> At a Glance
> – Arsenal lead the Premier League by six points after Matchweek 20
> – Manchester City have drawn back-to-back games vs. Sunderland and Chelsea
> – Matchweek 21 runs Jan. 6-8, headlined by Arsenal-Liverpool on Thursday
> – Why it matters: The title race tightens as the season crosses the halfway mark
The Premier League’s first full midweek slate of 2025 arrives with fresh drama at the top: leaders Arsenal welcome Liverpool while wounded champions Manchester City try to rebound against Brighton.
Title Race Update
City’s consecutive stalemates have handed the initiative to Mikel Arteta’s side, who now sit six points clear. Pep Guardiola’s squad is also coping with fresh defensive injuries, intensifying their need for January reinforcements.
Arsenal‘s reward is a Thursday night clash with Liverpool (3 p.m. ET, NBCSN/Peacock). The Reds, 14 points behind the Gunners, will be without Mohamed Salah (AFCON duty) and could also miss Hugo Ekitike (hamstring).
Around the League
- Manchester United travel to Burnley on Wednesday (3:15 p.m. ET, USA) in their first outing since Ruben Amorim left; Darren Fletcher takes interim charge.
- Aston Villa, stung 4-1 at Arsenal last time out, visit Crystal Palace, winless in five and at risk of losing Marc Guehi this window.
Full Matchweek 21 Schedule
| Day | Time (ET) | Fixture | Platform |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tue 6 | 3 p.m. | West Ham vs. Nott’m Forest | USA/USA Network |
| Wed 7 | 2:30 p.m. | Bournemouth vs. Tottenham | Peacock |
| Wed 7 | 2:30 p.m. | Brentford vs. Sunderland | Peacock |
| Wed 7 | 2:30 p.m. | Crystal Palace vs. Aston Villa | Peacock |
| Wed 7 | 2:30 p.m. | Everton vs. Wolves | Peacock |
| Wed 7 | 2:30 p.m. | Fulham vs. Chelsea | Peacock |
| Wed 7 | 2:30 p.m. | Man City vs. Brighton | Peacock |
| Wed 7 | 3:15 p.m. | Burnley vs. Man United | USA/USA Network |
| Wed 7 | 3:15 p.m. | Newcastle vs. Leeds | Peacock |
| Thu 8 | 3 p.m. | Arsenal vs. Liverpool | NBCSN/Peacock |
All matches also stream on NBC.com and the new NBC Sports Network.
Key Takeaways
- Arsenal can extend their cushion with a win over depleted Liverpool
- City need victory to keep pace and may dip into the transfer market for defensive cover
- United begin life after Amorim against relegation-threatened Burnley
- Palace’s slide and Villa’s response add subplot to the top-four fight
With 10 fixtures squeezed into three days, Matchweek 21 could reshape ambitions at both ends of the table before the weekend arrives.
