Kickoff chronicles

Liverpool vs AFC Bournemouth

The curtain opener for the highly anticipated 25/26 Premier League season saw Arne Slot’s title-defending Liverpool host Andoni Iraola’s Bournemouth at Anfield on Friday night. Despite a positive start to the game for Bournemouth, with their new signings looking sharp, Liverpool scored a very fortunate goal in the 37th minute. Alexis Mac Allister played a quick ball into the path of new striker, Hugo Ekitike, where the French striker’s first touch was blocked by Bournemouth centre-half Marcos Senesi. The ball then bounced favourably back off the leg of Ekitike, leaving him 1-on-1 against Bournemouth’s new keeper, Djordje Petrovic. He slotted the ball into the bottom right corner to score on his Premier League debut, a dream start to life as a Red. The half-time score finished 1-0, with Liverpool hoping to get off to a winning start in the 25/26 season.

After a solid first period performance, Liverpool scored just four minutes after restart. Cody Gakpo received the ball in the left side of the penalty area from Ekitike where he drove across the penalty area before looking to shoot. His shot was perfect, flying into the bottom right corner to make it 2-0. Despite conceding a 2nd, Bournemouth started to play some good football and drew a goal back after David Brooks played a wicked ball across the Liverpool penalty area. Antoine Semenyo ran in from the back post where he smashed the ball past Alisson to open his account for the season. Semenyo had fired his side up with his contribution and went on to tie the game 12 minutes later after the Ghanain picked the ball up in his own half. The Ghanaian had players either side of him as he drove into the Liverpool penalty area but he opted to go alone, smashing the ball into the bottom right corner to make it 2-2. After a closely contested next 10 minutes with both sides hoping to clinch all three points, Liverpool substitute Federico Chiesa was the man to split the difference. Mohamed Salah’s cross from the left wing was cleared only as far as the Italian who lashed at the ball with his lethal right boot. The ball flew past Petrovic, Chiesa’s first ever Premier League goal since signing for the Reds in 2024. Salah wrapped up all 3 points in stoppage time receiving the ball down the left wing from a Wataru Endo clearance. He cut into the box before drilling the ball into the bottom right corner to make it 4-2 and score his 10th ever goal on opening day (The most for a Premier League player). The full time score finished 4-2, with Liverpool denying a heroic Bournemouth comeback to claim all three points and make a perfect start to their title defence season. There will be multiple positives to take away for Iraola and his side who came so close to taking a point away from Slot’s side.

Aston Villa vs Newcastle United

The following game of Matchweek 1 saw Unai Emery’s Aston Villa host Eddie Howe’s Newcastle at Villa Park on Saturday afternoon. Unfortunately for Newcastle, they were without their top scorer for the past three seasons, Alexander Isak, who wants to transfer to Liverpool and is refusing to play for his current club. Newcastle summer signing, Anthony Elanga, came so close to opening the scoring for his new club in the 3rd minute after his 1-v-1 chance against backup Villa keeper Marco Bizot was brilliantly parried aside by the Dutchman. Newcastle dominated the half, with temporary no.9 Anthony Gordon seeing his headed chance rise over the bar from Harvey Barnes’ cross before his rocket effort from outside the penalty area was punched wide yet again by Bizot. The half-time score finished 0-0 but with Newcastle dominating and clearly missing Isak in the penalty area.

Aston Villa came out looking much better in the 2nd period, with Boubacar Kamara and Ollie Watkins both having chances inside the penalty area saved by Magpies’ keeper Nick Pope. All Villa’s hopes of claiming the three points were put to bed after Ezri Konsa was sent off after yanking the shoulder of Gordon and pulling him to the ground when he was through on goal, a clear red. Villa defended the final 25 minutes strongly, only giving Newcastle the odd chance outside the box. The full-time score finished 0-0, with Howe’s side missing a huge chance to claim all three points in the opening weekend. Despite the red card, Villa still played well to hold onto a point and keep a clean sheet.

Brighton Hove & Albion vs Fulham

The next game of the opening matchweek saw Fabian Hurzeler’s exciting and young Brighton side host Marco Silva’s Fulham at the Amex Stadium in what looked a brilliant game. Brighton were the better side in the first 30 minutes of the first half, with Georginio Rutter’s shot outside the area saved by Fulham shot stopper Bernd Leno before Kaoru Mitoma’s header flew over the crossbar. Fulham did have one chance before half time, with Harry Wilson heading Alex Iwobi’s cross wide of the goal. The half-time score remained 0-0 with both sides coming close to opening the game.

