If you woke up today thinking the Premier League title race was a predictable two-horse jog, Michael Carrick just sent a massive reality check straight from Old Trafford. Honestly, today has been one of those "throw the script in the shredder" kind of days for football fans. We’ve seen a Manchester Derby stunner, a Harry Kane masterclass in Germany, and enough late-drama goals to keep the highlight reels busy until Tuesday.
If you're asking what soccer matches are on today, you've basically stepped into the busiest Saturday of the 2026 calendar so far. Between the European giants fighting for domestic supremacy and some intriguing international friendlies tonight, there’s almost too much to track.
The Manchester Derby Shock and Premier League Chaos
The biggest story of the morning—and maybe the season—is Michael Carrick’s debut as Manchester United’s permanent head coach. United took down Manchester City 2-0 in a match that felt less like a tactical chess match and more like a statement of intent. Bryan Mbeumo opened the scoring, and honestly, the energy at Old Trafford looked like something out of the Fergie era. Pep Guardiola’s City looked uncharacteristically sluggish, which is a weird thing to say about a team with Erling Haaland leading the line.
Meanwhile, Liverpool fans are probably tearing their hair out. They drew 1-1 with Burnley at Anfield. Florian Wirtz scored an absolute screamer, but it wasn’t enough. That’s four draws in a row for Arne Slot’s men. They’re finding it impossible to break down the low block, and it’s starting to feel like a recurring nightmare for the Kop.
- Manchester United 2 - 0 Manchester City (Mbeumo, 2026 debut for Carrick)
- Liverpool 1 - 1 Burnley (Wirtz 42', Edwards 65')
- Chelsea 2 - 0 Brentford (Solid win for the Blues at Stamford Bridge)
- Tottenham 1 - 2 West Ham (The Hammers snatch a London derby win)
- Nottingham Forest 0 - 0 Arsenal (A frustrating stalemate for the Gunners)
It’s getting tight at the top. United actually jumped over Liverpool into fourth place earlier today, and with Arsenal dropping points at the City Ground, the race for the Champions League spots is basically a pile-up.
Harry Kane and the Bayern Steamroller in Germany
Over in the Bundesliga, Bayern Munich proved why they are the final boss of German football. They traveled to RB Leipzig and, for about 45 minutes, it looked like Leipzig might actually pull it off. They went into the break leading 1-0. Then, the second half happened.
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Bayern scored five goals in 38 minutes. Five. Harry Kane grabbed his 21st of the season because, of course he did. But the real story was Jamal Musiala returning from injury. Seeing him back on the pitch is scary for the rest of Europe. Jürgen Klopp was watching from the stands in his new role as Red Bull's head of global soccer, and he looked... well, he looked like a man who knows exactly how hard it is to stop a rampant Bayern.
Bundesliga Scores from Saturday, Jan 17:
- RB Leipzig 1 - 5 Bayern Munich
- Borussia Dortmund 3 - 2 FC St. Pauli (A high-scoring thriller at the Westfalenstadion)
- Hoffenheim 1 - 0 Bayer Leverkusen (Leverkusen’s struggle for consistency continues)
- Wolfsburg 1 - 1 Heidenheim
- FC Köln 2 - 1 Mainz
Italy and Spain: Tight Margins and In-Progress Drama
In Serie A, Udinese took a crack at Inter Milan earlier, but the Nerazzurri are proving difficult to dislodge from the top of the table. Juventus is currently locked in a battle with Cagliari as we speak. Kenan Yıldız picked up an early yellow card, and it’s looking like one of those gritty, defensive Italian affairs where one mistake decides everything.
La Liga is equally tense. Real Madrid drew 0-0 with Levante in a result that will definitely have the Madrid press asking questions tomorrow. Real Betis and Villarreal are currently duking it out in Seville. It's 0-0 at the Villamarin, but the atmosphere is electric. Villarreal has looked dangerous on the counter, but Betis is dominating the ball.
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What’s Still to Come Tonight?
If you're in North America or looking for late-night action, the focus shifts to international friendlies and the final whistles in France.
- Ligue 1: Olympique de Marseille is currently 1-0 up against Angers thanks to a goal from Amine Gouiri. Lens and Auxerre are scoreless in the early stages of their clash.
- International Friendlies: Canada faces Guatemala tonight at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles. It’s a 10:00 PM ET kickoff. It’s a big chance for the CanMNT to test their depth ahead of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers and the tournament itself.
- MLS Preseason: We even had some early-season flavor with New England Revolution taking on Sarasota Paradise in Florida today. It’s mostly about fitness at this stage, but for the hardcore fans, it’s the first glimpse of the 2026 squads.
Why Today Matters for the Season Arc
When we look back at the soccer matches on today, the Carrick debut will be the headline, but the systemic issues at Liverpool and Leverkusen are the real "under-the-hood" stories. Liverpool’s inability to beat promoted sides at home is the kind of trend that loses you titles in May.
For those looking to catch the rest of the action, keep an eye on the late results from Spain and Italy. If Juventus drops points against Cagliari, the Scudetto race opens up for a charging AC Milan (who play tomorrow).
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Actionable Next Steps:
Check the late-night scores for the Canada vs. Guatemala friendly to see how the CONCACAF power dynamics are shifting. If you're following the Premier League, watch the post-match interviews from Anfield; Arne Slot’s reaction to the Burnley draw will likely signal whether he plans to dive into the January transfer market for more creative midfield depth. Finally, set your notifications for the Real Sociedad vs. Barcelona match tomorrow—it’s the clear "Game of the Weekend" after today's chaos.