Premier League Round 1 Roundup: United Suffer Mauling While Bees Bruise Shambolic Spurs

Premier League Matchday One in Review

With the FIFA World Cup ending a mere month ago, football in England’s topflight is officially back!

The time has flown by, and Arsenal have already handed in their title-defending credentials after they cruised past Frank Lampard’s Coventry on the opening night.

On Saturday, 10 more sides got their 2026/27 campaign underway – and they proved to offer up some exciting clashes as ever – as Hull City looked to stun Michael Carrick’s United, while Roberto De Zerbi looked to start his first full season in charge of Spurs with a statement derby day win.

So sit back and enjoy, as Football Park gives you all you need to know from the Premier League’s opening day.

Hull City 2-0 Manchester United Ajayi (17’), Mendy (38’).

Hull fans were enjoying themselves after taking a 2-0 lead against Man United 🐯

📺 Watch live on TNT Sports & HBO Max pic.twitter.com/IqEq4lg2FE

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) August 22, 2026

Following a long 10-year hiatus which also included a brief stint in League One, Hull City returned to the big time under the guidance of Sergej Jakirovic. Meanwhile, Michael Carrick came into the season with a lot of expectation behind him, backed up by their thorough summer revamp in the midfield area.

The Tigers made Manchester United know they weren’t going to be shoved aside easily from the outset, as both sides began the game by crafting some early looks both expertly cleared by the opposition defences. Hull goalkeeper Konstantinos Tzolakis had early work to do on his debut too, making a crucial save to deny Bryan Mbeumo an early goal after he got on to the end of a superb Luke Shaw cross.

Three minutes later, however, and it was the newly promoted side who took a deserved lead. After forcing Senne Lammens into a fine save to force a corner, Semi Ajayi found the perfect position in the box to smash home to start the mauling.

The visitors began to slowly get back into the game, finding strong chances from Patrick Dorgu and Mbeumo with both coming close but not finding the net. Then, Hull found a second. Another set-piece, this time a Slater free-kick which found a high-flying Nobel Mendy, who blasted a bullet header into the bottom corner of Lammens’ net to send the Tigers into pandemonium.

Marcus Rashford made his United return in the second half, while Bruno Fernandes attempted to work his magic; despite United beginning to rack up the chances and the shots to find a way back into the game, it was Hull who came closest to find a third heading into the closing stages as Cody Drameh drove his shot just wide of the left post. Hull continued to battle hard, and completely outclassed United throughout, deserving a shock win to kick-off their PL return in some style.

The Tigers move into cup action midweek, heading to familiar opposition in Stoke City in the second round of the EFL Cup, while United now await their opponents in the third round and the UEFA Champions League, while hoping for a busy final week of the transfer window as they hope to bounce back against Ipswich at the Theatre of Dreams in a week’s time.

Everton 2-0 Crystal Palace Dewsbury-Hall (42’), Barry (53’).

David Moyes’ Toffees welcomed south Londoners Crystal Palace to the Hill Dickinson Stadium who were entering a completely new chapter after losing Michael Olise, Eberechi Eze, Marc Guehi and now Maxence Lacroix and coach Oliver Glasner over the past few seasons, and with more European football to deal with, Pierre Sage would be expecting a very difficult first season in charge.

The Eagles even began the game without star man from last season Ismaila Sarr – left out of the squad following surrounding reports suggesting he could move to Galatasaray this summer. The fixture, meanwhile, didn’t go by without providing some quality chances to both sides in the first half hour.

Jean-Philippe Mateta failed to improvise on a poor defensive header by James Tarkowski, while down the other end Iliman Ndiaye failed to put the ball past Dean Henderson following some good build-up play started by Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall.

Kiernan Dewsbury-hall goal in Everton vs Crystal Palace game. pic.twitter.com/jCpyKhmOFA

— Daily Foot Vibes (@dailyfootvibes) August 22, 2026

It was also the ex-Chelsea man who did give the hosts the lead just before the interval too, slamming the ball into Palace’s far corner to add to his impressive Everton tally as he starred this afternoon.

It didn’t take too long after the break for Moyes’ side to double their cushion after Thierno Barry began his season on the right foot, latching on to Ndiaye’s stunning cross to head past Henderson to give the Toffees a brilliant three points.

Everton will look to build on their first opening day win in five years when turn to cup action midweek, with them taking on Preston at Deepdale this time, after Wednesday’s hosts used Everton’s old Goodison Park ground for their first-round tie due to works taking place at their usual venue. For Palace, they have a week to reset, finding out their Europa League opponents on Friday before preparing to host Enzo Maresca’s Man City later that same day.

Ipswich 2-1 Sunderland Emersonn (24’), Clarke (90’); Anglo (39’).

The last of the three newly promoted clubs to play their opening Premier League fixture of the season, Ipswich welcomed a Sunderland side who look in exciting shape at the minute following their UEFA Europa League qualification. The Tractor Boys will be looking to follow suit and really compete upon their return, with only Chelsea, Tottenham, Arsenal, Newcastle and Manchester City having spent more money this summer.

With Kieran McKenna stepping back from the job which saw him take the east Anglian side from a League One level to a second season in the Premier League in three years, it was experienced PL coach Gary O’Neil who took charge at Portman Road, and it didn’t take long for his reign to start positively.

