After the FA Cup took centre stage last weekend, the English Premier League returns for a massive weekend of football. The second Manchester Derby of the season headlines Matchday 22’s slate, as Manchester City look to close the gap on league leaders Arsenal.
EPL 2025-26: Matchday 22 Preview & Betting Tips
Manchester United vs Manchester City
Old Trafford, Saturday 17th January, 11:30pm AEDT
Three consecutive draws and the sacking of Ruben Amorim has halted Manchester United’s momentum, with the Red Devils dropping to seventh on the table. Michael Carrick’s first game as interim manager is one of the most difficult you can get, with a derby against Manchester City. City have had three consecutive draws which has hurt them badly in the title race, as they sit six points behind Arsenal. Pep Guardiola’s side failed to capitalise on a dominant performance in their last game, held to a 1-1 draw by Brighton despite having 20 shots on goal to Brighton’s 7 and recording 59% possession.
It’s been a recurring theme for City in their last three games, where they have won the shot count by +13, +7 and +6. They’ve also won the possession comfortably in each game with 67%, 58% and 59%, but they only have two goals to show from those three games. Fortunately for Manchester City, they are coming up against one of the worst defensive sides in the Premier League, who won’t be able to hold up against those sort of numbers. Manchester United have conceded 32 goals, the seventh most in the league, with the six sides ahead of them occupying the bottom six places on the Premier League table.
Despite the disappointment of their form in January you can’t ignore the fact that Manchester City are unbeaten in their last nine games, while Manchester United have only three wins in that same timespan. City have certainly had the better of the Manchester Derby in recent years, with a 6-1-2 record across their last nine games against United in the Premier League. The tide has to turn for City given the dominance they have shown in general play, it will translate to the scoreboard against a struggling Manchester United.
Manchester United to Win
$1.94 (2 Units)
Chelsea vs Brentford
Stamford Bridge, Sunday 18th January, 2:00am AEDT
It’s a West London clash at Stamford Bridge as the spiralling Chelsea take on the red hot Brentford. Chelsea are winless in their last five games and have had just one win in their last nine league games, which has seen them drop to eighth place on the table, with new manager Liam Rosenior facing a huge challenge. Brentford on the other hand have flown into fifth place, thanks to four wins from their last five games. The Bees have had an easy recent schedule, but unlike other sides they have made the most of it, and are in the hunt to play in Europe next season.
Brentford’s form has come on the back of an improved attacking system, which has seen them become one of the best attacking teams in the league. The Bees have scored 35 goals this season, the fourth most in the Premier League and have scored 11 goals in their last four games. Chelsea haven’t been an attacking threat since the early stages of the season, so it’s definitely an area of the ground that Bournemouth can expose them in.
Bringing in a new manager during the season is always going to cause some chaos and instability, bringing a reasonable adjustment period before results are expected. Chelsea have been on a horrible run of form since the beginning of December, while Brentford have been playing their best football of the season over the last month. Stamford Bridge hasn’t been a tough place for opposing teams this season, with Chelsea having just a 4-3-3 record at the venue. Chelsea have only one win from their last four home games, and the in-form Brentford will continue their rise with another win.
Brentford to Win
$4.40 (1 Unit)
Nottingham Forest vs Arsenal
City Ground, Sunday 18th January, 4:30am AEDT
Everything has fallen into place for Arsenal over the last month, as they remain comfortable in first place. The Gunners dropped points against Liverpool last week, however Manchester City and Aston Villa also were held to draws, meaning they didn’t gain any ground on the league leaders. Arsenal now head to Nottingham for a matchup against Forest, where they come in as heavy favourites against the home side who are in seventeenth place. Forest ended a four game losing streak with a win over West Ham in their last match, which was crucial in the relegation battle, with Forest moving seven points clear of the relegation zone.
Arsenal have been a picture of consistency this season, having the number one ranked defence (14 goals conceded), the second ranked attack (40 goals scored) and rank third for possession (57.8%). They will expose a struggling Nottingham Forest side that ranks 18th for goals scored, 15th for goals conceded and 12th for possession. The gap in quality across all facets of the game is far too big to make up for Forest, with the question looming as not if Arsenal will win, but by how much.
The Gunners had been in great attacking form before their draw last week, scoring nine goals in their prior three games. Arsenal’s recent record against Nottingham Forest also points to another big win. Since Forest’s promotion in 2022, the Gunners have recorded five wins, one draw and one loss in Premier League fixtures against Nottingham Forest. Two of the last three games between the two sides have resulted in 3-0 wins for Arsenal, and this game will head in a similar direction.
Arsenal -1
$2.25 (1.5 Units)
