Matchday 22 of the EPL season is in the books, and we’re here to review it, identify the big takeaways, and examine the markets.
EPL Wrap
Newcastle looked to secure a club-record 10th consecutive win this week but Justin Kluivert’s hat-trick put an end to that for Bournemouth to win 4-1.
They were the form team of the Premier League before this week but are still $1.62 to finish the season without a trophy and $2.20 to win either the EPL, FA Cup, League Cup or Europa League.
Also towards the top of the EPL, Liverpool made no mistake in dispatching Brentford 2-0 to remain as heavy favourites to go on and lift the trophy from here.
At the bottom, Leicester City have gone from bad to worse. Emile Smith-Rowe and Adama Traore heaped more misery on the Foxes who remain in the relegation zone after Matchday 22. Meanwhile, Crystal Palace picked up a valuable three points with a 2-0 win over a 10-man West Ham. Following a poor start to the EPL season, Palace are now up to 12th on the ladder.
With Liverpool taking the points, Arsenal’s late-game crumble looks even worse. Well in control over Aston Villa to lead 2-0, Arsenal could only escape with a point despite playing with 66% possession.
David Moyes secured his first win at Goodison Park as Everton picked up a 3-2 win over a struggling Tottenham Hotspur. Three goals in the first half laid the platform before Spurs threatened a comeback in the final 15 minutes.
12 years on, David Moyes wins as @Everton manager at Goodison Park again ⏪ pic.twitter.com/ydlZ5nUUGd
— Premier League (@premierleague) January 19, 2025
For all of the recent positives for Manchester United recently, they’re for nothing so long as these ugly results continue. In an already poor season at Old Trafford, the Red Devils were handled with relative easy for Brighton & Hove Albion to take the chocolates with a 3-1 win.
Nottingham Forest have continued their dream run through the EPL season, beating Southampton 3-2 to stay in the hunt for European football. Meanwhile, Manchester City’s recovery from a horror run before Christmas has taken another step forward through a six-goal thrashing of Ipswich Town. Phil Foden has played a leading role in the City resurgence to score twice in the first half with another assist in this one.
No player has scored more Premier League goals than Phil Foden in 2025 ✨ pic.twitter.com/vVNfU3kf8U
— Premier League (@premierleague) January 19, 2025
3 Takeaways From Matchday 22
Arsenal Stumble Again
Arsenal will only have themselves to blame if they can’t close the gap on Liverpool before the end of the EPL season. They’ve had plenty of chances. In only managing a draw against Aston Villa despite leading 2-0 and dominating the first hour, Arsenal have now dropped 12 points from winning positions this season. Overall, the draw extends their unbeaten run to 12 matches. However, they’ve been unable to close the gap as their lack of threat up front stops them from putting teams away when they should.
It doesn’t help that Mikel Arteta often lacks accountability and awareness. If he’s not blaming officials for a loss, he’s praising his team following a disappointing result.
“The boys were incredible, especially considering they played three times in six days. I’m extremely pleased with the quality of our performance and how much we dominated a very good side.”
There is a long way to go and Arteta has players to return from injury. However, that hasn’t stopped speculation about him reaching his ceiling as Arsenal manager and the prospect of moving on from him at the end of the EPL season.
If Arsenal finish second and trophyless again, would their fans still back Mikel Arteta? 🤔
(w/ @milesxaddy) pic.twitter.com/RtccZawSg4
— B/R Football (@brfootball) January 19, 2025
Arsenal sit 2nd on the EPL ladder alongside Nottingham Forest on 44 points – six behind Liverpool – after Matchday 22.
It’s Time To Talk About Big Ange
Tottenham dropped another one on Matchday 22 to be 15th on the EPL ladder, barely out of the relegation zone.
Ange Postecoglou conceded defeat and his role in how poorly Tottenham started this one:
“Yeah look it was a tough result for us. Obviously in the first half we struggled to get control of the game. I made some changes in the team that probably weren’t helpful in the end. I had players struggling to come to terms with it, unable to capitalise on it. The second half the players put in the right response.” – Ange Postecoglou
He’s damned if he does make changes and damned if he doesn’t at the moment. Decimated with injuries, he’s playing youngsters not totally embedded in his structures. He either keeps the style that had Tottenham playing as one of the better teams in the EPL to start the season, or adjust to a style based on the players available.
While fans call for Postecoglou’s sacking, they’re missing the bigger picture. When healthy, Tottenham played well and offered hope for the future.
He's totally right. Just look at the play of the different core of players where the offense hasn't had the injury crisis like the defense.
> 5th best xG For
> 7th Worst xG AgainstAnge isn't the issue, it's purely down to luck with injuries #EVETOT #Spurs #COYS pic.twitter.com/kQ5et9MgtK
— Pitch Analytics (@PitchAnalytics1) January 19, 2025
They still can should Postecoglou remain. To sack him based purely on EPL ladder position is to do so without considering context and recent history. Tottenham have done this before with little success. Surely patience is the next approach worth trying?
Provided Tottenham don’t drift so far down they’re a chance at relegation, the front office shouldn’t rush to make yet another manager change.
“Maybe the worst team in the history”
Ruben Amorim is speaking like a manager who knows he has time. Why else would he concede his Manchester United might be “the worst team in the history” of the club.
"We are being the worst team, maybe, in the history of Manchester United" 😳
Ruben Amorim didn't hold back in his post-match press conference after Man United's 3-1 defeat to Brighton ❌ pic.twitter.com/4xF22CNIA4
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) January 19, 2025
His comments come after another defeat, this time 3-1 to Brighton, as the new manager fails to have a positive impact on United’s position on the ladder. Manchester United have won only two matches with Amorim in charge. With just 11 points in 11 league games, he’s performing worse than the last manager who at least earned a trophy.
With a mid-week game in the Europa League to deal with ahead of Matchday 23, the pressure is on United to beat Fulham as $2.90 outsiders.
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