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.
With Ruben Amorim moved on and Michael Carrick in to save the day, it couldn’t have gone any better for Manchester United in Matchday 22. In beating their arch rivals Manchester City 2-0, Carrick’s term in charge is off to a flier.
The off-field drama only added to the spectacle with Lisandro Martinez getting into it with Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt.
“Haaland would pick Martínez up and run with him. You know when you see a dad at school running down the road with a little toddler,” Butt said before the match.
Responding after the win, Martinez didn’t hold back:
“No, honestly, he can say whatever he wants. I told him already, if he wants to say something to me, he can come to wherever he wants. To my house, wherever. I don’t care.”
The rest of the matchday didn’t quite live up to the start…
Chelsea secured a 2-0 win over Brentford to provide Liam Rosenior with a dream start to his tenure in charge. Joao Pedro and Cole Palmer found the net to end a five-match winless run in the EPL.
It took until the 91st minute for Lukas Nmecha to split Leeds United and Fulham. The Leeds sub pushed his side eight points clear of the relegation zone with the late winner.
No Premier League player has a higher xG per shot (0.30) than Lukas Nmecha this season. 🎯 🏹#LUFC pic.twitter.com/85elXbKiqd
— WhoScored (@WhoScored) January 17, 2026
Liverpool and Burnley couldn’t be split as Arne Slot’s side dropped more points. He won a title with Liverpool last season, but Slot looks out of his depth all of a sudden. It’s the fourth-straight game Liverpool have had to share the spoils.
Oliver Glasner has one foot out the door following Crystal Palace’s 2-1 defeat to Sunderland. He’s taken notes from the Amorim and Enzo Maresca playbook in preempting his sacking.
Thomas Frank would have a foot out the door if Tottenham Hotspur fans have anything to do with it…
Well, if this is the end Thomas Frank, thanks for:
– Digging out the fans weekly
– Destroying a winning dressing room
– Terrible, uninspiring football
– Further distancing the fans from the clubGlad it’s over, bye now 👋 #FrankOut pic.twitter.com/sX20oitnrX
— Lewis (@lewist_12) January 19, 2026
Their 2-0 defeat to West Ham prompted boos and chants that Frank will be sacked in the morning from the home fans.
Arsenal missed their opportunity to pull further clear at the top of the EPL table with a 0-0 draw with Nottingham Forest. Still heavily favoured to win the title, any sign of a slip will give Pep Guardiola and City hope of an epic comeback.
We’re at the point where a draw is as good as a win for Wolverhampton Wanders in their fight to stave off relegation. They’ll take a 0-0 draw with Newcastle and look to turn it into an unbeaten run.
Aston Villa’s title hopes took a hit in going down 1-0 to Everton. It’s not a significant loss in isolation, but it’s the sort of game that genuine contenders find a way to earn a point it not all three. Finally, Brighton & Hove Albion and Bournemouth played out a 1-1 draw to wrap up the matchday.
City’s crumbling title challenge
Blessed with a Manchester United side introducing an interim manager opposite them on Matchday 22, Manchester City missed out on a prime opportunity to close the gap on Arsenal. Where United rallied behind Michael Carrick and the Old Trafford crowd, City offered Pep Guardiola and the traveling fans next to nothing.
The final 2-0 defeat flatters City in a match that really should have seen the Red Devils win by more.
City’s struggles have come in front of goal of late. They’ve scored on open play goal across their last four EPL games and managed only 0.45 xG in the derby. It’s the second-lowest expected goals count in Pep Guardiola’s nine years at the club, and marks a worrying trend as Arsenal pull away.
Erling Haaland, in particular, is coming under the microscope. He managed only 14 touches of the ball against United and hasn’t scored from open play in seven games – an unheard of dry spell for the striker while playing in Europe’s top five leagues.
Having won seven games in all competitions throughout December, City are without a win over halfway through January. Draws to Sunderland, Chelsea and Brighton & Hove Albion in the lead up to their defeat to United have only made their title quest more difficult since the festive period.
Glasner Gone
Oliver Glasner’s place is embedded in Crystal Palace folklore. Bring a first major trophy to a club will do that to a reputation. However, he’s risking it all in the wake of their 2-1 loss to Sunderland on Matchday 22.
The 51-year-old let slip that he will be leaving the Eagles when is contract expires at the end of the EPL season. His comments around the lack of support from a squad-building perspective, weren’t a slip…
“I feel we are being abandoned completely.
“I can’t blame any player. They did everything they could and this has been going on for weeks and months now.
“We have 12, 13 players from the squad available and we feel no support.
“The worst thing is selling our captain one day before playing a Premier League game.”
Palace are now languishing at 13th on the EPL table after heading into the season with so much promise. However, it’s difficult to live up to expectations when two of those star players who helped to recreate those expectations are no longer at the club.
Marc Guehi’s departure to Manchester City in the build up to loss to Sunderland is the straw that broke the camels back.
Carefull About Carrick
Be careful, Manchester United…
You’ve made this mistake in the past.
The excitement building around Michael Carrick following his impressive first game in charge screams Ole Gunnar Solskjær.
Dominating all over the pitch.
The Michael Carrick era is off to the perfect start 🌟 pic.twitter.com/CgmsUBGQ7V
— Premier League (@premierleague) January 17, 2026
United looked like a different team with Carrick in the dugout. It’s a testament to him and his ability to influence the group and only makes Ruben Amorim look worse. Now the former United midfielder has 17 games to convince the club that he should take over from Amorim; the sixth permanent manager moved on since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013.
If he manages to cause an upset against Arsenal as $5.50 outsiders, it’s going to be difficult not to get excited about his potential as the long-term answer.
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