The 2025/26 season Premier League season arrived with a bang. From dominant wins to scoreless draws, to game-tying goals, to early goal of the season contenders, to debut goals for many, to red cards, to emotional tributes for Diogo Jota, matchweek 1 did not disappoint. Manchester City, Sunderland, Tottenham and Liverpool round off the top 4. While Burnley, West Ham and Wolves finish the weekend in the bottom 3 (regulation zone). Antoine Semenyo, Chris Wood, Erling Haaland and Richarlison are in a four way tie for the Golden Boot (top goal scorer) and Mohammed Kudus leads the league so far with 2 assists.
Recap of the games:
Liverpool vs. AFC Bournemouth (4-2)
Last year’s Premier League champions Liverpool prevailed in an entertaining game to begin the season. New signing Hugo Ekitike bagged his first Premier goal for the homeside in minute 37 followed by an assist to Cody Gakpo in minute 47 to double Liverpool’s lead. After 50 mins of play, the champions Liverpool held a commanding lead and were strolling to a matchweek 1 victory but Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo grabbed two quick goals in the 64th and 76th minute to draw level. Then after some shaky defending from the visitors Federico Chiesa punished them regaining the lead in the 88th minute followed by Mohamed Salah slamming the door shut in minute 90+4 to seal the victory for the homeside.
Aston Villa vs. Newcastle United (0-0)
Even with a combined 19 shots and 6 on target, neither team could break the deadlock. In a game where Newcastle dominated possession (66%) and overall shots (16), they couldn’t capitalize and left matchweek 1 with just a point. Aston Villa went down to 10 men in the 66th after Ezri Konsa dragged Anthony Gordon to the ground in an attempt to stop him from getting past and having an opportunity in front of goal. Villa had the best opportunities to score but couldn’t convert.
Brighton vs. Fulham (1-1)
Fulham scored at the death to rescue a point. Brighton didn’t put the game to bed and it cost them the full 3 points. Despite the stats indicating it was an even game it was heavily dominated by Brighton in the second half where they saw 7 of their 10 shots and 3 out of 4 of their shots on target. The goal Brighton scored came from a penalty by Matt O’Reilly in the 55th minute and after that they had 2 other shots on target that they failed to convert. Fulham didn’t do much in the second half but one corner late on to the feet of Rodrigo Muniz in minute 90+7 gifted them a point to start the season.
Sunderland vs. West Ham (3-0)
Newly promoted Sunderland grab their first Premier league win in 8 years, after a dominant second half performance. Goals from Eliezer Mayenda 61’, Daniel Ballard 73′, Wilson Isidor 90+2′. Sunderland didn’t look like a team that hasn’t played in the Prem since 2017, as they defended brilliantly against a West Ham side who took 12 shots with 4 of them being on target. While West Ham aren’t one of the Premier Leagues best they certainly aren’t a Championship level team, so Sunderland’s win this weekend is impressive. The question is: can they do the same against stronger opposition?
Tottenham vs. Burnley (3-0)
After a heartbreaking Super Cup loss against PSG this past Wednesday, Tottenham bounced back and took care of business at home against newly promoted Burnley. Burnley in the championship last year didn’t concede much, they only conceded 15 goals during the 2024/25 campaign. They only allowed more than 1 goal scored on them twice, both of those games were against fellow newly promoted side Leeds United. This week however they conceded 3 but the three goals were top quality from the homeside. With Richarlison’s second half goal being up for goal of the week. Despite the scoreline Burnley looked bright overall but just lacked quality in front of goal and against top opposition that won’t slide.
Manchester City vs. Wolves (4-0)
Erling Haaland brace and Tijani Reijnders masterclass in the midfield lifted Manchester City to three points on matchweek 1. After a disappointing season for City and an off-year for Haaland, City looked strong and ready for this new season. Tijani Reijnders with a man of the match performance with him being everywhere on the pitch whether that be in the 10, 8 or 6 he controlled the midfield and scored his first career prem goal. Fellow new signing Ryan Cherki, also bagged his first Premier League goal for City to add to the splendid afternoon for the visitors. Wolves in contrast didn’t have a bright afternoon at all, not only conceded 4 and scoring none but also lacked quality and intensity to their play. To beat a team like Man City you have to outwork them and that didn’t happen and that’s why Wolves were pulled apart and tossed aside by City.
Chelsea vs. Crystal Palace (0-0)
Crystal Palace snatched a point from Chelsea in a game where they were immense on the defensive end. From minute 1 to minute 90 they didn’t let the Blues through. Even the likes of Cole Palmer or new signing Joao Pedro, who scored 5 goals in the past 5 games for Chelsea, couldn’t taste the net. Crystal Palace showed their class and frustrated the Blues all afternoon. Their ability to stay compact when Chelsea had the ball throughout the entire game was impressive but not surprising, they did much of the same against last season’s Premier League Champions Liverpool in the Community Shield last weekend. Crystal Palace must now hope that their star Eberechi Eze doesn’t depart this summer because while they defended brilliantly they also failed to score or generate many clear cut chances, Eze’s disallowed goal was their best opportunity of the game.
Nottingham Forest vs. Brentford (3-1)
Three first half goals from Nottingham Forest propelled them to a matchweek 1 victory. Brentford struggled to contain Forest’s attack in the first half which put them behind by 3 and a mountain to climb in the second half. Forest were solid defensively and certain for a clean sheet but Ibrahim Sangaré’s outstretched arm in an attempt to block a shot gifted Brentford a penalty, which was converted by Igor Thiago in minute 78. Forest would hold on and win despite Brentford’s late surge.
Arsenal vs. Manchester United (1-0)
Arsenal took 3 points from a game where they weren’t the better of the two sides. An early mistake by Manchester United’s goalkeeper off a set piece was nicked in by Riccardo Calafiori in the 13th minute. From that point on the homeside were the better team but just couldn’t find the back of the net. Patrick Dorgu, Matheus Cunha and Brian Mbuemo missed solid chances to level the game for United. David Raya the goal keeper for Arsenal made some impressive saves to keep the gunners ahead and Center half Saliba put in a shift defensively to secure the 3 points. The only negative from the game for Arsenal is their new signing Victor Gyökere’s underwhelming debut, he didn’t manage a single shot or complete a pass in 60 minutes of play. For Man U, their new Attacking pair Cunha and Mbuemo looked bright and that’s something their manager Rubin Amorim can take from this game.
Leeds United vs. Everton (1-0)
Newly promoted Leeds beat Everton thanks to a penalty converted by Lukas Nmecha in minute 84. The game saw 28 shots attempted, 4 on target. Everton struggled to get shots up in the first half only managing 1 out of their 7 total. Leeds however dominated much of the first half but didn’t have anything to show for it, and that was the story for much of the game. Up until the 84 minute Leeds attempted 19 shots with 2 of them being on target. Jordan Pickford goalkeeper for Everton kept them in the game making multiple saves but couldn’t save the penalty by Nmecha despite diving the right way. Everton aren’t known for their ultra attack, quite the opposite actually. So it’s not surprising that they failed to generate many chances. Leeds grabbed their first win in the Prem since they beat Nottingham Forest back in the 22/23 season on April 4 (2-1).
EPL table after Matchweek 1:
