Hammers Edge Towards Safety and is it Game Over for Frank? Football Park’s Premier League Recap
Hammers Close in on Safety and is it Game Over for Frank? Football Park's Premier League GW23 Review
Gameweek 23 of the Premier League season got underway on Saturday lunchtime, following a short break during midweek as some sides turned their attention to European football.
There were five incredibly important games for various reasons on Saturday, and the fixtures had 18 goals across them, with each result inflicting serious impacts to sides up and down the table.
Football Park are here to give you the rundown on the events of each match through the day, explaining the impact the match had on the standings.
West Ham Earn Another Crucial Win to Aid Survival Bid
West Ham 3-1 Sunderland - Summerville (14'), Bowen (28' pen), Fernandes (43'); Brobbey (66').
This time, however, Nuno Espirito Santo's side didn't leave it until the dying moments to secure the victory, and instead decided to come out the blocks firing. Crysencio Summerville troubled the scorers for the first time this weekend, after Jarrod Bowen found the Dutchman from his pinpoint cross in what was a very well executed chance.
Another 14 minutes later and the hosts had a chance to double their lead when Ollie Scarles was brought down in the box by Trai Hume, and Bowen made sure to take that golden opportunity.
The East Londoners would've bitten your hand off for a two-goal lead at the interval prior to the game, but summer signing Mateus Fernandes ensured the match was all but sealed by the 43rd-minute, when his thunderous strike sent them into dreamland.
The Black Cats found a consolation via Brian Brobbey with 25 minutes to go, but it was too little too late, as Sunderland's second defeat in three league games means they could slip outside the top half by the end of the gameweek. West Ham, meanwhile, now find themselves just two points off safety, after being seven adrift less than three weeks ago.
Is Time Up for Frank?
Burnley 2-2 Spurs - Tuanzebe (45'), Foster (76'); van de Ven (38'), Romero (90').
We now move on up to Turf Moor, where Scott Parker's Burnley continued their quest for a first win in the league since October. They welcomed a Tottenham side who are very much under a lot of pressure, with Thomas Frank's job in jeopardy for a number of weeks now, but the result in which the Lilywhites came away with could spell the end of Frank's short tenure in north London.
The visitors started the game strongly, finding a lot of pressure and chances early on. Their early dominance eventually led to success just shy of the 40 minute mark, when Micky van de Ven powered Spurs in front, despite resistance shown throughout by Martin Dubravka in the Burnley goal.
The lead only lasted seven minutes, however, as Axel Tuanzebe restored parity just before the break, after he latched onto the end of Kyle Walker's cross. Dubravka continued to frustrate the visitors in the second period, making nine saves in the game overall.
Substitute Lyle Foster was then able to get an opportunity to put the hosts ahead; and after an initial save from Guglielmo Vicario, the ball couldn't be cleared and Foster took full advantage to make it 2-1. Just when Parker's side looked like they were going to finally end their winless run, but they suffered a heart-wrenching finale, when Cristian Romero struck in stoppage-time to share the spoils.
The away end have made their thoughts known. It’s beyond ridiculous now. Burnley… 🤦♂️ pic.twitter.com/kcqA6KPQva
— Spurs Army (@SpursArmyTweets) January 24, 2026
Spurs continue to struggle in the bottom half, and now sit just eight points above the drop zone, while Burnley continue to seek for another win, with them residing seven points adrift.
Sensational Wilson Sends Cottagers into Top 7
Fulham 2-1 Brighton - Chukwueze (72'), Wilson (90'+2); Ayari (28').
The second 3pm kick-off to touch on occurred at Craven Cottage, in a midtable clash between Fulham and Brighton & Hove Albion. Both sides came into this fixture looking for a result which would take them into the top half of the table, and it came down to a moment of magic which secured the win for the hosts.
Both sides started well, but it was Fulham who created the better chances in the opening half hour. Despite this, it was the Seagulls who took the lead in the 28th minute through Yasin Ayari, who let loose a terrific strike from the edge of the box which left Bernd Leno no chance in goal.
