The opening weekend of the 2025/26 Premier League season has revealed both expected dominance and alarming weaknesses.
Liverpool won 4-2 against Bournemouth, while Manchester City dismissed Wolves 4-0 with ease. Arsenal narrowly defeated Manchester United 1-0, Tottenham overcame Burnley comfortably, Sunderland impressed with a 3-0 victory against West Ham, Nottingham Forest beat Brentford 3-1, and Chelsea were held to a goalless draw by Crystal Palace.
New signings majorly delivered
The influence of summer arrivals was evident. Manchester City’s Tijjani Reijnders and Rayan Cherki marked their debut with a goal, an assist, and strong midfield control.
Liverpool’s Hugo Ekitiké also impressed with a goal and assist, though his team’s defensive imbalance persisted. In contrast, Arsenal’s Viktor Gyökeres failed to record a shot against United, while Benjamin Šeško, who joined from RB Leipzig, made little impact for United after coming on as a second half substitute.
Defensive frailties persisted across contenders
Defensive weaknesses defined much of the weekend. Liverpool lost a two-goal lead before recovering, with counterattacks again exposing their high-risk pressing.
United conceded from a set-piece, continuing a pattern of vulnerability from last season. Even Manchester City, despite their clean sheet, looked momentarily unsettled without injured midfielder Rodri.
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Meanwhile, Sunderland displayed defensive organisation in their 3-0 victory, unlike more established teams.
Promoted sides exposed division gaps
The contrasting fates of Sunderland and Burnley revealed the uneven adaptation of promoted clubs. Sunderland thrived, with Eliezer Mayenda, Daniel Ballard, and Isidor scoring.
Burnley, however, struggled in a heavy defeat to Tottenham, as new striker Armando Broja failed to alter their lack of threat.
Meanwhile, Brentford’s defeat to Forest deepened concerns of relegation pressure following key departures.
Teams struggled with over-reliance on key figures
Chelsea’s stalemate with Crystal Palace showed over-dependence on Cole Palmer, who was effectively contained. Without alternative creators, their attack faltered.
Newcastle, missing Alexander Isak amid transfer speculation, lacked cutting edge against Aston Villa.
Nottingham Forest benefited from Chris Wood’s scoring form, but their reliance on him viewed similar risks. These explains the dangers of concentration on individual players in a league requiring sustained squad depth.
Early improvement from underperformers
Tottenham defeated Burnley while Manchester United showed improved discipline in a narrow loss to Arsenal.
Richarlison scored twice in Tottenham’s win, assisted by new signing Mohammed Kudus. Manchester United lost 1-0 but delivered a markedly stronger aand better performance than in last season’s corresponding fixture.
Tottenham’s controlled display contrasted with last season’s lapses, when poor defensive coordination persisted. United’s defeat brought no points but suggested foundations for recovery. Their compact organisation against Arsenal stood in contrast to prior disjointed performances against elite opposition last season.
Conclusion
The Premier League’s opening weekend showcased excitement and drama but also exposed deeper issues. Transfer over-spending, defensive fragility, squad imbalance, and financial inequality remain defining factors. Whether clubs adapt or repeat these patterns will determine the season in the long run.
