Premier League Matchday 1 Roundup

Last Updated on August 18, 2025 10:54 am by Erwin Noguera

The 2025/26 Premier League season is underway, with Liverpool aiming to defend their crown, though several teams have shown they’re ready to challenge.

The opening round took place this past weekend with few surprises, as the ‘Reds’ kicked things off with a 4-2 win over Bournemouth.

On Sunday, Arsenal defeated Manchester United 0-1 at Old Trafford, while Manchester City crushed Wolves 0-4. Two clashes between top-half contenders ended scoreless: Aston Villa vs. Newcastle and Chelsea vs. Crystal Palace.

Perhaps the biggest surprise came from newly promoted Sunderland, who stunned West Ham with a 3-0 victory.

Premier League Matchday 1 Games

Premier League Matchday 1: Liverpool vs. Bournemouth

In a great and entertaining match, Liverpool opened their league campaign with a 4-2 victory over Bournemouth, thanks to two late goals.

The ‘Reds’, who had just lost the Community Shield on penalties, switched gears and wanted to give their fans a win at home. The one to open the scoring was Hugo Ekitiké in the 37th minute, taking advantage of a lucky rebound that left him one-on-one with the goalkeeper, finishing well into the corner for his second goal in two games with his new shirt.

In the second half, at the 49th minute, Cody Gakpo received a pass from Ekitiké, feinted twice, and struck a low shot into the corner to make it 2-0, seemingly setting up an easy win.

But that wasn’t the case, as in just 10 minutes, a storm named Antoine Semenyo appeared. The Ghanaian midfielder first struck a first-time finish from a David Brooks cross to make it 2-1 in the 64th minute, and then at the 76th minute, he scored the equalizer with a brilliant individual move and a fine strike.

Liverpool began pressing, not wanting to let another win slip away, and in the 88th minute, Federico Chiesa delivered. The Italian, who had come on just six minutes earlier for Florian Wirtz, capitalized on a poor clearance inside the box and fired home his first Premier League goal and third since joining the team last year.

Finally, in stoppage time at 90+4’, Wataru Endo cleared long, Bournemouth’s defense switched off, and Mohamed Salah burst through like a train, seized the ball, made an individual run, and sealed the match with a clinical finish across goal.

Premier League Matchday 1: Wolves vs. Manchester City

Manchester City showed no mercy to Wolverhampton, crushing them 0-4 at Molineux Stadium with a brilliant performance from Tijjani Reijnders.

It was undoubtedly a new-look City, though with many changes due to injuries: James Trafford in goal, Rico Lewis and Rayan Aït-Nouri at fullback, Reijnders and Nico González in midfield, and Oscar Bobb back in action up front.

The ‘Citizens’ dominated possession and finally opened the scoring in the 34th minute after Reijnders produced a fantastic solo run and delivered a superb pass to Lewis, who sent a cutback into the box for Erling Haaland to tap in for 1-0.

Just three minutes later, Bobb won the ball back in midfield, carried it forward, and played it wide to Reijnders, who struck a first-time, low drive across goal to score his first for the club.

In the second half, in the 61st minute, the former AC Milan man was at it again, this time laying off a pass to Haaland, who blasted a powerful shot past José Sá to make it 3-0.

Finally, in the 81st minute, Rayan Cherki, who had come on a few minutes earlier, showed his flair for jogo bonito with a couple of tricks on the ball before firing a curling shot from outside the box to seal the 4-0 win and register his first Premier League goal.

Premier League Matchday 1: Chelsea vs. Crystal Palace

In a clash of champions, Chelsea and Crystal Palace played out a goalless draw at Stamford Bridge in the league opener.

The ‘Blues’, recent winners of the Conference League and the Club World Cup, created the better chances but failed to finish them off properly.

For their part, the ‘Eagles’—who lifted the Community Shield last weekend and the FA Cup just a couple of months ago—thought they had taken the lead in the 14th minute through an Eberechi Eze free-kick. However, referee Darren England, with the help of VAR, disallowed the goal due to a foul by Marc Guéhi on Moisés Caicedo, who was pushing in the wall, right where the ball passed through.

Premier League Matchday 1: Manchester United vs. Arsenal

After a disastrous season that saw them finish near the bottom, Manchester United hoped to start on a better note, but it wasn’t to be: they fell 0-1 at home to Arsenal.

Even without André Onana, the ‘Red Devils’ goalkeeping woes continued. Turkish keeper Altay Bayindir mishandled a corner, putting up weak hands and leaving the ball perfectly for Riccardo Calafiori, who only had to nod it in for the game’s lone goal.

The hosts had a couple of chances—Patrick Dorgu hit the post with a cross-shot, and Bryan Mbeumo saw his header saved by David Raya.

Meanwhile, for the ‘Gunners’, new signings Viktor Gyökeres and Martín Zubimendi started, while Noni Madueke came off the bench.