Premier League Round 20 Review - Every Fixture as it Happened
Blogs

Premier League Round 20 Review - Every Fixture as it Happened

Premier League Round 20 Review - Every Fixture as it Happened

The Premier League first fixtures of 2026 were action packed. With goals, errors and shocks across all parts of the league table as the second half of the campaign kicked off in style.

Here is our review of every fixture across the top flight as it played out throughout the weekend.

Aston Villa 3-1 Nottingham Forest

The first fixture of the matchweek took us to Villa Park as Unai Emery’s side looked to bounce back to winning ways following the 4-1 defeat at Emirates Stadium to Arsenal in midweek.

And the Villains responded glowingly despite a frustrating opening 45 mins where despite having 80% of the ball, the home side couldn’t find a way past a stubborn Forest. However, a superb Ollie Watkins strike from the edge of the box – his fourth in three games – right before the break got the lead Villa needed.

And that lead was swiftly doubled four minutes after the interval through captain John McGinn. Who returned to the starting XI after being on the bench at the start of the match versus Arsenal.

Morgan Gibbs-White pulled one back for Forest on the hour, but the two goal lead was restored by McGinn through an error from Forest keeper John Victor. Who inexplicably left his area to clear a ball, but the Scot struck past him and into the empty net to seal the deal and send his side second in the table.

Brighton 2-0 Burnley

The first of just two 3pm kickoffs on Saturday saw two teams in poor form take on each other as Brighton hosted Burnley at the Amex Stadium.

The home side were without a win since 30th November six games ago, whilst Scott Parker's Burnley were waiting for their first victory since October, with Parker coming under pressure at Turf Moor.

Georginio Rutter opened the scoring with a powerful low drive across the goal half an hour in to give Fabian Hurzeler's team a much needed lead.

Swedish midfielder Yasin Ayari made it two for the Seagulls just two minutes into the second half. However, Burnley could have pulled one back to make the final stages nervy for Brighton, but defender Ferdi Kadioglu brilliantly cleared the effort off the line to preserve the two goal advantage and eventually the win for Brighton.

The result leaves Burnley on 12 points in 19th, whilst Brighton move up to 8th ahead of Sunday's matches.

Wolves 3-0 West Ham United

By far the most eye-catching result of Saturday's fixtures, despite the recent poor form of West Ham few would have predicted Wolves to earn three points at Molineux, especially in the way they did.

The side bottom of the table and still without a win all season roared into a three nil first half lead, with summer signing Jhon Arias finding the net for the first time as a Wolves player after just four minutes. Before Hwang-Hee-Chan doubled the lead from the spot, and 18-year old Mateus Mane struck home into the bottom corner to round off a dream opening forty-five minutes for Rob Edwards team.

Despite making changes at half-time, there was no answer from West Ham in the second half, who stay in the relegation zone with increasing pressure now on Nuno Espirito Santo at London Stadium.

Wolves meanwhile may still be six points behind 19th, but the mood will be looking slightly brighter with the first win since April under their belt at last.

AFC Bournemouth 2-3 Arsenal

A Declan Rice second half brace on his return to the Arsenal lineup saw the Gunners momentarily go six points clear at the top of the Premier League table with a crucial win on a freezing evening on the South Coast.

The match started in horrible fashion for Arsenal however, as centre-back Gabriel played a pass directly into the feet of Bournemouth striker Evanilson, who made no mistake to open the scoring. However, the Brazilian quickly redeemed himself just six minutes later with a powerful volley to draw the game back level.

Bournemouth continued to cause Arsenal problems in a nervy first half for the Gunners, however Mikel Arteta's side found the lead ten minutes into the second half with a pin-point effort from Rice into the bottom corner.

The England international would grab his second and his team's third on 71 minutes, striking into an empty net from Bukayo Saka's pullback.

The Cherries would make things difficult for Arsenal, pulling one back with a fine strike from teenager Eli Junior Kroupi. But the Gunners held on to claim a big three points.

Leeds 1-1 Manchester United

Leeds United and Manchester United renewed their historic rivalry at Elland Road on Sunday lunchtime as a goal for each in the space of three minutes saw the points shared.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin came closest in a tense first half as the in-form striker hit the post with a glancing header. But the deadlock was eventually broken on the hour mark as a poor back pass from Diogo Dalot and slow defending from Ayden Heaven allowed American forward Brenden Aaronson to break through and slot past the Utd goalkeeper to send Elland Road wild.

However, the home side's joy did not last, as just three minutes later newly introduced substitute Joshua Zirkzee played in Mathus Cunha and the Brazilian managed to poke a finish past Lucas Perri for Manchester United to put the game back level.

Daniel Farke brought on some attacking substitutions to try and take the three points in the latter stages but there were to be no more goals, with the draw enough to extend Leeds' impressive unbeaten run to seven matches.

Tottenham 1-1 Sunderland

Sunderland earned yet another point in their fourth consecutive draw to go 8th in the table away at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

Thomas Frank's Spurs were dealt a blow early in the first half as Mohammed Kudus was forced off injured, however the blow was softened when Ben Davies - starting for the first time in the league this season - gave the home side the lead from close range following a corner.

