The Premier League 2025/26 season kicked off with a mix of thrilling wins, hard-fought draws, and statement performances from promoted sides and title contenders alike. Here’s a recap of all matches and highlights from the first weekend:
| Date | Match | Result | Key Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 15 | Liverpool 3-1 Fulham | 3-1 Win | Mohamed Salah’s brace highlighted Liverpool’s dominant start; Fulham fought back but couldn’t stop the Reds’ attacking momentum. |
| Aug 16 | Aston Villa 0-0 Newcastle | 0-0 Draw | Villa held on with 10 men after Konsa red card; Newcastle dominant but wasteful; Bizot key for Villa. |
| Aug 16 | Tottenham 3-0 Burnley | 3-0 Win | Richarlison brace and Johnson goal; Spurs start well under Frank with attacking flair. |
| Aug 16 | Brighton 1-1 Fulham | 1-1 Draw | O’Riley penalty put Brighton ahead; Muniz’s last-minute equalizer denied them a win. |
| Aug 16 | Sunderland 3-0 West Ham | 3-0 Win | Dominant second-half display; goals by Mayenda, Ballard, Isidor; Sunderland’s strong return to Premier League. |
| Aug 16 | Wolves 0-4 Man City | 0-4 Loss | Haaland brace, Reijnders goal+assist, Cherki debut goal; City’s title defense statement. |
| Aug 17 | Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace | 0-0 Draw | Chelsea squandered chances; disallowed Palace goal by VAR; Palace defended well for a point. |
| Aug 17 | Nottingham Forest 3-1 Brentford | 3-1 Win | Wood’s double and Ndoye’s goal; Forest’s commanding win at City Ground. |
| Aug 17 | Man United 0-1 Arsenal | 0-1 Loss | Calafiori’s early header from a Rice corner decided the match; United dominated but lacked cutting edge. |
| Aug 18 | Leeds 1-0 Everton | 1-0 Win | Nmecha’s late penalty after VAR handball call secured all 3 points for Leeds on return to Premier League. |
Overview & Takeaways
- Title contenders announce intent: Manchester City’s clinical 4-0 win at Wolves, coupled with Spurs’ 3-0 demolition of Burnley, set a high standard at the top.
- Strong showings by promoted teams: Sunderland and Nottingham Forest impressed significantly with commanding wins, while Leeds opened with a tense late winner.
- Tense and tactical draws: Aston Villa vs Newcastle and Chelsea vs Crystal Palace ended goalless with both home teams showing either resilience or lack of finishing.
- London Derby Drama: Arsenal edged Manchester United at Old Trafford with a set-piece goal, continuing their strong away record against the Red Devils.
The opening week demonstrated the Premier League’s typical blend of skill, drama, tactical battles, and unpredictable moments—setting the stage for a gripping season ahead.
Premier League Table – Week 1
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manchester City | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | +4 | 3 |
| 2 | Sunderland | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | +3 | 3 |
| 3 | Tottenham Hotspur | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | +3 | 3 |
| 4 | Liverpool | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | +2 | 3 |
| 5 | Nottingham Forest | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | +2 | 3 |
| 6 | Arsenal | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | +1 | 3 |
| 7 | Leeds United | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | +1 | 3 |
| 8 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 9 | Fulham | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 10 | Aston Villa | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 11 | Chelsea | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 12 | Crystal Palace | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 13 | Newcastle United | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 14 | Everton | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 0 |
| 15 | Manchester United | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 0 |
| 16 | AFC Bournemouth | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | -2 | 0 |
| 17 | Brentford | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | -2 | 0 |
| 18 | Burnley | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | -3 | 0 |
| 19 | West Ham United | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | -3 | 0 |
| 20 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | -4 | 0 |