The Premier League Preview — Gameweek 22

You have to love the melting pot that is the Premier League. It would seem the post-Christmas hangover hasn’t worn off for some of the, ahem, ‘bigger’ teams, with only Arsenal and Manchester City sitting in the top 6 of the form table.

This weekend looks to be one of those that can change the tide for the underperformers, but stinks of banana skin territory for those who are punching above their weight.

Manchester United Vs Manchester City

Michael Carrick is no stranger to Manchester Derbies, but he might not have wanted to start his tenure as interim boss of United with a visit from the blue side of the city. Pep caused misery in September with a 3-0 drubbing, and Carrick will hope that he gets the new manager bounce that can propel United into the European spots.

City arrive on the back of three consecutive draws and will be looking to remind everyone, not just United, who runs Manchester.

Chelsea Vs Brentford

You know what? We have to give Brentford enormous credit. They’re like that mate who plays any position in your Saturday League team. Awkward. Gangly. But somehow he gets the job done no matter where he’s deployed, and he even chips in with the odd screamer.

Brentford just don’t seem to care who they lose. Mbuemo? Wissa? Even Thomas Frank? Not a problem. They’re the form team in the league having won four of their last five, and they arrive at Stamford Bridge with one of the hottest strikers in the league — Igor Thiago. He’s already broken the Premier League record for the most scored by a Brazilian (16) in a single season, and we’re only in January.

The Blues, on other hand, are a jumble of uncertainty. You never know quite what you’re going to get when they take to the pitch, and despite a positive FA Cup performance under new manager Liam Rosenior, they’re yet to be challenged by proper Premier League opposition.

Much like Carrick, I’m sure Rosenior would have preferred a more gentle introduction to top flight management, but into the deep end he is thrown; it’s up to him as to whether he sinks or swims.

Leeds Vs Fulham

Another on the list of things we thought we’d never see again is Dominic Calvert-Lewin tearing it up in the Premier League, but here we are, in 2026, and he’s about to win Player of the Month for December.

While the Englishman has certainly been on fire, Leeds’ form has still been patchy — three draws bookended by a win and loss certainly doesn’t sparkle, but it’s enough to have carried them to some sort of safety for now. The silver lining is they have been much better at home — four wins and four draws have turned Elland Road into somewhat of a fortress, and when that crowd gets going we know it can turn the tide of any game.

Fulham, on the other hand, have to be one of the season’s surprise packages. Third in the form table and unbeaten in six (4W, 2D) the Cottagers have been free scoring while solid at the back. Their away form has been noticeably worse, so Leeds will feel like they can pull off an upset against one of the league’s form teams.

Liverpool Vs Burnley

Arne Slott is somehow still in a job, and in any other season Liverpool at Anfield against Burnley would usually be filed under “banker”… but football is a cruel mistress, and no one can guarantee which Liverpool side will show up.

Burnley will come with a very clear plan: sit deep, stay compact, slow the game down, and frustrate. They won’t care about possession stats or aesthetics; survival is the only metric that matters. And to be fair, they’ve made a habit of turning matches into a slog for teams who expect an open contest (hello Bournemouth, Everton & Man Utd). Liverpool’s job is patience. Break Burnley early and it could get ugly. Let doubt creep in, miss a couple of chances, and suddenly the Kop starts to feel nervy rather than celebratory.

These are the games that define title challengers.

Sunderland Vs Crystal Palace

I think most Sunderland fans knew their dizzying climb to the top of the table wasn’t going to last, but the Black Cats have impressed this season no matter what. They welcome Crystal Palace to the Stadium of Light looking to once again defend their unbeaten home record of five wins and five draws. The noise, the tempo, the sense that the crowd is on top of you all points to old-school Premier League energy, and it’s caught a few sides out this season.

Crystal Palace, though, are one of the hardest teams in the league to get a read on. On their day they’re organised, athletic, and dangerous on the break. On a bad day, they can drift through games without ever really imposing themselves.

Strangely they fare much better away from home (grabbing five wins on the road), and this feels like a proper test of Palace’s mentality. Sunderland will bring emotion in bucketloads; Palace have to bring calm, control, and leadership.

If the hosts score first, this could get very uncomfortable very quickly.

Tottenham Hotspur Vs West Ham United

No matter the form, no matter the league position, Spurs vs West Ham always has a bit of bite.

If you think Spurs’ season has been a bit of a let down, you only need to look at their opponents this weekend to see what true misery looks like. The Hammers have been poor from front to back, and that shows in the fact they’ve picked up just seven points from a possible 30 on the road this season.

It’s a classic clash of styles, and one that has produced more than its fair share of chaos over the years. Spurs need to show they can control games without overcommitting. West Ham will be waiting for that one lapse in the hope of nicking a result.

Nottingham Forest Vs Arsenal

Our final Saturday game takes us to the City Ground, where teams rarely feel comfortable, and Arsenal will know that coming in.

Sean Dyche’s Forest will make this physical, direct, and loud. They’ll play on second balls, set-pieces, and the energy of a crowd that thrives on the underdog narrative. It won’t be pretty, and they won’t care.

For Arsenal, this is about mindset as much as quality. Title races aren’t won with statement wins alone; they’re won by grinding out results on cold afternoons against teams fighting for their lives.

If Arsenal manage the occasion and stay patient, they should have enough. If they get dragged into Forest’s game, this could turn into a real test of nerve that would have unravelled them in previous campaigns, though they seem to be holding steady this season.

Final Whistle

This feels like one of those weekends that tells us far more than the table ever could. Derbies that expose gaps, in-form sides looking to prove they belong, and title hopefuls learning whether they can handle expectation rather than hype. There are no easy fixtures here, only tests of nerve, identity, and intent. By Saturday night, a few narratives will be ripped up, a few others doubled down on, and the Premier League chaos we all secretly love will be right on schedule.

And with stories like these flying around, it’s no surprise the weekend’s Premier League markets are absolutely stacked. Big personalities, big moments, and games that invite action if you’ve got a read on how they’ll play out.

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