Week 16 sees us nearing closer to the festive period, and the football continues to keep us warm throughout the colder months. This last weekend saw plenty of goals, some surprising results and possibly some big impacts on the possible title challengers and European places.

As always, in this post we will be picking out 3 of the biggest talking points of the weekend, along with giving out the game of the week and player of the week awards. If we’ve missed something in this post that you saw over the weekend please do get in touch with us on all the usual places (Bluesky @NextGoalWinner – Instagram @NextGoalWin), and if you prefer an audio round up of the action then do check out our YouTube channel (@NextGoalWinner) where we post weekly reviews on there of all the key talking points in the Premier League and around Europe.

Derby Day Collapse

Manchester City’s 2–1 defeat to Manchester United at the Etihad was the weekend’s headline story, and not just because of the rivalry. City looked comfortable for most of the afternoon, taking a first-half lead through Josko Gvardiol, but a chaotic final few minutes turned the game on its head. Bruno Fernandes equalised from the penalty spot in the 88th minute, and substitute Amad Diallo snatched a dramatic stoppage-time winner to stun the champions.

This wasn’t an isolated lapse. The defeat meant City had dropped points from winning positions in six of their last eight league matches, echoing a growing theme this season, control without conviction. Pep Guardiola admitted afterwards that his side “lost their rhythm and composure”, while Bernardo Silva was blunt in saying City “got what they deserved”. For a team renowned for precision and dominance, the cracks were starting to show.

The loss left City sitting outside the top four after 16 games, a rare sight at this stage of the season. What’s more concerning for fans is how familiar the pattern feels: good starts, missed chances, and late defensive lapses. While City’s quality remains undeniable, their invincibility is fading. The question now is whether this is a temporary wobble or a deeper issue of mindset and motivation. Either way, the title race has been blown wide open.

Forest Title Challenge?

Nottingham Forest’s 2–1 win away at Aston Villa might have been overshadowed by the Manchester derby, but it was one of the weekend’s most significant results. The victory, sealed by a late goal from Chris Wood, lifted Forest into the top four, an incredible achievement for a side that was fighting relegation only a year earlier. Under manager Nuno Espírito Santo, Forest have transformed from survival specialists into genuine European contenders.

What makes Forest’s rise so refreshing is the balance they’ve found between resilience and ambition. Their defensive structure, anchored by Murillo and Niakhaté, has been solid, while attacking players like Morgan Gibbs-White and Anthony Elanga have provided flair and speed on the counter. They’re not just scrapping for points, they’re outplaying strong teams with confidence and purpose.

The Premier League has long been criticised for being predictable at the top, but Forest’s form shows there’s room for disruption. Their win over Villa symbolised a shift: this is no longer a league owned by the “big six”. Forest’s self-belief and cohesion are starting to make neutrals dream of another Leicester-style fairy tale. Whether they can maintain this pace remains to be seen, but for now, they’re proving that history and heart can still trump budget and brand.

Breakout Stars

Beyond the big clubs, match week 16 was a celebration of emerging talent. Fulham’s Antonee Robinson, in particular, continued his excellent season with another commanding display down the left flank. His energy, crossing, and defensive consistency have made him one of the league’s standout full-backs. Robinson’s rise is a testament to quiet development, a player who has improved season by season, now performing at a level that rivals some of the division’s elite defenders.

Elsewhere, young players across the league were making statements of their own. Amad Diallo’s late winner in the Manchester derby was a personal redemption story after months of injury frustration, while Nottingham Forest’s Anthony Elanga continues to thrive after leaving Manchester United, adding another assist to his growing tally. Even in teams lower down the table, new faces are starting to steal the spotlight and give fans something to believe in.

This new wave of performers is vital to the Premier League’s magic. Every season needs its breakout stars, players who remind us that form, not fame, defines football. Robinson, Diallo, Elanga and others have injected freshness into the league’s narrative, showing that you don’t need a blockbuster transfer to make a big impact. As the season heads into its festive period, it feels like a new generation of Premier League stars is taking shape before our eyes.

Game of the week: Liverpool 2-2 Fulham Something about the games between these two sides provides a fair bit of drama. This clash saw 4 goals, Liverpool twice needing to come from behind and an early red card which gave Fulham a huge confidence boost.

Player of the week: James Maddison With a brace to his name, Maddison added to Southampton’s struggles early this season, and while Spurs have been patchy in the opening half of the campaign, this result certainly helped give Maddison and co a huge boost.