The Premier League’s first weekend of 2026 delivered exactly what fans love about this competition. Two brand new managers enjoyed dream debuts, Arsenal dropped crucial points in the title race, Liverpool’s struggles continued, and several shock results left fans scratching their heads. Gameweek 22 had absolutely everything.
Carrick’s Fairytale Return to Old Trafford
The biggest story of the weekend belonged to Michael Carrick and Manchester United. The former Red Devils midfielder, who had been named head coach until the end of the season just days earlier, orchestrated a stunning 2-0 victory over rivals Manchester City in the Manchester derby. This wasn’t just any win. This was a statement performance that could seriously damage City’s title hopes.
United dominated from the opening whistle at Old Trafford. Harry Maguire smashed a header against the crossbar after just three minutes, setting the tone for what would be a relentless attacking display. The home side had three goals ruled out for marginal offside decisions and hit the woodwork twice, but their persistence finally paid off in the second half.
Bryan Mbeumo, fresh from AFCON duty with Cameroon, opened the scoring in the 65th minute with a clinical counter-attack finish. The Cameroonian striker latched onto a perfect through ball from Bruno Fernandes and fired past Gianluigi Donnarumma to send Old Trafford into absolute chaos. Eleven minutes later, Patrick Dorgu doubled United’s advantage with a side-footed effort that left City chasing shadows.
The result extended City’s winless Premier League run to four matches and left them six points behind leaders Arsenal. For Pep Guardiola’s side, this felt like a hammer blow to their title ambitions. They managed just one shot on target all game, and Erling Haaland was completely anonymous with only 14 touches. The Norwegian striker has now gone seven consecutive appearances without a non-penalty goal.
Carrick remains unbeaten as United manager across two separate spells, and this victory proved he still understands what makes this club tick. The 4-2-3-1 formation looked balanced, the players looked motivated, and most importantly, Old Trafford felt alive again.
Rosenior Gets His Chelsea Reign Off to Winning Start
Across London, another new manager celebrated a debut victory. Liam Rosenior’s first Premier League match in charge of Chelsea ended with a hard-fought 2-0 win over Brentford at Stamford Bridge. However, unlike Carrick’s dominant display, Rosenior’s Blues rode their luck throughout the afternoon.
Joao Pedro opened the scoring in the 26th minute with a thunderous strike after a fortunate deflection fell his way. The goal was initially ruled out for offside, but VAR intervened to give Chelsea the lead. That stroke of luck proved crucial because Brentford absolutely battered Chelsea for the next hour.
The visitors hit the post through Mathias Jensen, forced brilliant saves from Robert Sanchez, and created chance after chance without finding the net. Chelsea’s goalkeeper made six saves to keep Brentford at bay, and when it looked like the Bees might snatch an equalizer, Cole Palmer stepped up from the penalty spot in the 76th minute to seal the points.
The penalty came after substitute Liam Delap won a spot kick following a poor backpass from Nathan Collins. Palmer made no mistake, sending Caoimhin Kelleher the wrong way. Chelsea climbed to sixth place with the victory, but Rosenior knows his team will need to perform much better if they want to challenge for Champions League qualification.
Arsenal Drop Points Again in Title Race Stumble
Arsenal had the perfect opportunity to take a stranglehold on the title race. Manchester City lost the derby, and the Gunners could have gone nine points clear at the top with a win at Nottingham Forest. Instead, Mikel Arteta’s side produced a frustrating 0-0 draw that left them seven points clear but feeling like they’d missed a golden chance.
Arsenal dominated possession and created opportunities, with Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka both going close. But Forest goalkeeper Matt Turner made several crucial saves to preserve a clean sheet for the struggling hosts. The result meant Arsenal failed to capitalize on City’s slip-up for the second time in nine days, having also drawn 0-0 with Liverpool the previous week.
The Gunners remain overwhelming favorites to lift their first Premier League trophy since 2004, but these dropped points against mid-table and bottom-half opposition could prove costly if City or Aston Villa go on a winning streak.
Liverpool’s Worrying Form Continues
Liverpool’s season continues to unravel in concerning fashion. Arne Slot’s defending champions were held to a frustrating 1-1 draw at home by relegation-threatened Burnley, extending their winless Premier League run to four matches. The statistics made this result even more painful. Liverpool had 32 shots on goal, dominated possession, and created numerous chances, but they couldn’t find a winner.
Florian Wirtz put Liverpool ahead in the 42nd minute with a powerful finish, his fourth goal in seven games. The German midfielder has been one of the few bright spots in Liverpool’s recent struggles, showing the quick feet and creativity needed to unlock stubborn defenses. But Burnley, who haven’t won in 13 Premier League matches, grabbed an equalizer through Marcus Edwards in the 65th minute. Incredibly, it was the visitors’ only shot on target all match.
