Matchweek 22 wasn’t about perfection, it was about survival, fine margins, and a whole lot of “how did that not go in” Across the weekend, the script kept flipping: none of the top six won, and none of the bottom five lost. That’s the kind of weekend that turns a title race into a stress test.
Arsenal didn’t even score, but still walked away as the biggest winners because the chasing pack kept dropping points.
Saturday 17 January
Man United 2-0 Man City: Carrick simplified it… and City couldn’t breathe
Michael Carrick’s first league match in charge and United looked like a team that remembered what a derby is supposed to feel like: front foot energy, big tackles, direct breaks, and a crowd that smelled blood. It was the kind of “new era” performance that lands instantly not because it was pretty, but because it was clear.
How it played out
United didn’t need fancy patterns. They needed clarity. They were compact, aggressive between the lines, and ruthless whenever City’s structure wobbled. City rarely built cleanly, and when they did, United snapped into counter mode like it was second nature.
Key moments
65 min: 1-0: Bruno Fernandes launches the break, Bryan Mbeumo finishes it.
76 min: 2-0: Patrick Dorgu arrives to apply the close range finish and lock it.
And United could’ve made it uglier: three goals were ruled out for offside, and they also hit the woodwork twice. Even Guardiola’s complaints after the game had that frustrated edge, the type managers give when they know their team didn’t match the moment.
Retsek takeaway: Carrick didn’t out tactic Pep with wizardry. He did it with discipline and speed. When you block the middle and counter with intent, you don’t need 60% possession. You just need purpose.
Chelsea 2-0 Brentford: Rosenior debut win, but Chelsea rode the waves
Chelsea finally got a league win and Liam Rosenior got the dream start, but this wasn’t champagne football. This was the kind of result that says, “We survived, we needed that, keep it moving.”
Brentford had chances. Chelsea had moments. And when the game threatened to get uncomfortable, Chelsea did what top sides do when they’re not at their best: they stayed alive, then punished.
Key moments
26 min: 1-0: Joao Pedro pounces and rifles home after a loose sequence.
76 min: 2-0: Cole Palmer seals it from the spot. Calm, clinical, no drama.
Rosenior also hinted that a few players weren’t at full capacity physically, which made the controlled finish even more important.
Retsek takeaway: This wasn’t about performance points. This was points therapy. Chelsea needed the win more than the vibe and they got it.
Leeds 1-0 Fulham: Late drama, Ampadu delivery, Nmecha dagger
This match had 0 0 written all over it until Leeds turned up the pressure late. Few chances, plenty tension, the type of game where one clean action decides the whole story.
Key moment
90+ min:1-0: Ethan Ampadu whips in the cross, Lukas Nmecha lashes it home.
Elland Road didn’t celebrate like it was “three points.” It celebrated like it was oxygen.
Retsek takeaway: Survival wins aren’t always pretty. Sometimes it’s just one cross, one swing, one roar.
Liverpool 1-1 Burnley: Dominance, missed pen, and another “how?” draw
Liverpool did most of the football and still didn’t take the full points. They dominated territory, controlled the ball, and fired off chance after chance, but the scoreboard refused to move with them.
The swing moment came early: Szoboszlai struck the bar from the penalty spot. Liverpool eventually broke through, but they never landed the knockout punch.
Key moments
Szoboszlai misses a penalty and hits the crossbar.
42 min:1-0: Florian Wirtz finishes a classy move as pressure finally turns into reward.
65 min: 1-1: Marcus Edwards equalises with Burnley’s only shot on target.
Liverpool also had a late goal ruled out, and from that point on it felt like one of those days where the ball is playing mind games.
Retsek takeaway: Liverpool are playing like a team that expects chances to score themselves. When you don’t kill games, the “one shot, one goal” teams will always collect rent.
Sunderland 2-1 Crystal Palace: Brobbey magic, Stadium of Light bouncing
Palace struck first, but Sunderland’s response was immediate and emotional. The Stadium of Light rose up, and Sunderland played like a team that remembered what home advantage is supposed to mean.
Key moments
30 min: 0-1: Yeremy Pino strikes first for Palace.
33 min: 1-1: Enzo Le Fée responds almost instantly.
71 min: 2-1: Brian Brobbey produces the winner, a finish with real swagger.
Retsek takeaway: That’s the type of win that buys belief, especially at home.
Tottenham Hotspur 1-2 West Ham: Stoppage time gut punch, pressure rising
This was a derby with consequences. West Ham ended a long winless run and Spurs left their own stadium wearing that familiar “how did we do that again?” face.
