Premier League saturday: Carrick's dream United return

Saturday's Premier League action delivered drama across the board as Michael Carrick made a dream start to his interim reign at Manchester United with a convincing 2-0 derby victory over Manchester City. Liverpool were frustrated by Burnley in a 1-1 draw, Chelsea finally ended their winless run by beating Brentford, and West Ham stunned Tottenham with a stoppage-time winner.

Manchester United 2-0 Manchester City: Carrick's Perfect Start

Michael Carrick couldn't have scripted a better beginning to his tenure as Manchester United's interim manager. The club legend oversaw a dominant 2-0 victory over Manchester City in the 198th Manchester derby, delivering United's first win of 2026.

United were the better side throughout at Old Trafford, though they were made to wait for the breakthrough. Both Amad Diallo and Bruno Fernandes had goals disallowed for offside in a frustrating first half for the hosts, while City, with Nathan Aké playing the full ninety minutes and Tijjani Reijnders introduced as a substitute, created little of note.

The deadlock was finally broken in the 65th minute when Bryan Mbeumo, back from Africa Cup of Nations duty, fired home to give United a deserved lead. Patrick Dorgu doubled the advantage ten minutes later with a clinical finish.

Mason Mount thought he had added a third in stoppage time, but his effort was ruled out for offside—the third disallowed goal of the afternoon for United. Matthijs de Ligt and Joshua Zirkzee were both absent through injury, while Tyrell Malacia remained on the bench.

The victory lifts United temporarily to fourth in the Premier League, though Liverpool and Brentford could still overtake them. For City, the defeat sees them fall further behind leaders Arsenal in the title race.

Manchester United tickets holders witnessed a memorable afternoon, while Manchester City tickets supporters endured a frustrating display from their team.

Liverpool 1-1 Burnley: Reds Frustrated Again

Liverpool's title hopes suffered another setback as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Burnley at Anfield. Arne Slot's side have now won just one of their last five Premier League matches.

The Reds had the perfect opportunity to take an early lead when they were awarded a penalty after half an hour, but Dominik Szoboszlai struck the crossbar with his spot-kick. Florian Wirtz made amends ten minutes later, firing a powerful shot into the top corner to give Liverpool the lead at halftime.

Cody Gakpo, who started alongside Virgil van Dijk, Jeremie Frimpong, and Ryan Gravenberch, almost doubled the advantage early in the second half, but his long-range effort was cleared off the line by Bashir Humphreys.

Burnley equalised midway through the second half through Marcus Edwards, the former Excelsior winger, who found the bottom corner with a precise finish. Liverpool pushed for a winner and came close on several occasions—Humphreys produced another goal-line clearance, while Hugo Ekitiké had a goal ruled out for offside.

Liverpool tickets holders left Anfield frustrated as their team's inconsistency continues to undermine their season.

Chelsea 2-0 Brentford: Blues End Winless Run

Chelsea finally ended their Premier League winless streak with a 2-0 victory over Brentford at Stamford Bridge. It was the Blues' first league win since December 13th.

Jorrel Hato was named on the Chelsea bench and came on for the final five minutes, while Sepp van den Berg remained an unused substitute for Brentford. An entertaining first half saw Alejandro Garnacho waste a good chance for the hosts, while Mathias Jensen struck the post for the visitors.

The breakthrough came before the interval when João Pedro pounced on sloppy Brentford defending to fire high into the net. Robert Sánchez preserved Chelsea's lead early in the second half with a fine save to deny Kevin Schade.

Cole Palmer sealed the victory from the penalty spot after Caoimhín Kelleher fouled Liam Delap in the area. The 2-0 win lifts Chelsea to sixth place, leapfrogging Brentford who drop to seventh.

Chelsea tickets holders celebrated a much-needed victory after weeks of disappointment.

Tottenham Hotspur 1-2 West Ham United: Summerville Stars in Crucial Win

West Ham United claimed a vital victory in their battle against relegation, stunning Tottenham 2-1 with a stoppage-time winner at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. John Heitinga watched from the bench for his first match as Thomas Frank's assistant.

Crysencio Summerville gave West Ham the lead after fifteen minutes with a brilliant individual goal. The Rotterdam-born winger collected the ball on the left, dribbled past several defenders, and saw his shot deflect off a Spurs player and into the net.

Both teams had chances to score in an open contest. Taty Castellanos, West Ham's January signing, twice failed to convert good opportunities, while Wilson Odobert was denied by a superb Alphonse Areola save.

Spurs were the better side after the break and equalised when Cristian Romero headed home Pedro Porro's cross. Xavi Simons came close to winning it for the hosts, but Areola produced another excellent stop.

Deep into stoppage time, West Ham snatched all three points. A corner wasn't cleared, and after a scramble involving Djed Spence and Guglielmo Vicario, Callum Wilson bundled the ball over the line to spark wild celebrations.

The defeat leaves Spurs with just one win in seven matches ahead of their Champions League clash with Borussia Dortmund. West Ham move to within four points of safety.

Tottenham Hotspur tickets holders endured more late heartbreak, while West Ham United tickets supporters celebrated a crucial three points.

Table Implications

Arsenal's lead at the top remains intact after another day of dropped points for their rivals. Manchester City's defeat at Old Trafford sees them fall further behind in the title race, while Liverpool's draw against Burnley continues their underwhelming 2026.

Manchester United's victory under Carrick provides a much-needed boost, while Chelsea's return to winning ways offers hope of a top-four finish. At the bottom, West Ham's win could prove pivotal in their survival battle.

The Premier League drama continues. Secure your tickets for upcoming fixtures and experience the action live at these iconic stadiums.