However, Sunderland would draw level late in the second half in thumping fashion through Brian Brobbey. As the striker brought in from Ajax smashed home on the half volley with ten minutes to go.

The goal proved to be the last as both teams settled for a point, one which won't do Frank many favours as the Spurs fanbase continues to grow impatient with the Danish manager.

Everton 2-4 Brentford

Six goals went in at Everton's new Hill Dickinson Stadium, however unfortunately for the home support four of them went to the away side as an Igor Thiago hat-trick saw the Bees climb up into 7th.

The Brazilian striker gave Brentford a first half lead. But that lead went from 0-1 to 0-3 in just two minutes at the start of the second half as Nathan Collins headed home from a corner and Thiago grabbed his second.

Beto would glance a header into the bottom corner to give Everton some hope, but as they searched for a second they were caught on the break and Thiago made no mistake one-on-one with Pickford with a calm finish to seal an impressive victory for Keith Andrews.

The win sees Brentford into the European places for now, whilst Everton slip down to 12th.

Newcastle 2-0 Crystal Palace

Eddie Howe's Newcastle earned back-to-back wins in the Premier League with a 2-0 victory over Crystal Palace at St. James Park.

A tight and tense first half came and went goalless, but Palace midfielder Mark Hughes perhaps should have given his side the lead, as he missed a big chance after making a late run into the box but his effort went just wide.

The deadlock was broken on 70 minutes though when Magpies captain Bruno Guimaraes struck home from close range for his 7th of the season, making him Newcastle's top scorer from midfield.

Seven minutes later, German centre-back Malik Thiaw turned in a scramble in the box to double the lead and secure three vital points for the Geordies. Whilst the loss for Oliver Glasner side leaves them without a win in the league since beating Fulham at Craven Cottage in early December.

Fulham 2-2 Liverpool

A dramatic finish at Craven Cottage saw two stoppage time goals scored and eventually the points shared as a 97th minute screamer from Harrison Reed cancelled out Cody Gakpo's 93rd minute strike.

Former Liverpool man Harry Wilson opened the scoring in the first half with a fine finish, which was later awarded by VAR as the Welshman was deemed onside after the linesman had originally flagged him offside.

Florian Wirtz equalised for the Reds with just his second goal since arriving on Merseyside in the summer for over £100 million, there was a suspicion of offside which was originally given but a VAR check deemed the German to be onside and the goal was awarded.

Liverpool failed to properly threaten Bernd Leno in the FUlham goal following their equaliser, but it looked like they had snatched all three points as a Jeremie Frimpong cross was met at the back post by Gakpo with just four minutes of added time to play.

But just when it looked like it was over, Fulham substitute Harrison Reed smashed in a long-range effort with one minute to go to earn his side a point with one of the best goals of the Premier league season so far.

Manchester City 1-1 Chelsea

Enzo Fernandez stole a point for Chelsea at the Etihad in the 94th minute to keep Arsenal six clear at the top of the Premier League in the Blues first match since dismissal of Enzo Maresca.

Erling Haaland came closest in the opening stages, striking the post with a powerful left footed effort. Before Tijani Reijnders smashed home the opening goal with a strong strike of his own into the near top corner.

The game stayed at 1-0 throughout a cagey second half, but just when it looked like City would hold on for the victory a cross from Malo Gusto was met by Fernandez at the back post and eventually stabbed home to rescue a draw for Chelsea caretaker manager Callum Mcfarlane.

The goal was a dagger in the heart for City, who had struggled to impose themselves in the second half as Chelsea took more control. The result leaves Pep Guardiola's team level on points with Aston Villa on 42, whilst Arsenal are on 48 points. Chelsea meanwhile leapfrog Manchester United into 5th, three points off the top four.

Benji Kosartiyer
Journalist

Oliver Seymour

Freelance Content Writer

Videos
See more
Argentina's Massive Talent Pool | Off The Bar Podcast Episode 4 ft. Nacho Z
Seb & Colin Welcomes their first guest ‪@soynachoz‬ where they chat all things South American Football | Off the Bar Podcast Episod
Gyokeres Already a Failure? | Off The Bar Podcast Episode 3
Is Gyokeres already a flop? 🤔 VAR in the Championship & the West Ham Situation | Off The Bar with Colin & Seb Episode 3
Olise to win the next Ballon D'or | Off The Bar Podcast Episode 2
Did Dembele Deserve the Ballon D'or? 🏆 Olise the next winner? & players mental health! | Off The Bar with Colin & Seb Episode 2
Latest In News
See more
Rory Wilson Completes Move To Austrian Champions

Rory Wilson Completes Move To Austrian Champions

Scottish Transfer News

Champions League Winner Set For Move To Celtic

Champions League Winner Set For Move To Celtic

Scottish Transfer News

Aberdeen Eyes up Horneland: Is the Norwegian Manager Heading to Pittodrie?

Aberdeen Eyes up Horneland: Is the Norwegian Manager Heading to Pittodrie?

Manager News

Join our newsletter

Become a part of our community and never miss an update from Football Park.