Premier League Matchday 20: New year, same Arsenal

The first weekend of 2026 will be remembered as the moment the Premier League landscape shifted. While Arsenal displayed the heart of champions with a chaotic comeback, their closest rivals stumbled, leaving the Gunners with their largest lead of the season. However, the headlines were dominated by the “Monday Morning Massacre”: the shocking dismissals of Ruben Amorim and Enzo Maresca following disappointing results for United and Chelsea, respectively.

From Wolves’ long-awaited first win to a hat-trick hero at Goodison Park, Matchweek 20 was the ultimate New Year’s hangover for the league’s established giants. Here’s what you missed:

AFC Bournemouth 2 – 3 Arsenal 

A five-goal thriller at the Vitality Stadium saw Arsenal show the heart of champions. Evanilson (10′) put the hosts ahead early, but Gabriel Magalhães (16′) leveled shortly after. The game belonged to Declan Rice, who struck a clinical brace (54′, 71′) to give Arsenal a cushion. Despite a late scare from substitute Eli Junior Kroupi (76′), the Gunners held on to secure a vital victory.

Manchester City 1 – 1 Chelsea

In what proved to be Enzo Maresca’s final game (Chelsea played under interim Calum McFarlane by Monday), the Blues snatched a dramatic point at the Etihad. City dominated and led through Tijjani Reijnders (42′), but they failed to kill the game off. They were punished in the 94th minute when Enzo Fernández silenced the home crowd with a stunning equalizer, dealing a massive blow to City’s title defense.

Aston Villa 3 – 1 Nottingham Forest 

Unai Emery’s side moved level on points with Manchester City after a professional display at Villa Park. Ollie Watkins (45+1′) broke the deadlock on the stroke of half-time, and a second-half brace from John McGinn (49′, 73′) put the game out of reach. Morgan Gibbs-White (61′) pulled one back for Forest, but they remain dangerously close to the drop zone.

Everton 2 – 4 Brentford

The “Igor Thiago Show” took over the Hill Dickinson Stadium as the Brentford striker netted a sensational hat-trick (11′, 51′, 88′). Nathan Collins (50′) also got on the scoresheet for the Bees. Everton struggled to contain the visitors’ physicality, and despite goals from Beto (66′) and Thierno Barry (90′), the Toffees were comfortably second best.

Wolverhampton Wanderers 3 – 0 West Ham United 

The upset of the weekend saw bottom-placed Wolves finally end their historic winless run. Goals from Jhon Arias (4′), a Hwang Hee-chan penalty (31′), and a strike from Mateus Mané (41′) dismantled a shell-shocked West Ham. The win ends a 19-match drought for Wolves, while the pressure on the Hammers’ hierarchy continues to mount.

Fulham 2 – 2 Liverpool 

Liverpool dropped points for the second consecutive week in a chaotic finish at Craven Cottage. Former Liverpool man Harry Wilson (17′) fired Fulham ahead, but Florian Wirtz (57′) and Cody Gakpo (90′) looked to have won it for the Reds. However, Harrison Reed (90+4′) popped up with a wonder strike deep in stoppage time to rescue a well-deserved point for Fulham.

Leeds United 1 – 1 Manchester United 

A tense “Roses Derby” at Elland Road ended in a stalemate that ultimately cost Ruben Amorim his job. Brenden Aaronson (62′) gave Leeds the lead, but it lasted only three minutes before Matheus Cunha (65′) equalized. A lackluster final 20 minutes from United triggered the board’s decision to part ways with Amorim the following morning.

19 – During Rúben Amorim’s time in the Premier League, the only manager to lose more games than he did (19) was Ange Postecoglou (21). Finalists. pic.twitter.com/wzFiw2xvz2

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) January 5, 2026

Newcastle United 2 – 0 Crystal Palace 

The Magpies secured back-to-back wins to push back into the European conversation. After a frustrating first hour, Bruno Guimarães (71′) broke the deadlock with a trademark effort, before Malick Thiaw (78′) headed home from a corner to make the points safe. Palace remain in 14th after a toothless attacking performance.

Brighton & Hove Albion 2 – 0 Burnley

Brighton banished their December blues with a dominant win over the Clarets. Georginio Rutter (29′) and Yasin Ayari (47′) provided the goals as Fabian Hürzeler’s men controlled the tempo from start to finish. The result leaves Burnley stuck in 19th place, facing an uphill battle for survival.

Tottenham Hotspur 1 – 1 Sunderland 

Sunderland’s fairytale season continued as they held Spurs to a draw in North London. Ben Davies (30′) put the hosts ahead, and Spurs seemed to be in control until late in the second half. Brian Brobbey (80′) found space in the box to fire home an equalizer, keeping the Black Cats inside the top eight.

The table as of January 6:

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