The top Premier League moments of the month - January 2022

Steven Bergwijn stunned the King Power
Steven Bergwijn stunned the King Power / Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/GettyImages
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Although the threat of Covid-19 still loomed large and the transfer window acted as a significant distraction, January still provided moments of huge drama and hilarity in the Premier League.

Think stunning comebacks, some obscenely good goals, drone chaos and a fans' hat being inexplicably tossed to the ground by Lucas Moura.

Here are the ten best Premier League moments from January - ranked.


10. Norwich end Rafa's Everton reign

Adam Idah
Contrasting emotions at Carrow Road / Stephen Pond/GettyImages

Rafael Benitez was the first of two Premier League managers to lose their jobs in January.

He was relieved of his duties following a poor defeat away to struggling Norwich, where some calamitous defending cost them dearly - including a very avoidable Michael Keane own goal.

It was 2-0 to the Canaries within 20 rip-roaring minutes, and even Richarlison's acrobatic finish off the bench couldn't save his manager.

9. De Bruyne back to his best against Chelsea

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De Bruyne rides Kante's desperate lunge / OLI SCARFF/GettyImages

We all miss peak Kevin De Bruyne.

Injuries seem to be taking their toll on the supremely talented Belgian, but there's nothing like a game against his former club to get him in the mood.

De Bruyne provided a sensational individual winner in a pretty turgid match, dribbling away from N'Golo Kante (of all people) before planting a long-range effort beyond Kepa Arrizabalaga.

8. Harrison bags hat-trick against Hammers

Jack Harrison
Harrison took home the match ball / Mike Hewitt/GettyImages

Jack Harrison has only scored four goals all season, and three of them came at the London Stadium on 16 January.

The former Man City man was clutch as Marcelo Bielsa's depleted Leeds squad pulled off a hard-fought 3-2 victory at high-flying West Ham.

The pick of the bunch was a well-taken dink for the hat-trick. Perfection.

7. Ward-Prowse's corkscrew screamer at Wolves

James Ward-Prowse
Ward-Prowse provided one of his best at Wolves / Malcolm Couzens/GettyImages

Southampton actually lost this game away at Wolves in mid-January, but it will only really be remembered for one reason.

With six minutes remaining, Saints captain James Ward-Prowse stepped up to a free kick 30 yards out and delivered a trademark ripper into the top corner.

The best set-piece taker in the Premier League at the moment, bar none.

6. Coutinho back with a bang

Philippe Coutinho
It was as though Coutinho had never left the Prem / Clive Mason/GettyImages

Aston Villa pulled off one helluva piece of transfer business by landing Barcelona outcast Philippe Coutinho on loan - bringing a reunion with Villa boss Steven Gerrard.

The former Liverpool star looked right back at home on his return to the Premier League, getting an assist and scoring a late equaliser against the old foe Manchester United on his debut.

The subtle class of the assist for young Jacob Ramsey was Coutinho at his best.

5. Norwich thrash Watford as lights go out

Watford v Norwich City - Premier League
The players kept warm on the field with half of the lights out / Catherine Ivill/GettyImages

There was plenty of drama at Vicarage Road as a floodlight failure twice disrupted play.

It was Norwich who kept their concentration though, securing a huge three points against in this relegation scrap.

American forward Josh Sargent was the hero for the visitors, scoring twice including a ridiculous heel flick. Emmanuel Dennis also saw red as a 3-0 defeat brought an end to Claudio Ranieri's brief time in charge of the Hornets.

4. Ziyech wizardry downs Spurs

Hakim Ziyech
Ziyech was the toast of west London / James Gill - Danehouse/GettyImages

Hakim Ziyech delivered the kind of performance Chelsea supporters have been waiting for in the 2-0 victory over Tottenham.

His footwork was spellbinding throughout, but the highlight came two minutes into the second half at Stamford Bridge.

Receiving the ball on the edge of the box, the Moroccan shifted the ball onto his left before producing a wonderful, arching finish into the top corner. Unstoppable.

3. Kovacic helps Chelsea come back from the brink

Mateo Kovacic
Kovacic demonstrated extraordinary technique for his goal / Shaun Botterill/GettyImages

Chelsea's title challenge seemed dead in the water with Liverpool leading 2-0 at Stamford Bridge inside half an hour on 2 January.

However, a stirring first-half fightback saw the Blues come roaring back in the space of four minutes.

Christian Pulisic equalised in stoppage time after Mateo Kovacic scored an absolutely ridiculous volley from the edge of the penalty area, sending the home fans into raptures.

2. Drones, delays & daftness at Brentford

Brentford v Wolverhampton Wanderers - Premier League
The drone hovered in the stadium's airspace / Clive Rose/GettyImages

Victory at the Brentford Community Stadium ensured a 100% record for Wolves in January - but that isn't what this match will be remembered for.

There were two lengthy delays during the game - first for a nasty clash of heads, and then as a result of a drone flying overhead - and a further, shorter one when the referee's equipment failed.

If that wasn't enough, Bees boss Thomas Frank was shown a second yellow card after he quite literally asked for it after the full-time whistle (the match finished 2-1 to Wolves, by the way).

1. Bergwijn inspires last-ditch Tottenham turnaround

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Tottenham celebrate with the away support / GEOFF CADDICK/GettyImages

There was only ever going to be one winner!

The Barclays was flowing as Leicester hosted Tottenham on 19 January.

Despite an improved performance, Spurs were staring down the barrel of a 2-1 defeat deep into injury time at the King Power Stadium...but Steven Bergwijn had other ideas.

With 95 minutes on the clock, the Dutchman ran onto a loose ball in the box and smashed in the equaliser. Yes! He'd done it! He'd salvaged a point! Surely that would be it?!

Well, no. Straight from the restart, an out-of-sorts Youri Tielemans inexplicably gave the ball away and Tottenham broke again. Bergwijn latched on to Harry Kane's perfectly-weighted through ball, rounded the goalkeeper and arrowed an excellent finish off the post and in.

Cue pandemonium in the away end and Moura throwing a fan's hat to the ground amid the chaos.