Carrick's Perfect Return

Welcome to Monday's Football Digest. The weekend delivered a blockbuster Manchester derby, an AFCON final that veered into chaos before crowning Senegal champions, and yet another Premier League title opportunity spurned by Arsenal. Michael Carrick announced his return to the United dugout in spectacular fashion, while Pep Guardiola watched his title hopes slip further away in a week that also saw Marc Guehi arrive at the Etihad.

📊 WEEKEND STAT

Bruno Fernandes created 4 big chances in the Manchester derby — more than any other Premier League player in a single match this season.

The Portuguese playmaker was the beating heart of United's tactical transformation under Carrick, combining defensive work (4 tackles — most on the pitch) with relentless creativity to dismantle City's midfield, as reported by Squawka.

Michael Carrick's first match back at Old Trafford couldn't have been scripted better. United's 2-0 dismantling of Manchester City was as emphatic as the scoreline suggested — and probably should have been more. Three goals were disallowed for marginal offsides; Harry Maguire struck the crossbar inside three minutes. City managed just one shot on target against a side that had won once in their previous six league games. The difference was intensity: United won tackles, harried Rodri into errors, and attacked transitions with purpose absent under Ruben Amorim. Bryan Mbeumo finished coolly after Fernandes' through ball, Patrick Dorgu doubled the lead with an acrobatic volley, and City's 13-game unbeaten run ended in emphatic fashion, as reported by ESPN.

Pape Gueye's extra-time thunderbolt handed Senegal a 1-0 victory over Morocco in one of the most dramatic AFCON finals in memory. The match descended into chaos deep in stoppage time when Morocco were awarded a controversial penalty following a VAR review. Senegal's players walked off the pitch in protest — Sadio Mané eventually coaxing them back after an 18-minute delay. Brahim Díaz stepped up and attempted a Panenka, which Edouard Mendy comfortably saved. The script demanded a dramatic conclusion, and Gueye delivered, firing into the top corner in the 93rd minute of extra-time to secure Senegal's second continental crown in four years and shatter Morocco's 50-year wait for AFCON glory on home soil, as reported by Al Jazeera.

For the second consecutive match following a City slip-up, Arsenal failed to capitalise. The 0-0 draw at Nottingham Forest extended their lead to seven points — but it could have been nine. Sean Dyche's side defended resolutely, becoming only the second team to keep a clean sheet against the Gunners this season. Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka both went close, but Viktor Gyökeres' open-play drought extended to double figures. Mikel Arteta's side created chances worth 1.8 xG but couldn't find the breakthrough. With Aston Villa also dropping points (0-1 to Everton), the gap at the top remains healthy — but the pattern of failing to punish rivals will concern Arteta ahead of crucial Champions League and league fixtures, as analysed by ESPN.

Thomas Frank's Tottenham nightmare deepened with a 2-1 home defeat to relegation-threatened West Ham. Callum Wilson's stoppage-time winner sparked chants of "sacked in the morning" from the home fans. It was Frank's eighth defeat in 14 matches, with Spurs now 14th and just six points above the drop zone. Conor Gallagher's debut offered little lift on a miserable afternoon, as reported by ESPN.

Florian Wirtz continued his fine form with another goal, but Liverpool had to settle for a 1-1 draw against Burnley at Anfield. Despite 32 shots and 68% possession, Arne Slot's side couldn't find a winner as Dominik Szoboszlai missed a penalty. The draw leaves Liverpool fourth, 14 points behind Arsenal, with Mo Salah's imminent AFCON return offering hope of a second-half revival, as reported by NBC Sports.

Marc Guehi completed his medical in Manchester on Sunday and will sign a five-and-a-half year deal keeping him at the Etihad until 2031. Palace accepted £20m for a player who would have left for free in six months — pragmatic business given Chelsea's 20% sell-on clause from his 2021 move.

The transformation at Old Trafford on Saturday was stark. Under Amorim, United averaged 8.2 pressures per minute in opposition territory. Against City, that number jumped to 12.4. Carrick's instructions were clear: don't let Rodri settle.

The Spanish midfielder completed just 71% of his passes — his lowest in a league match since October 2023. United's double pivot of Casemiro and Mainoo took turns hunting the ball, with Amad and Mbeumo pressing from wide positions to cut off City's usual escape routes through the half-spaces.

When City did establish possession, United dropped into a compact 4-4-2, inviting the visitors to cross from deep — knowing their makeshift centre-back pairing of Khusanov and Alleyne would struggle in the air. City managed just 6 aerial duels won all match. Guardiola's post-match admission that "they had more energy, more legs" understated just how comprehensively his side were outfought. The question now: can Carrick replicate this intensity consistently, as analysed by The Athletic.

AFCON Final: Senegal stunned Morocco 1-0 in extra-time to win their second continental title. Pape Gueye's 93rd-minute strike decided a final marred by controversy after Brahim Díaz's Panenka was saved following an 18-minute delay. CAF

Bundesliga: Bayern Munich demolished RB Leipzig 5-1 with a stunning second-half comeback. Michael Olise produced three assists in 34 minutes off the bench; Harry Kane scored his 21st Bundesliga goal. Jürgen Klopp watched from the stands as his Red Bull side were dismantled. ESPN

Bundesliga: Bayern remain unbeaten in the league (W16, D2) and now sit 11 points clear of second-placed Dortmund. The title race looks effectively over by mid-January. Bundesliga

La Liga: Real Madrid eased to a 2-0 win over Levante, with Kylian Mbappé reaching another landmark. Barcelona face Real Sociedad on Sunday evening knowing victory would extend their lead. Marca

Serie A: Roma beat Torino 2-0 as their revival under new management continues. Napoli maintain their grip at the top of the table. Gazzetta

AFCON Bronze: Nigeria claimed third place with a penalty shootout victory over Egypt in Saturday's bronze medal match, denying Mo Salah's side any silverware from Morocco. BBC Sport

Frankfurt: Eintracht Frankfurt have sacked head coach Dino Toppmöller after a difficult start to 2026. The decision comes after consecutive poor results in the Bundesliga. Bundesliga

Palace: Oliver Glasner has confirmed he will leave Crystal Palace at the end of the season, seeking a "new challenge" after overseeing the departures of Guehi and potentially Jean-Philippe Mateta this window. Sky Sports

The January window rolls on — City have plugged their defensive gap, United have found new life under Carrick, and the title race remains Arsenal's to lose. AFCON stars will filter back to their clubs over the coming days, with Salah's return to Liverpool perhaps the most keenly anticipated. Until Wednesday's midweek review — enjoy the chaos.