The Premier League‘s top six all struggled in a topsy-turvy Gameweek 22.
Leaders Arsenal and defending champions Liverpool were held to frustrating draws, Manchester City, Aston Villa, and Brentford each suffered defeats, and Newcastle were held by bottom-of-the-table Wolves.
It was also the first time since the 2017-18 season that the league’s top three clubs all failed to score on the same matchday.
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Bruno runs the derby
- Bruno Fernandes became the first player to both create 6+ chances and provide an assist in a Premier League game against Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City.
Michael Carrick enjoyed the dream start to life as Manchester United’s interim manager after he masterminded a 2-0 win against rivals Manchester City in front of a buzzing Old Trafford. Each of United’s last four Premier League wins against their neighbours have now come under different managers.
Skipper Bruno Fernandes underlined his importance to United once again after he became the first player to create 6+ chances and provide an assist in a Premier League game against Pep Guardiola’s side. Over the last 10 seasons, he is the only player to create four or more big chances against City in three separate matches
Fernandes has now created 21 more chances than any other player in the league this season.
Toothless Liverpool
- Liverpool have failed to win any of their home games against the three promoted clubs for the first time in the Premier League era.
A toothless Liverpool were frustrated by relegation strugglers Burnley in a 1-1 draw at Anfield, which was the club’s fourth top-flight draw in a row.
The result extended a worrying home trend for the Reds, who have now failed to beat Burnley, Leeds, and Sunderland this season. It is the first time in the Premier League era that Liverpool have gone winless at Anfield against all three promoted sides – and first time in the top-flight since 1980-81.
Tottenham’s troubled turf
- Tottenham have lost more home games in the Premier League since the start of last season (16) than Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, and Man City combined (14).
West Ham ended their 10 game winless run after they scored a last-gasp winner away to hapless Tottenham, which piled even more pressure on the under-fire Thomas Frank.
Spurs’ poor home form may precede Frank’s appointment with the club, but he too has failed to find a winning formula. The club have now lost 16 times in front of their own frustrated fans since the start of last season, which is more than Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Man City combined (14).
Home sweet home
- Sunderland are the first newly promoted team since Ipswich Town in 1992-93 to go unbeaten in their first 11 home games of a Premier League season.
The Sunderland steam train is back on track as the Black Cats secured their first win since mid-December with a 2-1 triumph over Crystal Palace
The Black Cats have made the Stadium of Light a real fortress since returning to the top-flight, extending their unbeaten start on home soil to 11 games (W6 D5) – Arsenal are the only other unbeaten Premier League at home.
Fulham’s promoted streak snapped
- Fulham lost to a promoted side for the first time in 13 matches.
Fulham travelled to Yorkshire in high spirits, having collected 14 points since 13th December – second only to Arsenal. However, their six-game unbeaten run in all competitions was ended by a dramatic 91st-minute winner from Leeds, which not only snapped their six-game unbeaten streak but also brought to a close a 12-match run in the Premier League without defeat against promoted sides.
Sanchez shines
- Only David Raya has more 2025-26 clean sheets than Robert Sanchez this season.
Robert Sanchez endured a shocker in the 3-2 Carabao Cup first-leg defeat at home to Arsenal; however, the keeper bounced back with an impressive performance and a clean sheet in the 2-0 win over Brentford.
Sanchez has now kept 10 clean sheets in 21 Premier League games this term, second only to Arsenal’s David Raya (11).
Elliot everywhere
- Elliot Anderson leads the Premier League this season with possessions won and duels won.
The statistics don’t lie as no player had more touches (75), won more duels (12), made more final third entries (9), won more possession (7), won more fouls (5), or accumulated more tackles (3) than the excellent Elliot Anderson for Nottingham Forest against Arsenal.
Anderson has now won more possessions (184) and won more duels (176) than any other player in the Premier League this season.
Meanwhile, it was the first time that Arsenal had played out back-to-back goalless draws in the league since 2012.
Goals go missing
- Wolves and Newcastle played out a goalless draw for the first time in 35 years, ending a run of 30 meetings with at least one goal.
There had been at least one goal in the last 30 meetings between Wolves and Newcastle. Well, that was up until this weekend’s 0-0 at Molineux, which was the first goalless draw in this fixture in 35 years.
The stalemate was the 17th goalless game of the Premier League season so far, surpassing the total number of 0-0 draws across the entirety of the 2024/25 campaign.
Post record
- Merlin Rohl’s hit the post after just 11 seconds, marking the fastest woodwork hit in the Premier League.
Everton claimed a superb 1-0 win away to Aston Villa, which ended the hosts’ 11 game winning run at home in all competitions.
The match started with a bang when Everton’s Merlin Rohl hit the post after only 11 seconds, which is the quickest a player has hit the woodwork on record in the Premier League.
