The Greatest Opening Weekend Matches in Premier League History

The Premier League is finally back this weekend, kicking off with the Champions Liverpool hosting Bournemouth at Anfield on Friday night.

Over the years the opening weekend has produced some box office fixtures as teams look to start their seasons with a bang!

We take a look at the best five opening weekend games of the Premier League era, with some classic throwbacks included.

Arsenal 3-4 Liverpool - 2016/17

The Emirates hosted an instant Premier League classic to open the 2016 season as they welcomed Jürgen Klopp's Liverpool side to North London.

It had it all, a Simon Mignolet penalty save, a Phillipe Coutinho wonder strike, seven goals, and a memorable debut goal for Sadio Mane (and an equally memorable celebration on the shoulders of his new manager).

The Reds held out against a spirited Arsenal comeback to claim a famous 4-3 win, with many suggesting that this game was the true beginning of the Klopp-era.

Nine years ago today, Sadio Mane did this on his Liverpool debut 😍🇸🇳pic.twitter.com/QIWU3UzGfO

— The Redmen TV (@TheRedmenTV) August 14, 2025

Coventry 3-2 Chelsea - 1997/98

This is a game you always have to watch on Premier League Years.

With 19 minutes to play Chelsea looked to be heading towards a routine victory when Tor Andre Flo gave them a 2-1 lead, after first-half goals from Frank Sinclair, and Dion Dublin.

Coventry, however, refused to be beaten and Dublin wrote his name into club folklore with two late, late goals to secure all three opening day points for the Sky Blues.

Three for @DionDublinsDube and Chelsea are beaten

Sunny afternoon for @Coventry_City #OnThisDay in 1997 ☀️ pic.twitter.com/hXYCkavLjE

— Premier League (@premierleague) August 9, 2018

Manchester United 5-1 Leeds United - 2021/22

This fierce rivalry always delivers, and this season produced an all-timer, especially if you of are a Manchester United persuasion.

Marcelo Bielsa's side had earned plenty of plaudits, but this visit to Old Trafford is one that Leeds will want to forget.

Paul Pogba showed why he was one of the most spoken about players on the planet with this display, the Frenchman joined an exclusive list of players to record FOUR assists in a single Premier League game.

Bruno Fernandes scored a hat trick in this contest and barely even gets a mention, such was Pogba's brilliance. United fans must look back to this fixture, and think what could've been?

Paul Pogba is the first Manchester United player to provide 4+ assists in a single Premier League game.

Outrageous. pic.twitter.com/bbkuwDBMPS

— Squawka (@Squawka) August 14, 2021

Everton 1-6 Arsenal - 2009/10

This battle of the Premier League ever-presents was expected to be a cagey affair at Goodison Park on opening day, but Arsene Wenger had other ideas.

The Gunners were in a rampant mood as five different players found the back of the net on Merseyside, including a worldie from Denilson (remember him?).

Cesc Fabregas also netted a brace, and showed why Barcelona were so desperate to get him back to the Camp Nou.

🗓 #OnThisDay in 2009...

🆚 Everton 1-6 Arsenal
⚽️ Denilson, Vermaelen, Gallas, Fabregas (2), Eduardo

What a strike from Denilson this was! 😱🚀 pic.twitter.com/ZxkCZ5UJzm

— Arsenal (@Arsenal) August 15, 2019

Middlesbrough 3-3 Liverpool - 1996/97

What a year 1996 must have been for Boro fans, fresh from signing Juninho, the Teeside club also announced the shock arrival of Fabrizio Ravanelli from Champions League winners, Juventus.

The Serie A legend instantly wrote his name into Premier League folklore with a debut, opening day hat trick against Liverpool in a thrilling 3-3 draw.

Stig Inge Bjornebye, John Barnes and Robbie Fowler scored for the Reds, but there was only one player being talked about that day, and his name was Ravanelli.

#OTD in 1996, record signing Fabrizio Ravanelli’s Boro career got off to a dream start with a sensational debut hat-trick in a 3-3 draw against Liverpool 🔴⚪️ pic.twitter.com/UtNKBzlfLV

— Boro Memories (@boro_memories) August 17, 2023