Honestly, if you’re refreshing your apps looking for a massive slate of top-flight football tonight, you’re probably going to be a bit disappointed. It’s Thursday, January 15, 2026, and the English Premier League is currently in one of those weird, quiet pockets.
The chaos of the festive period is finally behind us. We just wrapped up a frantic set of Carabao Cup semi-finals—did you see Chelsea’s 3-2 collapse against Arsenal yesterday?—and now the league is catching its breath. There are no Premier League games scheduled for today.
It feels off, doesn't it? Especially with the January transfer window in full swing. Usually, we’d expect a random mid-week fixture to keep us busy, but the schedule-makers have given the players a tiny window of recovery before Matchweek 22 kicks off this weekend.
The Calm Before the Manchester Derby Storm
While today's fixtures English Premier League search might come up empty for actual match action, the league table is currently a powder keg. Arsenal is sitting pretty at the top with 49 points, but Manchester City and a resurgent Aston Villa are breathing down their necks, both tied on 43 points.
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Everyone is basically just waiting for Saturday. That’s when the real fireworks start. We have the Manchester Derby at Old Trafford (4:30 AM ET / 9:30 AM GMT), which is basically the only thing anyone in the North West is talking about right now.
If you're desperate for football today, you've gotta look elsewhere. The Women's Premier League is active, and there’s some Copa Del Rey action in Spain (Barcelona is playing Racing de Santander), but for the Prem, we're in a holding pattern.
Injury News That Actually Matters Today
Even without games, the "medical room" is where the league is being won or lost right now. This morning, news dropped that Cole Palmer is dealing with a "minor" thigh strain. Chelsea’s coach, Liam Rosenior, confirmed he missed the Arsenal cup game and is a massive doubt for their weekend clash against Brentford.
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"I can't afford to lose Cole for six weeks," Rosenior said. He's right. Without Palmer, Chelsea looks sort of aimless.
Over at Liverpool, there’s a bit of a crisis at right-back. Conor Bradley just underwent knee surgery, and with Mo Salah still away (though Egypt just got knocked out of AFCON), Arne Slot is having to get creative with his lineups.
What the Table Looks Like Right Now
It’s worth looking at the standings because the bottom half is a total disaster zone.
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- Arsenal: 49 pts (The runaway leaders)
- Man City: 43 pts (Struggling with draws lately)
- Aston Villa: 43 pts (Unai Emery is doing something magical)
- Wolves: 7 pts (Dead last and looking destined for the Championship)
West Ham and Burnley are also stuck in that relegation muck. If you’re a Hammers fan, things look bleak—only three wins all season. They don't play until next week, which might be a blessing given their current form.
How to Handle This Football Gap
Since there are no games today, use this time to fix your Fantasy Premier League (FPL) team. The deadline is looming. With the Manchester Derby on Saturday and Arsenal traveling to Nottingham Forest, you need to decide if you’re sticking with Haaland or pivoting to an in-form Arsenal asset like Kai Havertz.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Check the FPL Deadline: Make sure your transfers are locked in by Friday evening.
- Monitor the Transfer Portal: January 15 is often when the "panic buys" start happening. Keep an eye on Newcastle; they’ve been linked with several defenders to bolster their European push.
- Set Your Alarms: Saturday’s early kickoff is the Manchester Derby. Don’t sleep through the biggest game of the month.
The league might be quiet today, but the title race is anything but.