Premier League Matchday 24 Full-Time Review – 01 February 2026

This Premier League Matchday 24 full-time review breaks down the final results, key statistics and tactical lessons from across the league. While the fixtures may look straightforward on paper, the full-time results told a very different story once the final whistles were blown.

From narrow victories shaped by efficiency to dominant performances that still failed to deliver maximum points, Matchday 24 highlighted the fine margins that define Premier League football. This full-time review looks beyond the scorelines, using match statistics and in-game patterns to explain what really decided the outcomes.

Premier League Matchday 24 Full-Time Review: Key Stats Explained

Nottingham Forest 1–1 Crystal Palace: Control Without Conversion

Match Result

Nottingham Forest 1–1 Crystal Palace

Forest took an early lead through Morgan Gibbs-White in the 5th minute, but Crystal Palace responded just before the break, with Ismaïla Sarr converting a penalty in stoppage time.

Match Statistics

Possession: Forest 34% – Palace 66%
Total shots: Forest 9 – Palace 11
Shots on target: both teams 2
Passes: Forest 290 – Palace 545
Pass accuracy: Forest 77% – Palace 88%
Red cards: Forest 1 – Palace 0

Despite being a man down for much of the match, Forest defended resolutely. Palace controlled the ball and territory but lacked the cutting edge to turn dominance into a winning goal. This was a textbook example of possession-heavy football meeting organised resistance.

Manchester United 3–2 Fulham: Efficiency Over Volume

Match Result

Manchester United 3–2 Fulham

Manchester United edged a highly competitive encounter, scoring at key moments to secure all three points despite being outworked statistically in several areas.

Match Statistics

Possession: United 46% – Fulham 54%
Total shots: United 13 – Fulham 15
Shots on target: United 6 – Fulham 7
Passes: United 414 – Fulham 556
Pass accuracy: United 88% – Fulham 92%
Corners: United 3 – Fulham 7

Fulham enjoyed more control in midfield and circulated the ball with greater precision, but United’s sharper execution in decisive moments proved the difference. Late goals and penalties underlined how game management and composure can outweigh raw statistical superiority.

Aston Villa 0–1 Brentford: Dominance Without Reward

Match Result

Aston Villa 0–1 Brentford

Perhaps the most striking contrast between performance and result came at Villa Park. Aston Villa dominated almost every statistical category, yet Brentford left with a priceless away victory.

Match Statistics

Possession: Villa 71% – Brentford 29%
Total shots: Villa 25 – Brentford 4
Shots on target: Villa 4 – Brentford 1
Passes: Villa 561 – Brentford 224
Pass accuracy: Villa 90% – Brentford 68%
Corners: Villa 12 – Brentford 1
Red cards: Brentford 1

Villa moved the ball patiently and pinned Brentford deep for long spells. However, Brentford’s compact defensive structure and clinical first-half moment proved decisive. This was a clear reminder that territorial dominance alone does not guarantee goals.

Tactical Themes from Matchday 24

Efficiency Beats Control

Across all three matches, the teams with fewer shots or less possession often came away with points. This highlights the growing importance of shot quality and timing over volume.

Discipline Shapes Outcomes

Red cards and defensive organisation played a major role, particularly in Nottingham Forest’s ability to hold Palace and Brentford’s resilience at Villa Park.

Game Management Is Key

Manchester United’s ability to manage key moments, even when second-best statistically, showed why experience still matters in tight Premier League contests.

What These Results Mean Going Forward

Crystal Palace will be encouraged by their control but must improve final-third execution.
Fulham can take confidence from their attacking output, despite the result.
Aston Villa face questions about converting dominance into points.

As the season progresses, these fine margins will increasingly define league positions.

Final Thoughts

Premier League Matchday 24 reinforced a familiar truth: football matches are not won on possession charts alone. Efficiency, discipline and composure under pressure remain decisive.

The statistics from these fixtures underline why the Premier League remains unpredictable — and why understanding the data behind the results is essential.