Premier League 2025–2026 Week 1 Recap: Results, Highlights, and Early League Leaders
Premier League Week 1 for the 2025-26 season started with ten great games that showed why so many people love this league. The first days had goals, high drama, some VAR controversies, and debut brilliance.
Every game in Premier League Week 1 was exciting, from Liverpool’s crazy 4-2 win on Friday to Arsenal’s hard-fought win at Old Trafford. Manchester City started off strong, Tottenham started off with style, and Sunderland and Leeds also won big.
Let’s look at each game, talk about the best moves, and check where the teams are after the first round.
Opening Weekend Drama Sets the Tone
The opening weekend of any Premier League season carries weight. It sets the tone for the months ahead, and for some clubs, it offers a first glimpse of what is possible. This year, a lot of goals went in at the games – 22 in just ten matches. The big stories were loaded.
Liverpool’s wild win, Haaland’s quick two goals, and Sunderland’s proud move back to the top were the big talks. At the same time, some big teams fell, making fans ask tough questions early on.
Liverpool vs Bournemouth – Friday Night Fireworks
The first game at Anfield had it all: goals, big shifts, strong feelings, and a late twist.
Liverpool started strong. New signing Hugo Ekitike scored first and then assisted on another goal. He fit right into Arne Slot’s plan, instantly winning over the Anfield crowd. But Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo didn’t let Liverpool have all the fun. In a quick 12 minutes, he scored twice, made the home fans quiet, and tied the game.
The Reds had to pull off a big move to save face. Sub Federico Chiesa came through, hitting a goal in the 88th minute. Then Mohamed Salah got one more in extra time, his tenth first-game goal.
It was also a night to remember a lost friend. Fans all around honoured Diogo Jota, who passed away before the season. They held a minute of silence before the matches, bringing the league together.
Tottenham and Manchester City Announce Intentions
Two clubs made massive opening statements: Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City.
Spurs, now under Thomas Frank, won 3-0 against Burnley. Richarlison scored two goals, looking quick and on point. Mohammed Kudus, who joined this summer, helped set up both goals. The power and drive in Tottenham’s play show they mean to fight hard.
City, meanwhile, demolished Wolves 4–0. Erling Haaland scored twice, picking up right where he left off last season. New signing Tijjani Reijnders assisted both of Haaland’s goals, while fellow debutant Rayan Cherki scored his first Premier League goal. City’s control of the game underlined why they remain title favorites.
Promoted Sides Make Their Mark
Promoted sides often struggle on opening weekend, but not this year.
Sunderland made a big mark on their return to the Premier League with a 3-0 win over West Ham at the Stadium of Light. Goals from Eliezer Mayenda, Dan Ballard, and Wilson Isidor left the Hammers shocked. They had a new coach, Graham Potter, who did not enjoy his team playing poorly during the first half.
Leeds United played well too and edged out Everton 1-0. The match was a tight one until Lukas Nmecha came as a substitute and ensured a penalty goal at minute 84.
Not every promoted side shone, though. Burnley had a tough game and lost 3-0 to Spurs. They seemed lost and need big changes to stay away from the bottom.
Tight Clashes and Controversy
Many games had close scores or big fights.
Chelsea and Crystal Palace drew 0-0 at Stamford Bridge. Palace believed they had scored when Eberechi Eze scored with a kick from a free location, but VAR replied no. It was due to Marc Guehi being too near Chelsea line, contrary to what IFAB states.
Over at Old Trafford, Arsenal won 1-0 against their rivals. The sole goal came from Riccardo Calafiori’s corner kick. United protested, claiming that their keeper was fouled, but for the referee everything was normal.
Brighton 1–1 Fulham: Brighton took the lead with a penalty by Matt O’Riley at 55 minutes. Later, in the last part of the game, Fulham saved the day. Rodrigo Muniz hit a goal at about 96 minutes to tie the game. It was quite the show!
Nottingham Forest Punish Brentford
Nottingham Forest started off with a 3–1 win over Brentford. Chris Wood scored twice in the first half, keeping his fantastic run going. Swiss winger Dan Ndoye also found the net on debut. Brentford’s Igor Thiago scored a late penalty, but by then the game was already gone.
Forest’s attacking intent suggests they may surprise more teams this season.
Premier League Week 1 Table
After ten matches, seven clubs share three points. Manchester City leads by goal difference. After the first week, Sunderland, Tottenham, Liverpool, and Nottingham Forest are close to the top. Arsenal and Leeds started off with big wins too. On the other side, Wolves, Burnley, West Ham, and Manchester United are at the bottom early on.
Top 7 After Week 1
- Manchester City – 3 pts (+4 GD)
- Sunderland – 3 pts (+3 GD)
- Tottenham Hotspur – 3 pts (+3 GD)
- Liverpool – 3 pts (+2 GD)
- Nottingham Forest – 3 pts (+2 GD)
- Arsenal – 3 pts (+1 GD)
- Leeds United – 3 pts (+1 GD)
Key Takeaways from Matchday 1
- Liverpool’s resilience: The team of Slot went deep and discovered late goals.
- Arsenal’s statement: Winning at Old Trafford could shape their title push.
- City’s ruthlessness: Haaland and new signings already coordinated.
- Promoted energy: Sunderland and Leeds gave fans hope of survival.
- Early struggles: United, Wolves, and Burnley need answers fast.
What to Expect in Week 2
Next weekend brings more tests. Liverpool have a tough match away. Arsenal are home against a team on the rise. United need to come back strong under pressure. City aims to keep their perfect start, while promoted teams hope to build momentum.
The Premier League has jumped right into action, showing off drama from the start. If Week 1 tells us anything, this season will hold fans’ full attention every game day.