker Didier Drogba.
Riyad Mahrez scored twice from the penalty spot as Leicester won 3-2 at Everton to make sure they will be on top the Premier League table at Christmas.
History is on the Foxes side as five of the last six teams to top the table on December 25 went on to become champions – Liverpool the only exception in 2013-14.
Mahrez, whose goal on Monday proved decisive in the 2-1 win over Chelsea, capped a brilliant week with a penalty in each half with Shinji Okazaki ensuring substitute Kevin Mirallas’ 89th-minute strike was academic.
Striker Romelu Lukaku won the individual battle of the top flight hot-shots against Jamie Vardy when he scored for the eighth consecutive match – a feat not achieved by an Everton player since Dave Hickson in 1954 – to equalise and move to 13 league goals and within two of his Leicester counterpart.
Tottenham moved into the top four for the first time this season after seeing off Southampton 2-0 at St Mary’s thanks to goals from England pair Harry Kane and Dele Alli.
Bournemouth beat nine-man West Brom at The Hawthorns courtesy of goals from Adam Smith and Charlie Daniels.
Gareth McAuley looked to have rescued a point for the Baggies when he cancelled out Smith’s second-half opener, but Daniels’ late penalty gave the in-form Cherries a third successive Premier League win.
The victory takes the Cherries five points clear of the drop zone and they were the better side from the off.
Albion had to play almost an hour with 10 men after James McClean was dismissed for a wild lunge at Smith as he looked for revenge following a tackle between the pair just 10 seconds before.
And Salmon Rondon was sent off in injury time after an altercation with Gosling to complete the late drama.
The Defeat was Tony Pulis’ 100th as a Premier League manager and ended the Baggies’ four-match unbeaten run.
It also increased the Baggies’ home woes as only Aston Villa (two) have won fewer points at home than Albion (eight).
Jordan Ayew’s stunning goal, cancelled captain Fabricio Coloccini’s opener, to earn a point for rock-bottom Aston Villa against Newcastle in a thrilling 1-1 draw at St James’ Park.
Goals from Connor Wickham and Lee Chung-Yong earned Crystal Palace a 2-1 win over Stoke City at the Britannia Stadium.
The goal was Wickham first for the club.
Connor Wickham made it 1-0 to Palace just before the half-time whistle, hammering in from the penalty spot after Glenn Whelan fouled Wilfried Zaha.
Stoke restored parity after a handball from Damien Delaney, allowing Bojan Krkic to dispatch his spot kick.
With a minute left on the clock, Lee thrashed in a stunning shot from around 30 yards out.
Chelsea 3-1 Sunderland
Everton 2-3 Leicester City
Manchester United 1-2 Norwich City
Southampton 0-2 Tottenham Hotspur
Stoke City 1-2 Crystal Palace
West Bromwich Albion 1-2 AFC Bournemouth
Newcastle United 1-1 Aston Villa
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