Inside just 24 minutes, it was summer signing Emersonn who tapped in the opening goal after a brilliant setup and run from fellow summer arrival Julio Enciso. In a battle of this year’s biggest promotion spenders versus last year’s ones, there was always going to be more goals, however.

And exactly 15 minutes on, in just his sixth Premier League start for the Black Cats, it was Nilson Angulo who would get the Wearsiders level before the break. His beautifully struck curling free-kick nipped down off the crossbar and in, leaving Kjell Scherpen in the Ipswich goal absolutely helpless.

However, Sunderland couldn’t quite keep up that momentum heading into the second period, with Brian Brobbey’s close-range shot saved by Scherpen early in the half was their best look at a winner. As the clock ticked down into stoppage-time, Ipswich had one last say to make the scorers work one more time. Ex-Black Cat Jack Clarke entered the Sunderland penalty area, curling a low effort into the bottom corner to earn the Tractor Boys a dramatic late three points on their topflight return.

O’Neil’s men will hope to continue their honeymoon phase into the EFL Cup, where they host League One strugglers Leicester City on Tuesday before an early challenge at Old Trafford next Sunday. For Sunderland, their performance last season granted them a bye in the cup, meaning they have a week to prepare before hosting Fulham as they look to get their first points on the board.

Nottingham Forest 0-1 Leeds Stach (88’).

Day one of Nottingham Forest’s rebuild under Conference League-winning coach Glasner began, hosting a Leeds outfit that are hoping for another promising season after last year’s survival and deep FA Cup run.

The game looked vastly frustrating for the most part from a fans' perspective, with chances from open play coming hard to come by, leaving nervy viewers worrying with every free-kick and corner being called out by referee Robert Jones.

Arriving from Fulham on a free transfer in some terrific business from Leeds, was Harry Wilson who almost got off the mark in extraordinary fashion, slotting home from Jayden Bogle’s cross, and if it wasn’t for the linesman’s flag it would’ve been a superb time to put the Whites ahead.

When time ticks down in a nil-nil, however, it only takes one moment of magic from any of the 22 players on the pitch. When Leeds were given a free-kick with moments to go before second-half stoppage-time, Anton Stach had a chance to win it. His free-kick, won after a foul by Nikola Milenkovic, squeezed past Matz Sels at his near post to send the away end into raptures as the Glasner era started with a defeat.

Away end limbs after Anton Stach’s winner against Nottingham Forest #LUFC pic.twitter.com/GCrMP199UM

— Focus Leeds (@focusleeds) August 22, 2026

Forest will be praying to the footballing Gods that this change to Glasner will work for them, with the Austrian being their fifth manager since the start of last season. They only have a few days to pick themselves back up quickly, however, as they have a rematch against Farke’s Leeds in the next round of the EFL Cup on Tuesday night.

Brentford 3-0 Tottenham Lewis-Potter (12’), Janelt (33’), Kayode (49').

The final game of the inaugural Saturday of the 26/27 Premier League season landed at the Gtech Community Stadium as Brentford prepared for an early London derby against a supposed revamped Tottenham Hotspur.

I use the word “revamped” because the Lilywhites were very busy in the market during the summer, spending less than only Chelsea; however, I describe the revamp as “supposed” due to the one-way traffic of the first-half – and you guessed it, it wasn’t Spurs dominance.

Despite possession being evenly distributed during the first period, it took just 12 minutes for the Bees to break the deadlock. Brentford really proved themselves last season despite being doomed for relegation, and they are now certainly on course for another season of jubilation in the topflight.

It was Keane Lewis-Potter who opened the scoring despite a couple of earlier missed chances, teed up by Mamadou Sangare, who was part of some magnificent play in the build-up with Dango Ouattara, before finding an open Lewis-Potter to steer Keith Andrew’s’ side ahead.

The opening half hour continued with Brentford very much on the front foot, while Spurs struggled to find a response or to craft anything meaningful to trouble the hosts. Eventually, they found a goal to double their lead. Mathias Jensen collected the ball following a poor touch from Richarlison before having a go from some way out. Antonin Kinsky managed to get a glove to it, but he couldn’t hold onto the ball as Vitaly Janelt came galloping in to make it 2-0.

11 chances created in one half. Two goals. New season. Brilliant Brentford. Same Spurs.

FULL TIME | Brentford 3-0 Tottenham

Simply nowhere near it. A poor showing today. The team will look completely different next week though, and today proved why. This group will need time to gel, time to adapt, and it’s so important we get those attacking signings over the line,… pic.twitter.com/rwpOSTCnVh

— Spurs Army (@SpursArmyTweets) August 22, 2026

Midfield changes were made for Spurs to start the second half, but there was certainly no shift in momentum. It took the hosts just four minutes to add a third. A corner whipped towards the far post was headed back to Sangare, who rifled a ferocious effort that Kinsky could only parry into the path of Michael Kayode to ensure the points would stay in west London.

Igor Thiago soon saw his penalty smash the post to miss the chance to put them up by four goals before the hours, but the Brazilian was all smiles at full-time as a five-star performance from the Bees sees them sit atop the table alongside Arsenal after the first six games.

Both sides turn to EFL Cup action this week now, with Brentford travelling to Tom Brady-backed Birmingham City, while Spurs hope to bounce back against a Charlton side who have picked up six points from six in the second tier so far.