2025/26 Premier League Opening Day Recap: Saturday's Matches in Review
2025/26 Premier League Opening Day Recap: Saturday's Matches in Review
The first Saturday of the new Premier League season has now come to a conclusion after a thrilling day of action.
After an underwhelming lunchtime game featuring two of last campaign's Champions League contenders, the goals flew in with 12 across the other four clashes.
There was also a big win for one of the returning clubs, whilst another of the newly-promoted teams are already facing a mountain to climb.
Here's everything that went down on Saturday afternoon.
Sunderland Get Dream Return
Sunderland ended their 8-year wait for Premier League football with a statement 3-0 victory against West Ham United.
In front of a packed Stadium of Light, both sides threatened to break the deadlock early as Jarrod Bowen came close for the Hammers before Habib Diarra's shot was pushed over the bar by debutant Mads Hermansen.
Sunderland’s first Premier League win in 8 years, 3 months and 10 days (3,042 days total).
— James Copley (@JamesCopley_) August 16, 2025
Sunderland’s first Premier League win at home in 8 years, 7 months and 30 days (3,164 days total).
Enjoy it. Drink it in. We've waited. Sunderland fans, you deserve this.#SAFC pic.twitter.com/WUMaEqQHJU
Just short of the half hour mark, Niclas Fullkrug teed up El Hadji Diouf for a shot, which beat goalkeeper Robin Roefs but Dan Ballard came to the rescue with a sliding clearance - remarkably, this would be the closest West Ham got to scoring for the rest of the match.
After the restart, Sunderland stepped up a gear and the Hammers had no answers; Two headers from play-off heroes Eliezer Mayenda and Dan Ballard in the 61st and 73rd minutes all-but-secured their first top-flight victory in August since 2010.
West Ham started to push on but remained blunt and the hosts took full advantage, as Wilson Isidor finished off a counter attack started by Chemsdine Talbi that Hermansen really ought to have saved.
Irons.
— Central (@WestHam_Central) August 16, 2025
We may not move. pic.twitter.com/GRWWgoWW03
Citizens Thump Wolves
Manchester City got the ideal start to the season under their new-look lineup, putting four past Wolverhampton Wanderers as they look to regain their Premier League crown.
Summer buys James Trafford, Rayan Ait-Nouri and Tijani Reijnders started with Rayan Cherki coming off the bench.
After an even first half hour in which Wolves had a goal chalked off for offside, it was the ever-present Erling Haaland who bagged his customary opening day goal as he tapped in Rico Lewis' pass to make it four in four from the first match of the season for the Norwegian.
We were all too busy talking about Gyokeres, Sesko and Isak.
— Football Tweet ⚽ (@Football__Tweet) August 16, 2025
And we all forgot the most elite striker of them all. pic.twitter.com/PWAaC7ZWJR
From there, the Citizens never looked back as Reijnders scored on his debut to punish a loose pass by Emmanuel Agbadou and Haaland nabbed a brace just after the hour.
Cherki, bought from Lyon for just €35m, also grabbed a debut goal following a one-two with Nico O'Reilly that allowed him to fire a shot from the edge of the box into the far corner.
Wolves fans sing Diogo Jota's name 🧡 pic.twitter.com/GeKsSOQeNI
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) August 16, 2025
Frank's Tottenham Impress
Thomas Frank started life at Spurs in the league with an emphatic three-goal win.
Richarlison only scored four goals across the full 2024/25 season, but he already has half of that tally with strikes in the 10th minute and on the hour mark.
His first came as a result of great work by Mohammed Kudus in his first match following a £55m move, as the Ghanian picked out the Brazilian from the right-wing before the striker shot past Martin Dubravka on the turn.
His second-half goal was also created by Kudus as the two hope to set up a partnership similar of that previously at the club with Harry Kane and Heung-Min Son, but the finish was a spectacular Goal of the Season contender with an acrobatic volley.
Tottenham have already secured 7.8% of their entire PL points tally from last season by beating Burnley today. #THFC | #COYS | #TOTTENHAM pic.twitter.com/LASUmc4uBE
— That Tottenham Feed (@Tottenham_Feed) August 16, 2025
Brennan Johnson, scorer of Tottenham's famous Europa League winner back in May, bagged a third just six minutes later to condemn Kyle Walker to a worrying loss on his return back to the Clarets.
Having just recovered from demotion to the Championship with an instant return back to the top flight, Burnley will surely be favourites for the drop once more after that display.
Brighton Denied Late
Brighton conceded a stoppage time goal to throw away three points in a 1-1 draw at home to Fulham.
The first half was very tight and no goals were scored as the teams remained on par at the interval, although Kaoru Mitoma's header from Matt O'Riley's delivery threatened to change that.
New season, same old Brighton. #BHAFC pic.twitter.com/AG1RwbRR4M
— lemmybhafc (@LemmyG10) August 16, 2025
There was little to split the two again in the next 45 minutes but Brighton did take slight control of proceedings and would have probably deserved the win they looked to be getting, courtesy of O'Riley's 55th minute spot-kick after Georginio Rutter was fouled by Sander Berge.
Lewis Dunk came fairly close to heading home and Yasin Ayari's shot dragged off target for the Seagulls, who would end up ruing their missed opportunities.
Harry Wilson's corner in the dying seconds was flicked on into the path of Rodrigo Muniz, who has been linked with a move away from the Cottagers, as the Spanish striker coolly stuck the ball past Bart Verbruggen and into the bottom corner.
No matter what happens
— FULHAM IN JAPAN (@Fulham_japan) August 16, 2025
Love this guy. pic.twitter.com/cLFEYHPkwe
Villa-Newcastle Level
Aston Villa and Newcastle United played out a goalless draw as both teams aim to compete with each other for European places once more.
The Magpies, who's preparations were gravely disturbed by wantaway striker Alexander Isak, greatly missed the cutting edge of their main man as it was an afternoon of wasted chances for them.
6 - Newcastle United have failed to win any of their last six Premier League games without Alexander Isak (D4 L2), failing to score in each of their last four, despite having 75 shots (9.4 xG) across those six matches. Struggle. pic.twitter.com/n0xIWsmnnB
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) August 16, 2025
The hosts didn't muster a single shot in the first half, a half that was dominated by the Geordies but Anthony Gordon and new man Anthony Elanga couldn't convert.
Villa did hit back somewhat after the restart, with both Boubacar Kamara and Ollie Watkins hitting the target although both efforts were hit straight at Nick Pope.
Ezri Konsa saw red 24 minutes from time for pulling back Gordon, with the winger bearing down on goal without any defenders to beat.
That left them clinging on to a point for the rest of the game, which they successfully did as Newcastle had a lack of clear-cut chances with Harvey Barnes spurning the only one of note.
Aston Villa have opened seasons better than this, but certainly worse too. You take a point with 10 men, but what's frustrating was Villa's sloppy first half and that they were in the ascendancy before Konsa's dismissal. Bizot impressed on debut – a big positive.#AVFC pic.twitter.com/WxVbLJ59k5
— John Townley (@johntownley11) August 16, 2025
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