Roundup of the opening matchweek of 2025-26 Premier League season.
Erling Haaland’s brace plus debut Premier League goals from Tijjani Reijnders and Rayan Cherki saw Manchester City thrash Wolves 4-0 at Molineux to top the opening weekend of the season.
Sunderland began life back in the top flight after an eight-year absence on a high with a 3-0 victory at home to West Ham, through second-half goals from Eliezer Mayenda, Dan Ballard and Wilson Isidor despite eight players making their Black Cats debuts.
Richarlison’s brace and Brennan Johnson’s effort saw Tottenham sit third following a 3-0 victory at home against newly-promoted Burnley, as they began domestic life under new manager – Thomas Frank on a high.
Late goals from Federico Chiesa and Mohamed Salah saw Liverpool begin their title defence with an emotional 4-2 victory at home to Bournemouth, after Hugo Ekitike and Cody Gakpo’s goals were cancelled out by Antoine Semenyo’s brace amidst racial abuse of Semenyo.
Nottingham Forest rounded out the top five with a 3-1 win over Brentford which marked their first Premier League victory at home over the Bees, as Chris Wood’s brace and Dan Ndoye’s debut header proved enough despite Igor Thiago’s maiden penalty strike for the visitors.
Elsewhere, Ricardo Calafiori headed in a 13th-minute winner as Arsenal edged a scrappy contest away to Manchester United.
Rodrigo Muniz struck a 96th-minute equaliser to rescue Fulham a 1-1 draw away at Brighton, after Matt O’Riley fired the Seagulls ahead from the penalty spot following Sander Berge’s foul on Georginio Rutter.
Lukas Nmecha’s 84th-minute penalty saw newly-promoted Leeds snatch a controversial winner at home to Everton, having benefitted from Anton Stach’s shot deflected unintentionally onto James Tarkowski’s left arm to debatably win the decisive spot kick.
Aston Villa held Newcastle to a goalless draw at Villa Park despite having finished a man down, after Ezri Konsa was dismissed for a 66th-minute denial of a goalscoring opportunity for Anthony Gordon.
FIFA Club World Cup champions, Chelsea began their league campaign with a goalless draw at home to Crystal Palace, as Palace’s Eberechi Eze saw a first-half free-kick strike disallowed due to Marc Guehi having been within a metre of the hosts’ wall.
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