Brighton made the perfect start to the 2nd half, with Rutter winning a penalty eight minutes after the restart when he was fouled inside the area by Sander Berge. Matt O’Riley stepped up to take the spot kick and perfectly dispatched it into the bottom left corner leaving Leno with no chance. The hosts then had multiple chances to make it 2-0 and seal all three points, with Yankuba Minteh putting his close range shot over the bar before Diego Gomez saw his bullet of a shot unconvincingly saved by Leno. With minutes left to play, Fulham finally fired up and came so close to equalising in the 5th minute of stoppage time after Kenny Tete smashed the ball over the crossbar from 6-yards out. Despite Tete’s miss, Fulham still managed to break the hearts of Brighton fans after they scored off what was virtually the last kick of the game. Wilson whipped the ball over to the back post with the final corner of the game where super substitute Rodrigo Muniz controlled the ball down before rolling it into the bottom right corner and sending the away end into celebration. The full time score finished 1-1 with Brighton coming away without a point despite leading until the very last kick. Silva’s side showed great fight to win a point away at the Amex due to more late Premier League opening day drama.

Tottenham Hotspur vs Burnley

The following game of Matchweek 1 saw Tottenham and their new manager Thomas Frank host Scott Parker’s promoted Burnley side, who have been quite active in the transfer market. Despite losing the super cup final on Wednesday to PSG (2-2 ft, 2-3 penalties), Tottenham were hoping to get off to a winning start under Frank at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium after last season’s depressing 17th finish. Spurs got off to an electric start, causing Burnley big problems, with new signing Mohammed Kudus looking sharp down the right wing. Tottenham found the opener in no time, with Richarlison scoring in the 10th minute. Once again, Kudus drove with the ball down the right wing before powering a cross in, where Richarlison brilliantly adjusted his body to smash the ball into the bottom left corner. Frank’s side were the much better team in the first half as they went into half-time brandishing a 1-0 lead.

Burnley made a few surprising ventures forward early in the 2nd period but Spurs soon diminished all hopes of a Burnley comeback when Richarlison secured his brace on the hour mark, with what looked like an early goal of the season contender. Kudus was brilliant down the wing again, chopping and churning around Quilindschy Hartman before chipping the ball across to the back post. Much like his goal at the 22’ World Cup, Richarlison watched the ball before acrobatically smashing it into the back of Martin Dubravka’s net, a world class overhead kick. Tottenham wrapped up all three points in the 66th minute when Brennan Johnson opened his account for the season. Pape Matar Sarr received the ball from Richarlison in the Burnley half where he spotted the run of Johnson. He played a brilliant through ball to the Welshman, with Johnson poking the ball past Dubravka to seal all three points. The full time score finished 3-0, with the ‘feel good factor’ now coming back to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Given all their new signings, Scott Parker won’t be too worried with their first game back in the Premier League, although they will need to improve vastly if they are to beat Sunderland next week at Turf Moor.

Sunderland vs West Ham United

The next game of Matchweek 1 saw Sunderland playing Premier League football at the Stadium of the Light for the first time in over eight years, with Regis Le Bris’ team hosting Graham Potter’s West Ham in what looked an enthralling match up. Despite all of West Ham’s domination of possession in the first half, it was Sunderland who drew the first big chance. Habib Diarra played a quick 1-2 with Eliezer Mayenda into the West Ham penalty area where he forced a brilliant save from West Ham debutant keeper, Mads Hermansen, who threw up a strong left wrist to deny Diarra. West Ham then should’ve scored before half-time, with skipper Jarrod Bowen seeing his effort from inside the area saved by Sunderland keeper Robin Roefs before another new West Ham signing, El Hadji Malick Diouf, saw his low driven effort cleared off the line by Dan Ballard. The score at the break stood at 0-0, with both sides hoping to snatch all three points in the 2nd half. 

The Black Cats opened the scoring in the 61st minute after substitute Omar Alderete whipped in a cross from the left wing. Mayenda rose above all the West Ham centre halves to brilliantly head the ball into the left side of Hermansen’s goal, the first Premier League goal at the Stadium of Light in over eight years. Sunderland then wrapped up all three points, punishing the pathetic Hammers after loan signing, Simon Adingra crossed the ball in from the right wing where big Ballard jumped up to head his cross into the top left corner, much like his goal in the Championship play-off semi finals. The Black Cats sealed all three points in the 2nd minute of stoppage time after Chemsdine Talbi embarked on a Sunderland counter attack after a poor West Ham corner. Talbi played the ball down the left wing to Wilson Idisor where the substitute cut in and curled the ball into the bottom right corner. The full-time score finished 3-0, with Sunderland making a dream start to life back in the Premier League. Potter’s West Ham were absolutely shambolic and will need to vastly improve if they are even to contest against Chelsea next weekend.

Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Manchester City

The final game played on Saturday in Matchweek 1 saw Vitor Pereira’s Wolves host Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City at the Molineux Stadium. After some early missed chances for City in the opening 10 minutes, Wolves’ thought they’d scored in the 19th minute after Marshall Munetsi headed Matt Doherty’s cross into the bottom left corner, only for his celebrations to be halted by the assistant’s flag. Manchester City finally scored their first of the season just after the half hour mark, with Erling Haaland popping up to score his regular goal versus Wolves. New City signing from AC Milan, Tijjani Reijnders, played a cheeky ball over the Wolves defence to Rico Lewis who drilled the ball across the City penalty area. Unmarked at the back post was the big Norwegian who tapped the ball past Jose Sa to open his account for the season. City then made it 0-2 just three minutes later after Oscar Bobb drove through the Wolves midfield and into the final third. He had options either side of him and decided to play the ball to his left where Reijnders was located. The Dutchman powered the ball into the bottom right corner to score on his Manchester City and Premier League debut, a dream start. The Citizens went into half-time brandishing a 0-2 advantage, with Wolves struggling to get going.

Pep’s side wrapped up all three points on the hour mark, with Bobb playing the ball down to Reijnders on the Wolves bi-line. Reijnders then cut the ball back to the edge of the penalty area, where Haaland drove the ball into the bottom left corner of Sa’s goal, a brilliant finish to complete the two-time Premier League golden boot winner’s brace. Substitute Rayan Cherki, another City summer signing, made it 0-4 in the 81st minute after he played a quick 1-2 with Nico O’Reilly before he drilled the ball into the bottom left corner from outside the Wolves’ penalty area, a terrific finish on debut. The full-time score finished 0-4, with Wolves clearly struggling without their two key players who had left in the summer, Mathues Cunha to Manchester United and Rayan Ait-Nouri to Manchester City. It was an ideal start to the season for Pep’s men who will now look forward to their game against Tottenham next week.

Chelsea vs Crystal Palace

The first fixture played on Sunday afternoon in the opening matchweek saw Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea, who were fresh off the back of winning the Club World Cup, host Oliver Glanser’s Crystal Palace, who had just won the Community Shield last weekend. Chelsea came inches away from opening the scoring inside three minutes at Stamford Bridge, with Ismalia Sarr forced to clear Chelsea skipper Reece James’s inswinging corner off the line. Palace then thought they’d scored in the 12th minute after star player, Eberechi Eze, saw his knuckleball of a free kick fizz through the Chelsea wall and through the gasp of Robert Sanchez. Unfortunately for Palace, the goal was ruled out as captain Marc Guehi was closer than one metre to the Palace wall and shoved some of the Chelsea players so Eze’s shot could fly through. In terms of chances, Glasner’s side was clearly the better of the two in the first half, unlucky not to go into half-time with a 0-1 lead.

Chelsea were much better in the 2nd half, with new signings Joao Pedro and Estevao seeing their effort fly over the bar, but the Blues were progressing into the Palace area which was something they struggled to do in the first half. Liam Delap, summer signing from Ipswich Town, had one last chance before the final whistle, brilliantly turning Maxence Lacroix before seeing his effort comfortably saved by Dean Henderson. The full-time score finished 0-0, the second goalless draw of the weekend, with both teams deserving of a point. Chelsea will hope to improve next week as they play a weakened West Ham side.

Nottingham Forest vs Brentford

The following game on Sunday in the opening Matchweek saw Nuno Espirito’s Nottingham Forest host Keith Andrews’ Brentford at the City Ground. Forest’s top scorer last season, Kiwi Chris Wood, picked up where he left off, brilliantly poking the ball into the top left corner from close range after Elliot Anderson’s corner was not cleared by the Brentford players. The Bees then had multiple good chances to level the game, with Yehor Yarmoliuk forcing a solid save from Matz Sels before striker Igor Thiago smashed the ball over the upright from point blank range. Forest then scored minutes before half-time, doubling their advantage against the run of play. Morgan Gibbs-White chipped the ball into the penalty area where new signing, Dan Ndoye, leapt out brilliantly to head the ball into the top left corner, a spectacular way to announce himself to the Forest fans. The hosts then wrapped up all three points in first half stoppage time after Elliot Anderson played a wicked ball through the Brentford defenders. Running onto Anderson’s direct pass was Wood again, who took the ball around new Bees’ keeper Caoimhin Kelleher before slotting it into an empty net. The half-time score stood at 3-0, with there surely no way back into the game for Andrews’ Brentford.