Key moments
15 min: 0 – 1: Crysencio Summerville puts West Ham ahead.
64 min: 1 – 1: Cristian Romero heads Spurs level.
90+3 min: 1 – 2: Callum Wilson bundles in the winner. Chaos, scenes.
Spurs were booed, the atmosphere turned, and the late concession landed like a weight.
Retsek takeaway: Spurs don’t just lose. They lose in ways that drain the soul. West Ham will treat this as a season turner.
Sunday 18 January
Nottingham Forest 0-0 Arsenal: Sels stood tall, Arsenal left chances on the table
Arsenal missed the chance to go further clear, but Forest’s keeper Matz Sels was the headline. Arsenal had opportunities, the kind you normally expect them to take, but Sels produced the sort of save that keeps a season alive.
Retsek takeaway: Arsenal didn’t sparkle… but when your rivals keep dropping points, a 0 0 becomes a quiet little win.
Wolves 0-0 Newcastle: Sa said “not today”
Newcastle had the ball, Wolves had the grit, and Jose Sa had the moment. A late double save preserved the point and kept Wolves’ fight flickering.
Newcastle left frustrated, because these are the games you have to win if you’re serious about pushing into the top spots.
Retsek takeaway: Sometimes the table lies. Sometimes a bottom team just decides, “You’re not scoring here.”
Aston Villa 0-1 Everton: Home fortress cracked, title tilt dented
This was the shocker of Sunday. Villa’s home run ended, and Everton took the points with a streetwise away performance built on timing, discipline, and one mistake ruthlessly punished.
Key moment
59 min: 0 – 1: Pau Torres slips, Thierno Barry makes no mistake, lifting the finish over Emiliano Martinez.
Everton also nearly stunned Villa immediately, hitting the post inside the opening seconds, a warning shot Villa didn’t really heed.
The table impact was loud: Villa missed the chance to close ground, Everton climbed into the top half, and Arsenal’s cushion stayed comfortable.
Retsek takeaway: Villa had the moment to apply pressure when City dropped points. Instead, they blinked. Everton are turning away days into a hustle masterclass.
Monday 19 January
Brighton 1-1 Bournemouth: A controversial pen, then a bicycle kick from the heavens 🤯
This one was pure cinema. Bournemouth went ahead from the spot after a VAR influenced penalty decision, and it looked like Brighton were about to walk away empty. Then the script flipped in stoppage time.
Key moments
32 min: 0 – 1: Marcus Tavernier converts from the spot.
90+ min: 1 – 1: Charalampos Kostoulas, 18 years old, scores a ridiculous overhead kick to rescue the draw.
Retsek takeaway: VAR tried to make it about itself… Kostoulas said, “Nah. Watch this.” That’s a goal built for highlight reels and lifelong bragging rights.
Winners of the Week
Arsenal
No fireworks, no goals, but still a winning weekend in the title race. They went to Nottingham Forest, got kept out, and still watched the chasing pack drop points all around them. That’s how champions move sometimes: not always pretty, but always profitable. Clean sheet, another point on the board, and their cushion at the top stays healthy.
Manchester United
Carrick’s first league match in charge and he lands a derby win with authority. Two goals, clean sheet, and the kind of intensity that made City look uncomfortable all game. Statement made.
Everton
Going to Villa Park and coming out with three points is not normal business. They defended smart, waited for the mistake, then punished it. Proper away day hustle.
West Ham
Ending a long winless run by stealing a late winner in a derby is the kind of spark that can flip a season’s mood. Pressure released, belief restored.
Jose Sa
Wolves needed a hero and he delivered. That late double save was worth a point all by itself and it kept Wolves’ fight alive.
Charalampos Kostoulas
Eighteen years old, stoppage time, and he pulls out a bicycle kick equaliser. Instant cult hero moment.
Losers of the Week
Manchester City
Derby defeat, limited threat, and barely any clear rhythm. When City look blunt and frustrated, you know the opposition did something right, but City also didn’t meet the standard.
Tottenham Hotspur
Another late concession, another home disappointment, and the crowd turning louder. Spurs didn’t just lose, they lost in the most Spurs way possible.
Liverpool
Loads of control, loads of shots, still only a draw. When you dominate like that and don’t win, it stops being unlucky and starts being a problem.
Aston Villa
A huge chance to apply pressure near the top and they slip at home. The margin at the top is thin, so these are the weekends that leave bruises.
Brentford
They had openings to make it a real contest at Chelsea but didn’t take them. Against a fragile team in transition, you have to be ruthless.
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