The Premier League doesn't usually do "quiet," but what happened today at Old Trafford felt like a fever dream. If you'd told me a week ago that Michael Carrick would be standing in the technical area as Manchester United head coach, masterminding a 2-0 demolition of Manchester City, I’d have probably asked you to check your temperature. But here we are. It’s January 17, 2026, and the English Premier League current news is dominated by a Red Devils revival that nobody—and I mean nobody—saw coming.
Football is funny like that. One minute, United are stuck in a post-Ruben Amorim slump, and the next, they're painting Manchester red. Bryan Mbeumo and Patrick Dorgu scored the goals, but this wasn't just a lucky smash-and-grab. United hit the woodwork twice and had three goals ruled out by VAR. If Gianluigi Donnarumma hadn’t been standing on his head in the City goal, we could have been looking at a four or five-nil scoreline. Honestly, Pep Guardiola looked a bit shell-shocked at the final whistle.
The Carrick Effect and a City Slump
It's kinda wild how a change in the dugout can flip a team’s energy overnight. Carrick went back to basics, a 4-2-3-1 shape that looked solid, and suddenly United’s players actually looked like they enjoyed running. Mbeumo, fresh back from AFCON duty with Cameroon, looked absolutely lethal. His opening goal in the 65th minute came from a break led by Bruno Fernandes that was basically vintage United.
City, on the other hand? They’re in a proper funk. This loss means they haven’t won in four league games. Erling Haaland was kept so quiet he was basically a spectator. It’s rare to see a Guardiola side look this toothless, but they’re clearly feeling the pressure of the chase.
Arsenal's Missed Open Goal
You’d think Arsenal would be celebrating. With City losing, the Gunners had a golden ticket to pull nine points clear at the top of the table. Instead, they went to Nottingham Forest and put in a performance that was, frankly, a bit of a slog.
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A 0-0 draw at the City Ground isn't a disaster, but it’s Mikel Arteta’s second goalless stalemate in a row. They had chances—four "big" ones according to Arteta—but they just couldn't find the net. Viktor Gyokeres is currently in a bit of a drought from open play, which is starting to worry the North London faithful. The gap at the top is now seven points. It’s a healthy lead, sure, but it feels like they’ve left the door ajar for the chasing pack.
- Arsenal: 50 points (22 games played)
- Manchester City: 43 points (22 games played)
- Aston Villa: 43 points (21 games played)
Keep an eye on Aston Villa. If they beat Everton at Villa Park tomorrow, they’ll jump into second place and move within four points of Arsenal. Unai Emery has quietly turned Villa into a genuine title threat while everyone else was busy talking about the "Big Six."
Liverpool’s Anfield Frustration
While we're talking about English Premier League current news, we have to mention the atmosphere at Anfield today. It wasn't pretty. Liverpool drew 1-1 with 19th-place Burnley, and the fans made their feelings known with a chorus of boos at full-time.
Arne Slot’s men haven't won a league game since the calendar flipped to 2026. Florian Wirtz scored his fourth goal in six matches to give them the lead, but they let Marcus Edwards equalize and couldn't find a winner. Slot was pretty honest afterwards, saying he understood why the fans were frustrated. When you're the defending champions and you can't beat Burnley at home, questions are going to be asked.
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The January Transfer Carousel
It's mid-January, so the rumors are flying faster than a Kyle Walker sprint. We’ve already seen some big movement. Manchester City dropped £62.5 million on Antoine Semenyo from Bournemouth earlier this month to bolster their attack. It didn't help them today, but it shows they aren't afraid to spend to fix their issues.
Tottenham have brought in Conor Gallagher to add some bite to their midfield, and Crystal Palace just paid nearly £35 million for Brennan Johnson. The big story lurking in the background, though, is Marc Guehi. He sat out Palace’s game against Sunderland today, and the word on the street is that Manchester City are closing in on a deal for the England defender.
What This Means for the Table
The top of the table is starting to look like a game of musical chairs. United’s win moves them up to fifth, just one point behind Liverpool in fourth. Chelsea are right there too, sitting sixth after Joao Pedro helped them edge past Brentford.
Down at the bottom, it's getting grim for Wolves. They’re stuck on 7 points after 21 games. West Ham and Burnley are also in the thick of it, though Burnley’s point at Anfield today will feel like a massive win for their survival hopes.
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Key Insights for the Week Ahead
If you're following the English Premier League current news, here is what you actually need to watch out for over the next few days:
- Watch the Villa Game: If Aston Villa beat Everton, the title race officially becomes a three-horse race. Emery has the tactical edge right now.
- Monitor the Guehi Deal: If City land Marc Guehi before the window shuts, it might be the defensive reset they need to stop the rot.
- United's Next Test: Carrick’s "honeymoon" period faces a massive test next week against Arsenal. If they win that, the "Carrick In" chants will be deafening.
- Liverpool’s Depth: With a winless run stretching back four games, Arne Slot might be forced into the transfer market for a striker who can actually finish the chances Wirtz is creating.
The league is wide open. Arsenal are wobbling, City are slumping, and Manchester United have a new hero. It’s going to be a long, chaotic road to May.
Actionable Next Steps:
Keep a close eye on the official Premier League injury reports for the midweek training sessions. With the January window closing on February 2, expect a flurry of "panic buys" from teams in the bottom half looking to avoid the drop. If you are tracking the title race, the result of the Aston Villa vs. Everton match on Sunday evening is now the most important fixture in the calendar to see if Arsenal's lead is truly under threat.