Midweek Premier League Matchday 21 did not just serve up routine fixtures; it delivered a festival of battles that cut right across the title race, top‑four chase, and relegation fight. Across England, 90‑minute wars of attrition unfolded under the floodlights, with emotions, tactics, and momentum all colliding in one brutally compressed round. Below is a long‑form, original blog‑style breakdown of the biggest battles of Matchday 21, written so you can publish it as a stand‑alone piece. A Midweek Built for Drama Matchday 21 of the 2025–26 Premier League season dropped between 6 and 8 January, a period when squads are stretched and every point feels heavier than usual. It was a midweek that asked harsh questions of rotations, mental strength, and tactical adaptability. The card was loaded: A relegation six‑pointer at the London Stadium between West Ham and Nottingham Forest. A high‑stakes Bournemouth v Tottenham clash with implications for Europe and survival. A looming headline title...
Harry Kane was thrilled to be in the same "conversation" with Wayne Rooney after breaking his Champions League record in style.
The Bayern Munich striker needed one goal against Dinamo Zagreb on Tuesday night to equal Wayne Rooney's 30-goal record in the competition's main draw.Ninety minutes later, the current England captain was three goals ahead of one of his predecessors, having scored four in a 9-2 victory at the Allianz Arena, three of which came from the penalty spot.
Kane told Prime Video: "When you have a chat with Wayne Rooney, it implies you're doing something well. He is one of the greatest English players ever, as well as one of the best in the game.
"It's a nice achievement."
Kane took just 19 minutes to match Rooney's score from the spot, and he increased his total from open play 12 minutes after the break before converting twice more from 12 yards.
The 31-year-old stated, "It's the first time I've ever had three penalties in one game." It was an unusual feeling for me, but scoring four goals was amazing.
"Assisting the team in any manner possible is critical. I'll take any finish, penalty or otherwise. It was an excellent night for us."
If Kane adds a new record to his list of achievements, his three-year-old son Louis will be in for a pleasant surprise when he wakes up on Wednesday morning.
The striker explained, "I retain all the balls after hat-tricks. The fellas may be weary of signing these, but keep them coming.
"My son Louis enjoys playing football right now. He's just three, but I'll take it home and place it next to his bed so he'll be delighted when he wakes up in the morning."
Bayern led 3-0 at halftime, with Raphael Guerreiro and Michael Olise also on the scoresheet, and while Bruno Petkovic and Takuya Ogiwara briefly drew the visitors back in, Kane's second-half hat-trick, as well as goals from Olise, substitutes Leroy Sane, and Leon Goretzka, extended their unbeaten start to the season under Vincent Kompany.
Kane stated, "We've returned with a positive energy. We have been famished. You noticed that right immediately in preseason with the new coach. Everyone has something to prove here, and we've begun the season that way.
"How the coach wants us to press and be intense with and without the ball is critical. We are confident that with our current talent, we can dominate teams.
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