Tigers Topple United While Seagulls Stun Villa

After the blogging had to take a back seat last season, the writing resumes with the new Premier League season. 

Gunners Ease Past Sky Blues

The season opened on Friday night as defending Champions Arsenal eased to a 3-0 win over newly-promoted Coventry City at the Emirates Stadium. The hosts took just 15 minutes to open the scoring as Kai Havertz collected from Riccardo Calafiori to slot in for 1-0 and the lead was doubled just eight minutes later as Bukayo Saka made it 2-0. The Gunners wrapped up the three points and extended their stay atop the league across the seasons with a clipped effort from Martin Odegaard on 49 minutes. 

Bees Sting Spurs

Saturday evening saw Brentford ease to a 3-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur at the Gtech Community Stadium. The hosts went ahead inside 12 minutes as Keane-Lewis Potter tapped in from a Mamadou Sangare cross for 1-0 and the Bees doubled their advantage to 2-0 on 33 minutes with Vitaly Janelt slotting in after Antonin Kinsky had parried Mathias Jensen's effort. Spurs' day only got worse as Michael Kayode reacted rapidly to tap in a rebound for 3-0 just four minutes after the half-time interval and their woes were saved further blows when Igor Thiago hit the post with a penalty in the 53rd minute. The hosts held firm on their three goal lead to celebrate the win while Spurs' summer spending spree seems to have early issues. 

United Defeat Forest

Nottingham Forest's woes from last season extended into the new season as they lost out 1-0 late on to Leeds United at The City Ground. The visitors struck the crucial winner in style on 88 minutes as Anton Stach superbly curled in a free-kick to seal the 1-0 win and a first win away at Forest in 55 years. 

Tractor Boys Edge Black Cats

Ipswich Town left it late to claim 2-1 opening day win over Sunderland at Portman Road. The hosts struck first as Emmerson slotted in after a lay-off from Julio Enciso after a pacy counter-attack on 24 minutes for 1-0 before the visitors levelled on 39 minutes as Nilson Angulo made his impact on the game with a stunning lofted free kick ensuring the sides went into the half-time interval at 1-1. Ipswich sealed an opening weekend victory late on with Jack Clarke haunting his former club in added time as he curled the ball into the far corner for the 2-1 win.

Toffees Double Joy Against Eagles

Everton opened their season at the Hill Dickenson Stadium with a 2-0 win over Crystal Palace though the visitors had the best chances to open the scoring with efforts hitting the post then later the bar but it was the Toffees who struck first. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall rifled in a cross-goal shot on 42 minutes to make it 1-0 and their home fans' joy was doubled on 53 minutes when Thierno Barry headed in from Iliman Ndiaye's cross for 2-0 and they held on to the two goal advantage for their first opening weekend win in five seasons.

Tigers Topple United 

Hull City made the perfect start on their return to the top flight as they stunned Manchester United with a 2-0 at the MKM Stadium on in Saturday's early kick-off. The hosts opened the scoring on 17 minutes as Semi Ajaji tapped in to the empty net after Senne Lammens saved Ollie McBurnie's effort. Hull extended their lead on 38 minutes as Nobel Mendy headed in a long range free kick from Regan Slater and held on to secure a famous win.

Seagulls Stun Villa

Brighton & Hove Albion stormed to the top of the league with a comfortable 4-0 hammering of Aston Villa at the Amex Stadium. A rapid start from the hosts saw them race into a 2-0 lead, firstly the opener on eight minutes via a Victor Lindelof own goal before the lead was doubled on 18 minutes as Georginio Rutter picked out Maxim De Cuyper who tapped in for 2-0. The contest was over before half time as Jack Hinshelwood struck twice in the space of two minutes , the second goal within seconds of the kick off to open up a huge 4-0 lead inside 31 minutes.

 A woeful first half got worse for Villa as they saw Joao Gomes dismissed on 40 minutes. The second half was a closer affair as lacking in the action from the first as the Seagulls held their four goal advantage to celebrate an opening weekend rout that sent them to the top of the league.

City Comeback Denies Cherries 

Bournemouth's epic 18 match unbeaten run from last season ended at the first hurdle this season in a 2-1 loss to Manchester City who staged a late turnaround at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday. The Cherries opened the scoring on 26 minutes as Evanilson swept a low cross for Marcus Tavernier to slot in for 1-0. The lead lasted until six minutes from the end when City drew level through Marc Guehi's headed effort from a corner for 1-1 before their comeback was completed on 88 minutes as Josko Gvardiol slotted in from close range to secure the 2-1 win. 

Last Gasp Reds Halt Magpies

Liverpool levelled with literally the final kick of the match to secure a 2-2 draw against Newcastle United at St James' Park which saw a shared tribute to the legendary Kevin Keegan. The hosts opened the scoring inside five minutes as a counter-attack saw William Osula find Anthony Elanga who slotted in for 1-0. The Reds found a leveller on 55 minutes as Cody Gakpo fired a low shot for 1-1. However the equality was short lived as substitute Joe Willock restored the Magpies' lead after being picked out by Yoann Wissa. Newcastle looked to have sealed the win and the opening weekend win but were denied deep in added time as Victor Munoz was fouled and Dominik Szoboszlai fired in the resulting penalty to secure the 2-2 draw. 

Blues Edge Cottagers

Chelsea held off a fightback from Fulham take a 3-2 win away from Craven Cottage on Monday night and the Blues made the perfect start as Joao Pedro opened the scoring inside 31 seconds with a clever finish between the legs of Bernd Leno for 1-0. The hosts levelled on 23 minutes via through Josh King for 1-1 from a tight angle. Chelsea regained the lead on 41 minutes as Morgan Rogers slotted in from a Maxence Lacroix cutback for 2-1. The lead became 3-1 just four minutes after the restart as Cole Palmer collected from Joao Pedro to slot the ball in the far corner. Fulham cut the gap to 3-2 on 54 minutes with a header from Gonzalo Garcia 3-2 but were unable to force a leveller as the visitors secure a first opening win since 2022-23.