Sergio Aguero scored four times as Manchester City extended their Premier League lead to 16 points with a 5-1 demolition of Leicester at the Etihad Stadium.
City were in front after only three minutes when Kevin De Bruyne's fine cross was turned in at the far post by Raheem Sterling, but Jamie Vardy levelled after 24 minutes.
Aguero struck three minutes into the second half when De Bruyne set him up, and after 53 minutes the Belgium star made it a hat trick of assists when his sharp pass to Aguero inside the area was thumped home.
After 77 minutes Aguero completed his hat trick in style, chipping home after intercepting Schmeichel's disastrous attempt to pass the ball out of his own area, and blasted home his fourth and City's fifth from the edge of the box in the final seconds.
Harry Kane proved Arsenal's nemesis again as his bullet header earned Tottenham a deserved 1-0 victory in the North London derby at Wembley.
Spurs could have won by more ahad they not squandered a string of chances in the second half, but Kane's seventh goal in eight games against the Gunners was enough for all three points.
Defeat for Arsenal leaves them seven points behind their fiercest rivals as Tottenham boosted their chances of finishing in the top four.
Everton cruised to three points as three second-half goals gave them a 3-1 victory over Crystal Palace at Goodison Park.
The Eagles were indebted to keeper Wayne Hennessey when he made a superb save to deny Idrissa Gueye, but within six minutes of the start of the second half the home side were two clear as Gylfi Sigurdsson's deflected shot beat Hennessey and Niasse headed home a Cuco Martina cross.
They removed any lingering doubts when Tom Davies struck from close range to make it three with a quarter of an hour remaining, and Luka Milivojevic's reply from the penalty spot after a handball was too little, too late.
Stoke failed to convert a late penalty that would have earned them a win as they were held to a 1-1 home draw by Brighton.
The visitors, fresh from an important win over West Ham, almost led after just two minutes when Jack Butland made a fine save to deny Jose Izquierdo, and shortly after the half-hour they were ahead when Izquierdo finished well after a neat one-two with Dale Stephens.
Paul Lambert's side levelled on 68 minutes when Sherdan Shaqiri shot through a crowd and beyond Brighton keeper Mat Ryan to crown a period of increasing pressure -- and after Ryan had saved Charlie Adam's 89th-minute penalty, a superb Lewis Dunk clearance denied Adam a tap-in on the rebound.
West Ham moved further clear of danger as they beat Watford 2-0 at the London Stadium.
Adrian Mariappa almost made an early breakthrough for the Hornets when he met a corner with a strong header, but home keeper Adrian did well to keep it out.
Javier Hernandez thought he had opened the scoring for West Ham inside the last quarter of an hour of the first half only to be denied by an offside flag -- but he was in the right place soon after to flick home a Michail Antonio cross.
Gerard Deulofeu forced a good save from Adrian with a free kick as Watford began the second half brightly, but the Hammers made sure of the points with 12 minutes remaining when Marko Arnautovic struck.
Swansea City continued their outstanding recent run with a 1-0 win over out-of-form Burnley at the Liberty Stadium.
Burnley started brightly and, with less than 10 minutes today, put together a threatening move that ended when Johann Gudmundsson set up Jeff Hendrick for a strike that was well blocked and then smacked a half-volley over.
Swansea brought on Andre Ayew to begin his second spell of the club but the second period followed the same cagey pattern as the first -- until Ki Sung-Yeung drilled home a low strike as the game entered the final 10 minutes.