The dropped points highlighted Liverpool’s ongoing issues with breaking down teams that sit deep and defend. Dominik Szoboszlai had earlier smashed a penalty against the crossbar, and several Liverpool players spurned golden opportunities. The champions are in danger of falling out of the title race completely if this form continues.
Shock Results Around the League
West Ham pulled off a massive upset by winning 2-1 at Tottenham Hotspur, compounding the misery for under-fire Spurs boss Thomas Frank. The result keeps West Ham’s survival hopes alive while leaving Tottenham in the thick of a relegation battle that few expected them to be fighting.
Sunderland’s remarkable first season back in the Premier League continued with a 2-1 home victory over Crystal Palace. The Black Cats have been one of the stories of the season, and this win kept them comfortably in mid-table while Palace slipped further toward danger.
Leeds United secured a vital 1-0 home win against Fulham at Elland Road, with the victory keeping them in the hunt for a top-half finish. The match was tight throughout, but Leeds showed the resilience that has characterized their impressive return to the top flight.
On Sunday, Everton stunned Aston Villa with a 1-0 away victory. The result was particularly significant because it could dent Villa’s chances of chasing down Arsenal for the title. Thierno Barry’s strike was enough to earn all three points for the Toffees, who moved further away from the relegation zone.
Wolverhampton Wanderers and Newcastle United played out a goalless draw that did neither team any favors in their respective battles. Both sides remain stuck in mid-table mediocrity, unable to string together the wins needed to climb toward European qualification spots.
Monday Night Preview: Brighton vs Bournemouth
Gameweek 22 concludes Monday night when Brighton host Bournemouth at the Amex Stadium in what promises to be an entertaining clash between two attacking-minded sides. Both teams have shown they can score goals this season, but defensive solidity remains a major concern for each.
Brighton come into this match unbeaten in their last four games, including impressive results against Manchester City (1-1 draw) and Manchester United (2-1 FA Cup win at Old Trafford). The Seagulls sit 11th in the table with 29 points, and Fabian Hurzeler will be hoping his side can build momentum. Kaoru Mitoma has been particularly effective against Bournemouth, scoring five Premier League goals against the Cherries, more than any other opponent in his career.
Bournemouth ended their dreadful 11-game winless Premier League run with a dramatic 3-2 victory over Tottenham last week. However, that match also marked a significant moment as Antoine Semenyo scored a 95th-minute winner in what turned out to be his farewell appearance before completing a £64 million transfer to Manchester City. The Cherries now face the challenge of replacing their top scorer, who netted 10 goals this season before his departure.
Without Semenyo, Bournemouth will likely rely heavily on 19-year-old striker Junior Kroupi, who has already bagged seven Premier League goals this season. The teenager is one of the most exciting young talents in the league, and Andoni Iraola will need him to step up in Semenyo’s absence. The Cherries have been excellent going forward this season, averaging 1.59 goals per game, but they’ve conceded far too many at the back with 40 goals against in 21 matches.
The head-to-head record adds extra spice to this fixture. Bournemouth won the reverse fixture 2-1 back in September and are looking to complete their first league double over Brighton since the 2014-15 season. The last 11 meetings between these two sides have produced no draws, with every match delivering a clear winner.
Expert Prediction: Brighton 3-2 Bournemouth
This match has all the ingredients for a goal-fest. Both managers prioritize attacking football over defensive stability, and their recent games have consistently featured plenty of goals. Brighton have both scored and conceded in 69.5% of their matches under Hurzeler, the highest ratio of any Premier League manager with 50+ games in charge. Bournemouth’s Iraola ranks sixth in this metric at 61.9%.
Expect Brighton to edge this one at home. The Seagulls have better quality in the final third, and playing at the Amex should give them the advantage they need. Mitoma’s pace and movement will cause Bournemouth’s shaky defense problems all night, while Georginio Rutter should find space to operate between the lines.
Bournemouth will definitely score because Brighton’s defense remains vulnerable. Junior Kroupi has the talent to trouble any defense, but without Semenyo’s experience and quality, the Cherries might struggle to match Brighton’s firepower. A 3-2 scoreline feels about right for two teams who love to attack but struggle to defend, with Brighton’s home advantage proving decisive.
Title Race Reflections
The weekend’s results have left the title race fascinating. Arsenal still lead the way with a seven-point cushion, but their inability to put away teams like Nottingham Forest and Liverpool will concern Arteta. Manchester City’s four-game winless run has left them scrambling, and Liverpool’s form has been so poor that they’re in danger of dropping out of contention entirely.
For Manchester United and Chelsea, new manager bounces have given both clubs renewed hope. Whether Carrick and Rosenior can sustain these improvements remains to be seen, but both made impressive starts that have their fanbases believing again.
The Premier League never disappoints, and Gameweek 22 proved that once more.
