Premier League Roundup: Manchester United Beat City In Derby Shock As Liverpool Drop Crucial Points At Anfield

‎The Premier League delivered another dramatic weekend filled with unexpected results and major swings in momentum across the table.

‎Michael Carrick’s Manchester United produced the standout performance, sealing a derby win that shook up the race for European spots.

‎Elsewhere, key victories and costly slip-ups tightened the competition even further.

‎Carrick’s Era Begins in Style

‎Manchester United delivered one of their most commanding performances of the season, defeating Manchester City 2–0 at Old Trafford in the 198th Manchester derby.

‎It was a dream managerial debut for Michael Carrick, appointed just four days earlier, as his team played with intensity, structure, and confidence that had been missing throughout the campaign.

‎The breakthrough arrived in the 65th minute when Bryan Mbeumo finished low into the far corner at the end of a lightning-quick counterattack.

‎Eleven minutes later, Patrick Dorgu added the second after beating Rico Lewis to turn in Matheus Cunha’s precise delivery. United were relentless throughout the match, striking the woodwork twice through Harry Maguire and Amad Diallo and having three goals ruled out for offside.

‎City failed to match United’s energy, and Pep Guardiola admitted as much afterward, saying the better team won.

‎The victory propelled United to fifth place, one point off Liverpool, and drastically shifted the mood around Old Trafford. With Sir Alex Ferguson watching with a smile from the stands, fans left believing in renewed purpose under Carrick.

‎Anfield Frustration Reaches Boiling Point

‎Liverpool’s 2026 struggles continued as they were held to a 1–1 draw by a Burnley side battling relegation.

‎Florian Wirtz put Liverpool in front with his fourth goal in six games, but Marcus Edwards struck the equaliser in the second half as Liverpool again paid the price for missed chances and defensive lapses.

‎Despite dominating possession, Liverpool could not break through Burnley’s defensive block, and several late opportunities were wasted.

‎The final whistle brought loud boos from the Anfield crowd, reflecting growing impatience with the team’s form. Manager Arne Slot said he understood the reaction, emphasising that Liverpool must expect better than a home draw against a bottom-two side.

‎The result extended their winless league run to four matches, placing serious pressure on their top-four hopes.

‎Gunners Held Again in Title Race Setback

‎Arsenal missed another opportunity to consolidate their lead at the top of the table after being held to a goalless draw at Nottingham Forest.

‎It marked their second consecutive 0–0 result in the league the first time in 14 years they have failed to score in back-to-back Premier League matches.

‎Forest defended bravely, closing down passing lanes and limiting Arsenal’s attacking combinations.

‎While the visitors controlled possession, they struggled to find rhythm in the final third, with chances falling short of their usual standard.

‎After Manchester City’s defeat earlier in the weekend, Arsenal were unable to capitalise, leaving the title race more open than before.

‎Villa’s Home Fortress Finally Falls

‎Aston Villa’s 11-match home winning run ended with a 1–0 loss to Everton at Villa Park.

‎Pau Torres’ costly error, a misplaced pass that put Emi Martinez under pressure, set the tone early. Martinez’s spilled save fell to Thierno Barry, who calmly slotted in the decisive goal.

‎The result was a significant blow to Villa’s hopes of climbing into the top two, as a victory would have taken them above Manchester City and closer to Arsenal.

‎Manager Unai Emery remained grounded after the loss, saying his team is performing above expectations but must continue pushing.

‎Everton, meanwhile, climbed into the top half of the table, underlining their rapid improvement after a shaky start to the season.

‎Rosenior Makes a Strong First Impression

‎Newly appointed Chelsea manager Liam Rosenior enjoyed a confident Premier League debut as his side beat Brentford 2–0 at Stamford Bridge.

‎João Pedro opened the scoring with a composed finish after a well-constructed move, and Cole Palmer secured the victory in the second half from the penalty spot.

‎Chelsea controlled the match from start to finish, displaying signs of Rosenior’s possession-focused style. Brentford, who had been unbeaten in their previous five matches, struggled to create meaningful chances.

‎The win pushed Chelsea into sixth place and signaled a promising start to Rosenior’s tenure.

‎Late Drama Extends Leeds’ Impressive Form

‎Leeds United continued their strong return to the Premier League with a dramatic 1–0 victory over Fulham at Elland Road.

‎Lukas Nmecha scored deep into stoppage time, converting a decisive late chance that sent the home crowd into celebration.

‎The result extended Leeds’ run to just one defeat in their last nine league matches and only one loss in their last ten games across all competitions.

‎Their disciplined defending, energetic midfield press, and well-timed transitions have made them one of the season’s surprise successes.

‎Glasner Voices Frustration Amid Squad Unrest

‎Crystal Palace’s turbulent season worsened after a 2–1 defeat to Sunderland, coming just one day after manager Oliver Glasner confirmed he would leave the club at season’s end.

‎The atmosphere grew more tense when Glasner criticised the club’s decision to sell captain Marc Guehi to Manchester City immediately before a Premier League fixture.

‎With Eberechi Eze already sold earlier in the season, Palace have been left with a thin squad and only a handful of senior players available.

‎Glasner said the team felt abandoned, intensifying concerns about the club’s direction and their chances of avoiding a deeper slide.

‎“I feel we are being abandoned completely,” Glasner told the BBC.

‎“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.”

‎Improved Wolves Still Face the Drop

‎Wolves extended their unbeaten run to five matches with a goalless draw at Newcastle, but the point did little to improve their relegation outlook.

‎After collecting just two points from their first 18 matches, a historically poor start, they remain 14 points from safety despite recent improvements.

‎Their focus has now shifted toward avoiding setting the lowest points total in Premier League history, currently held by Derby County’s 11-point season.

‎Newcastle, meanwhile, lost momentum after three straight league wins.