Just moments later and the visitors almost doubled their lead. Leno was called into action to make a tough stop to deny Kaoru Mitoma, before Timothy Castagne had a clear the ball off the line to deny Ferdi Kadioglu.
The game continued to produce chances at both ends of the pitch in the second half, but it was the hosts who finally got their chance to level, as Joachim Andersen's long ball found Samuel Chukwueze who delivered the goods and levelled the score.
As we entered the second half stoppage-time, the Cottagers received a free-kick in a very dangerous. Up stepped Harry Wilson...
🚨| WHAT A SENSATIONAL FREE-KICK FROM HARRY WILSON IN THE 91ST MINUTE! 🥶
— FÚTBOL HUB (@futbol_hubX) January 24, 2026
NO WORDS! WOW! 🤯🔥
pic.twitter.com/RDdEpHsEtg
What a strike from the Welshman! That goal sends Marco Silva's side up to seventh in the league, and just two behind Liverpool in fourth.
Cityzens Return to Winning Ways
Manchester City 2-0 Wolves - Marmoush (6'), Semenyo (45'+2).
Perhaps the most boring and predictable game from Saturday's fixtures. After suffering consecutive defeats, Manchester City returned to winning ways in a very routine win over 20th place Wolves.
This was a game in which City's two winter signings in Marc Guehi and Antoine Semenyo both started, while Omar Marmoush was given the nod up top on his return from AFCON, while Erling Haaland started on the bench.
The Egyptian got his side off to a perfect start, in a play which came just after Guehi's headed effort on goal saved by Jose Sa. Matheus Nunes found space down the right flank, and his cross found Marmoush who easily slotted home.
City had all the pressure, with Semenyo troubling Sa in the first period, rattling the bar and forcing him to make a save. The Ghanaian eventually got his reward, as City sealed the win in first half stoppage-time after he coolly doubled their lead from an excellent shot struck from the edge of the box.
5 Games Without a Win as Reds Continue to Struggle
Bournemouth 3-2 Liverpool - Evanilson (26'), Jimenez (33'), Adli (90'+5); van Dijk (45'), Szoboszlai (80').
The final match of the day occurred at the Vitality Stadium, as Arne Slot's Liverpool travelled to the south coast to take on a struggling Bournemouth side, who sat just seven points above the relegation zone. Liverpool came into this match unbeaten in the last 13, however, also four league games without a win - if they were to fail to win here, it would mark the first time they had gone five league games winless since 2021.
The pressure was going back and forth in the opening half, but it was the hosts who were creating the quality chances and the most likely to produce the opener. A defensive mix up was how the first goal of the eveing came about, as Virgil van Dijk failed to clear the ball, leading to Evanilson's opener, which also resulted in Joe Gomez needing to come off injured after clashing with Alisson.
The Cherries doubled their lead just seven minutes later in what was a calamitous 10-minute period for the visitors. This time, James Hill created a wonderful opportunity for Alex Jimenez after playing the Spaniard through with a well-timed through ball which Jimenez cleaned up.
Liverpool did find a way back into the game just before the break, when none other than van Dijk rallied his troops to half the deficit, heading home from Dominik Szoboszlai's cross. Close chances at both ends were to come, but it wasn't until the 80th minute when the visitors got back on level terms.
AMINE ADLI WINS IT FOR BOURNEMOUTH!!!!!
— Gyökeres Hive (@_Gunner4Life_28) January 24, 2026
Bournemouth 3-2 Liverpool
pic.twitter.com/45hBua5qYj
Mo Salah smartly rolled the ball through to Szoboszlai from a free-kick, and the Hungarian found the gap in Djordje Petrovic's goal to level. As the game looked to be heading to an entertaining 2-2 draw, Amine Adli had one last laugh, scrambling the ball home in the last kick of the match.
The win means that Bournemouth leap ahead of Tottenham to 13th, while a first defeat in 2026 only increases the pressure on the 2024/25 Premier League winning coach Slot, as the Reds remain in fourth, but will be overtaken by both Manchester United and Chelsea should either of them win om Sunday.
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