The Premier League is back.After months of waiting, the new season kicked off on Friday night with an additional eight matches taking place over the weekend.Arsenal and Manchester City, who finished first and second respectively last time out, got their campaigns off to winning starts.Liverpool could only draw, however, while Manchester United and Tottenham both crashed to humiliating defeats.Hull City and Ipswich Town, two teams widely tipped for the drop, enjoyed dream starts on their return to the top flight.And Leeds and Everton, who have both found themselves in relegation battles in years gone by, were able to do the same.GB News now takes a look at 10 talking points from the opening weekend of the new season, with Chelsea due to kick off their own campaign when they lock horns with Fulham tonight.
1. Arsenal make early statement
Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard both got on the scoresheet as Arsenal’s title defence got off to perfect start against Coventry | GETTYArsenal kicked off the 2026/27 campaign with a commanding 3-0 victory over Coventry City on Friday night.The Gunners completely dictated the tempo, controlled possession and efficiently converted their chances at the Emirates.It was certainly a statement of intent as they target title glory for the second year in a row.
2. Maresca’s gamble pays off for Man City
Marc Guehi headed Man City level against Bournemouth from a corner | GETTYEnzo Maresca took charge of his first league game for Manchester City and delivered a tactical surprise against Bournemouth.Replacing the departed Rodri is no easy task, but the decision to deploy centre-back Marc Guehi as a holding midfielder initially raised eyebrows.Though it looked clunky at times, Guehi grew into the role and ultimately headed home the crucial 84th-minute equaliser to spark City’s late 2-1 comeback.
3. Hull City roar into life against Man Utd
Hull were impressive as Man Utd lost on the opening day | PANewly promoted Hull City made the biggest statement of their return to the top flight on Saturday.The Tigers put on a dominant defensive display to secure a shocking 2-0 victory at the MKM Stadium against Manchester United, despite the Red Devils spending big this summer.It leaves Michael Carrick’s side searching for immediate answers after stumbling at the very first hurdle.
4. Stoppage time drama is back
Liverpool star Dominik Szoboszlai’s penalty deep into stoppage time denied Newcastle a big win | GETTYIf there were any doubts about stoppage time continuing to play a huge role this season, this weekend proved it remains pivotal.Three separate matches were directly decided by goals scored in the 90th minute or later, punishing teams that switched off early.The most dramatic came at St James’ Park, where Dominik Szoboszlai buried a 99th-minute penalty to rescue a 2-2 draw for Liverpool.
5. New eras begin at Liverpool and Newcastle
Matthias Jaissle and Andoni Iraola oversaw their first matches in charge of Newcastle and Liverpool respectively | GETTYSt James’ Park also played host to two new tactical identities as Matthias Jaissle and Andoni Iraola took charge of Newcastle and Liverpool respectively.Both managers opted for high-energy, attacking approaches that produced a thrilling, open contest.While Liverpool showed grit to fight back from 2-1 down, Jaissle’s Newcastle looked incredibly potent and dangerous on the counter.
6. Brighton batter Villa to go top
Brighton were magnificent in the first half as they crushed Aston Villa | GETTYBrighton wasted absolutely no time reminding the league of their attacking firepower against Aston Villa.The Seagulls struck four times in the opening 31 minutes to completely kill the game, eventually running out 4-0 winners.Jack Hinshelwood’s impressive brace highlighted a team that looks perfectly primed to challenge for European spots once again.
7. Spurs stung despite summer spending
Brentford were superior in all areas as they consigned Tottenham to defeat | PATottenham fans were dealt an immediate reality check following a 3-0 dismantling by Brentford.Spurs struggled to contain the Bees’ aggressive pressing and looked entirely disconnected across the pitch, despite spending huge amounts on the likes of Sandro Tonali, Matheus Fernandes and Jan Paul van Hecke this summer.It marks a nightmare start for Tottenham, while Brentford proved their home ground remains a formidable fortress.
8. Perfect Home Returns
Jack Clarke netted against his old side as Ipswich battled their way to victory over Sunderland | PAHome advantage was crucial for the promoted sides, with Ipswich Town also securing a victory on their return to the Premier League.The Tractor Boys claimed a hard-fought 2-1 win over Sunderland, sending Portman Road into absolute raptures.Jack Clarke’s 90th-minute winner against his former club provided the perfect cinematic ending to their opening weekend.
9. Everton enjoy rare comfortable win
Everton enjoyed a dream start to the new season with a comfortable 2-0 victory over Crystal Palace | GETTYEverton supporters enjoyed a rare stress-free afternoon as David Moyes’ men got their campaign off to a positive start. A comfortable 2-0 victory over Crystal Palace gave their fans genuine reason for optimism.It’s early days but, based on this evidence, a push for Europe could be on the cards.
10. Leeds edge match of tight margins
Anton Stach struck late as Leeds edged a tight contest with Nottingham Forest | GETTYNottingham Forest and Leeds United played out the tightest fixture of the opening weekend.A solitary, late free-kick from Anton Stach was all that separated the two sides in a gritty 1-0 away win for Daniel Farke’s men. It highlights how crucial set-pieces will be for teams battling to secure mid-table safety, especially in fixtures as tight as these.