Drama. That is basically the only word that fits right now. If you haven't been glued to the television this weekend, you've missed a massive shift in how the 2025/26 season is shaping up. Honestly, the latest standing in English Premier League looks like someone took the table and gave it a violent shake.
Mikel Arteta is currently fuming. You can't really blame him. Arsenal had a golden chance to move nine points clear at the summit on Saturday night, but they got caught in a swampy 0-0 draw against Nottingham Forest at the City Ground. It was one of those games where the league leaders looked world-class for 20 minutes and then just... ran out of ideas. Matz Sels was a brick wall for Forest, and despite Arsenal’s 70% possession, they couldn't find a way through.
But here is the kicker. Even though Arsenal "dropped" points, they actually extended their lead.
The title race is getting weird
Usually, when the leaders draw, the chasing pack pounces. Not this time. Earlier on Saturday, the Manchester Derby turned into a total nightmare for Pep Guardiola. Manchester United—under the interim guidance of Michael Carrick—absolutely dismantled Manchester City 2-0 at Old Trafford. Goals from Bryan Mbeumo and Patrick Dorgu didn't just win the game; they sent shockwaves through the title race.
Manchester City are stuck on 43 points. They’ve lost five games already this season. For a Pep team, that’s almost unheard of. Erling Haaland has now gone seven games without a goal from open play. People are starting to whisper about a "slump," and while that sounds crazy for a guy with 20 goals this season, the eye test doesn't lie. He looks isolated.
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So, where does that leave the latest standing in English Premier League?
- Arsenal: 50 points (22 games)
- Manchester City: 43 points (22 games)
- Aston Villa: 43 points (21 games)
- Liverpool: 36 points (22 games)
Aston Villa are the "stealth" challengers here. Unai Emery has a game in hand, and if they win that, they leapfrog City into second place, just four points behind Arsenal. It's the most wide-open the top three has looked in years.
Champions in crisis?
Liverpool fans are having a rough January. Arne Slot’s team was held to a 1-1 draw by Burnley at Anfield. Let that sink in. Burnley are 19th in the table, fighting for their lives, and they walked away from Anfield with a point thanks to a Marcus Edwards equalizer.
Liverpool had 32 shots. 32! But without Mohamed Salah, who is currently away at the Africa Cup of Nations, they lack that "killer" instinct. Florian Wirtz scored their only goal, but the Reds have now drawn four matches in a row. They are sitting in fourth, but Manchester United is now breathing down their necks, just one point behind in fifth.
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The European spots are a total mess. Sunderland—yes, the newly promoted Sunderland—are sitting in 8th place with 33 points. They beat Crystal Palace 2-1 this weekend, a result that led to Palace manager Oliver Glasner basically losing his mind in the post-match press conference. He slammed the board for selling Marc Guehi to Manchester City just 24 hours before the match. It’s chaotic.
The Relegation Scrap
Down at the bottom, things are getting desperate. Wolves are in serious trouble. One win in 22 games. They have 8 points. It’s looking like a long road to the Championship for them unless a miracle happens in the transfer window.
West Ham pulled off the shock of the weekend, beating Tottenham 2-1 away from home. Callum Wilson, of all people, popped up with a 92nd-minute winner. It was Nuno Espírito Santo’s first win in 11 games, and it moved the Hammers up to 17 points, five clear of the drop zone. Spurs fans, meanwhile, spent the afternoon booing Thomas Frank. It's not a happy time in North London.
Key Stats to Know Right Now
If you're looking at the latest standing in English Premier League for your FPL team or just for bragging rights, these are the numbers that actually matter:
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- Golden Boot: Erling Haaland still leads with 20 goals, but Brentford’s Igor Thiago is surging with 16.
- Assists: Bruno Fernandes is the creative king right now with 9 assists, thriving under Carrick's new system.
- Defense: Arsenal has the best defensive record, conceding only 14 goals in 22 matches. William Saliba and Gabriel are the main reason they are top of the pile.
- Discipline: Cristian Romero leads the league in yellow cards (9). No surprises there.
What happens next?
The next two weeks are pivotal. Arsenal has to face Manchester United at the Emirates. Given how Carrick has United playing—fast, aggressive, and direct—that is no longer a "guaranteed" three points for the Gunners. If United wins that, and Villa wins their game in hand, we could have a three-way tie for second place within a week.
The transfer window is also wide open. Watch for Crystal Palace and West Ham to be active. Glasner's public meltdown suggests Palace are desperate for reinforcements, and West Ham needs a consistent striker if they want to stay away from the bottom three.
Keep an eye on the injury reports for Arsenal. Losing Bukayo Saka or Martin Ødegaard for any length of time would be disastrous. They have the lead, but as Forest proved this weekend, they aren't invincible. The latest standing in English Premier League is a snapshot of a race that is far from over.
If you're following the title race, focus on the "Points Per Game" for Aston Villa. They are the true disruptors. For the relegation battle, watch Burnley’s upcoming fixtures; their draw at Anfield proves they can park the bus against anyone. The smartest move right now is to track the return dates for AFCON players, as Salah’s return to Liverpool will likely determine if they stay in the top four or tumble into the Europa League spots.