After Forest missed multiple chances to make it 4-0 in the early stages of the 2nd period, Brentford had the opportunity to score a consolation in the 77th minute after they won a penalty when Forest midfielder Ibrahima Sangare clearly handled the ball in the 18-yard box. Thiago stepped up and slotted the ball down the middle of Sels’ goal to score his first ever goal for the travelling side. The penalty didn’t affect the game though, as Forest came out 3-1 winners. It was an ideal start to the season for Nuno’s Forest as they will hope to put up yet another European charge in the league, as well as go far in the Europa League. Given their loss of multiple star players and their manager, it was always going to be a tough first game back for Brentford, and they will need to improve if they are to take anything away from Villa next weekend.

Manchester United vs Arsenal

The final game of Matchweek 1 on Sunday afternoon saw Ruben Amorim’s new look Manchester United host Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal at Old Trafford in what was the most anticipated game of the weekend. After their tragic loss in the Europa League final along with their 15th place finish in the Premier League, Amorim had recruited well and many were predicting an upset at the Theatre of Dreams. United had some chances early on, with new signing Bryan Mbeumo from Brentford, causing the Arsenal defenders all sorts of problems. Arsenal then silenced the United fans in the 13th minute after they scored off a set piece. Declan Rice’s inswinging corner was unconvincingly punched over to the back post by United keeper Altay Bayindir where Riccardo Calafiori was gifted a tap in from a yard out. United then had two huge chances to draw level. Patrick Dorgu’s long range effort rattled the woodwork on the half hour mark while Mathues Cunha seemed to dribble through every Arsenal midfielder and defender just four minutes later before his exhausted effort was easily claimed by David Raya. The half-time score finished 0-1, with United unlucky not to have anything to show for their efforts.

United were once again superior in the 2nd period, with Mbeumo having one effort in the 68th minute blocked by Calafiori before he had another chance, this time a header, superbly saved by Raya. United then subbed on their newest striker signing, Slovenian Benjamin Sesko from RB Leipzig. Sesko was giving United a new target to aim for in the penalty area as they looked to tie the game. In the end, Arsenal showed why they are one of the best defensive sides on the planet, locking out Manchester United to claim all three points on the opening weekend with a 0-1 win. It wasn’t pretty and Arteta will know his side have to improve for their first home match of the season against Leeds next week. The feeling around Old Trafford wasn’t all doom and gloom, as the United supporters could really see their side in full flow against last season’s runners up.

Leeds United vs Everton

The final game of the matchweek saw Daniel Farke’s Leeds United host David Moyes’ Everton at Elland Road in what was Leeds’ first game back in the Premier League since 2023. To the shock of their home fans, Leeds were far superior in the first half, with most of the half played in the Everton final 3rd and because of Farke’s high press, Everton were only allowed a single touch in the Leeds penalty area. Unfortunately for Leeds, Everton were defending strongly and they were limited to just crosses and shots from outside the penalty area. Jordan Pickford picked up where he left off from last season, coming out to punch the ball away anytime it fell into a dangerous position. The half-time score finished 0-0, with the away end hoping their side would play a little more attacking football in the 2nd half.

The 2nd period was much more even than the first, although Leeds still had more chances to go ahead, with Italian winger Wilfried Gnonto at the centre of everything positive for The Whites. Everton then had multiple opportunities after the 70 minute mark, with Charly Alcarez seeing his shot saved by Lucas Perri before Jake O’Brien’s header rose just over Perri’s goal. With just minutes left to play in normal time, Leeds won a very controversial penalty after Anton Stach’s bullet of an effort caught a huge deflection off James Garner before the ball was blocked by the upper arm of James Tarkowski. Referee Chris Kavanagh pointed to the spot with VAR agreeing with him, despite Tarkowski clearly moving his arm into a natural position. Debutant Lukas Nmecha then won over the home support when drilling the ball into the bottom right corner from 12-yards out, and essentially winning the game for Leeds. The full time score finished 1-0, with Leeds claiming a huge three points on their return to the Premier League. Moyes and Everton will feel they were robbed of a point, but were still far from their best and will need to improve for Brighton next weekend.

Written by Ollie Wade.