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.

Villa Victorious Against Forest While Seagulls Defeat Clarets

Villa Victorious Against Forest

Aston Villa returned to winning ways with a comfortable 3-1 win over Nottingham Forest in the early kick-off at Villa Park. The hosts opened the scoring with a superb flicked effort from Ollie Watkins on 45 minutes before John McGinn doubled the lead three minutes after the restart as he flicked in from a cross for 2-0. Morgan Gibbs-White cut the gap to 2-1 with a cross-goal shot on 61 minutes but it was to be only a consolation as McGinn scored his second and Villa's third as he fired into an open goal from long range for the 3-1 win. 

Seagulls Defeat Clarets

Brighton & Hove Albion continued their good form with a 2-0 win over Burnley at the AMEX Stadium.The hosts opened the scoring as Georginio Rutter slotted in from close range on 29 minutes and the lead was doubled on 47 minutes as Yasin Ayari arrowed into the far corner for 2-0.  

 Hammers Humbled As Wolves Finally Win

Wolverhampton Wanderers finally ended their season-long winless streak with a 3-0 win over West Ham United at Molineux. The hosts made a rapid start with Jhon Arias slotting in for 1-0 inside four minutes and the lead was doubled on 31 minutes by Hwang Hee-Chan's penalty for 2-0. The win was wrapped up before the interval as Mateus Mané curled in a low effort for 3-0 after just 41 minutes. The hosts pushed for more in the second half but held firm with the 3-0 lead to record a much needed victory. 

Gunners Edge Cherries 

Arsenal extended their lead at the top with a narrow 3-2 win over Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium. The hosts were gifted the opening goal as Evanilson took advantage of a defensive error to slot into an open goal for 1-0. The visitors drew level on 16 minutes as Gabriel went from villain to hero with a low strike for 1-1. The turnaround was complete on 54 minutes as Declan Rice fired in from the edge of the area for 2-1 and he doubled his tally from close range on 71 minutes for 3-1. The hosts cut the gap to 3-2 in style as Eli Kroupi swept in a superb strike on 76 minutes but they were unable to draw level as the visitors celebrated the win. 

MIDWEEK

Forest Edge Past Hammers

The midweek gameweek began on Tuesday night as Nottingham Forest claimed a narrow 2-1 win over West Ham United at London Stadium. The hosts were gifted the lead on 13 minutes as Murillo hit into his own net but they levelled with a flicked headed effort from Nicolas Dominguez on 55 minutes for 1-1 and the comeback was completed with a minute left of the 90 as Morgan Gibbs-White slotted in a penalty to wrap up a much needed 2-1 win for Forest. 

Cherries Edge Spurs In Thriller

Bournemouth left it late to secure a narrow 3-2 win over Tottenham Hotspur at the Vitality Stadium. Matthys Tel drove a low shot across goal which rolled into the bottom corner for 1-0 and the hosts were level on 22 minutes as Evanilson headed in for 1-1. Eli Kroupi put the hosts 2-1 ahead on  36 minutes as he flicked in from close range. Spurs drew level at 2-2 with a superb overhead kick from Joao Palhinha on 78 minutes but the joy was to go to the hosts as Antoine Semenyo sealed the win in added time with a superb strike for the 3-2 victory. 

Bees Sting Black Cats

Brentford eased to a 3-0 win over Sunderland at the GTECH Stadium to continue their good form. The hosts opened the scoring on the half hour mark as Igor Thiago raced towards goal and rounded the 'keeper to slot in for 1-0 and the visitors had the chance to level on the hour mark but a truly woeful penalty from Enzo Le Fee was caught by Caoimhin Kelleher and that proved costly as Thiago doubled the lead with a 65th minute header. The win was wrapped up on 73 minutes as Ehor Yarmoliuk fired in from close range to complete the 3-0 victory. 

Eagles Hold Villa

Crystal Palace and Aston Villa shared the points in a 0-0 draw at Selhurst Park in a game where both sides had good chances but were unable to find the net and Villa will be the more unhappy in the result as they missed the chance to close up at on league leaders Arsenal. 

Wolves Deny Toffees

Everton and Wolverhampton Wanderers shared the points in a 1-1 draw at Hill Dickenson Stadium that saw the hosts end the game with nine men on the pitch. The hosts opened the scoring with a Michael Keane effort on 17 minutes and were pegged back by a superb equaliser from Mateus Mané on 69 minutes. Everton suffered a double blow with the dismissal of Keane on 83 minutes for hair pulling with Jack Grealish sent off in the 90th minute after two bookings in the space of two minutes as the sides shared the points in the 1-1 draw. 

Cottagers Celebrate Beating Blues

Fulham claimed the local bragging rights with a 2-1 win over Chelsea at Craven Cottage. The visitors suffered a blow as Marc Cucurella was dismissed in the 22nd minutes, Fulham used their advantage in taking the lead as Raul Jimenez flicked in the opener on 55 minutes for 1-0. Chelsea drew level on 72 minutes with Liam Delap firing in a rebound for 1-1 but their joy lasted just nine minutes as Harry Wilson sealed the win for the Cottagers on 81 minutes as he fired into the far corner to claim the 2-1 victory. 

City Held By Seagulls

Manchester City's challenge at the top suffered a blow in a 1-1 draw with Brighton & Hove Albion at the Etihad Stadium. The hosts opened the scoring with an Erling Haaland penalty in the 41st minute which was his 150th goal for the club and also an historic 35,000th in the Premier League itself. The Seagulls drew level on the hour mark with Kaoru Mitoma firing in from the edge of the area for 1-1 which is how the match finished with a share of the points. 

Clarets Deny Red Devils

Burnley and Manchester United shared the points in a 2-2 draw at Turf Moor. The hosts were gifted the lead as a cross was deflected into his own net by Ayden Heaven for 1-0 inside 13 minutes. United did draw level with Benjamin Sesko's effort after collecting a through pass on 50 minutes and he completed the turnaround with his second goal on the hour mark as he flicked in from a cross to give United a 2-1 lead. However, they were to be denied the win as Burnley secured a share of the points with Jaiden Anthony's stunning top corner strike just six minutes later and neither side was able to score a third as they finished level at 2-2. 

Magpies Marvel In Late Leeds Win 

Newcastle United left it late to seal a 4-3 win over Leeds United at St James' Park. The visitors opened the scoring on 32 minutes as Brenden Aaronson fired in to the bottom corner for 1-0 before Harvey Barnes levelled for the hosts as he slotted in from close range in the 36th minute. Leeds regained the lead as Dominic Calvert-Lewin slotted in a penalty for 2-1 deep into first half added time. Newcastle levelled at 2-2 in the 54th minute via a clever flick header from Joelinton.

The visitors took a 3-2 lead on 79 minutes with Aaronson slotted across goal for his second goal of the game. However, Newcastle were not to be denied as they struck twice in added time, firstly a Bruno Guimaraes penalty in the first minute of added time for 3-3 then a stunning winner in the 12th minute of added time as Barnes scored his second goal of the evening tapping in from close range to claim the 4-3 win.