- Arsenal kicked off their Premier League season with a 2-0 victory over Wolves
- Jamie Vardy’s equaliser earned Leicester City a 1-1 draw against Tottenham, frustrating Spurs in their season opener
- Despite heavy summer spending, Chelsea’s disjointed performance led to a 2-0 loss against Manchester City
The Premier League is back, and it didn’t take long for the drama and excitement to return with it. Match week 1 saw champions Manchester City picking up where they left off with a commanding victory over a disjointed Chelsea side.
Arsenal and Liverpool both kicked off their campaigns with wins, showcasing early signs of title ambition, while Manchester United left it late to secure all three points against a stubborn Fulham.
However, it was Leicester City's return to the top flight that stole the show, as Jamie Vardy once again played the villain at Tottenham’s expense.
Below is a review of every game played by the Premier League’s top 6 in match week 1:
Arsenal vs Wolves
Arsenal kicked off their Premier League campaign with a 2-0 win over Wolves at the Emirates. Bukayo Saka and Kai Havertz were the standout performers, each scoring and assisting the other. While it was a solid start, the Gunners showed signs of rust and will need to sharpen up before facing tougher opponents like Aston Villa and Brighton.
David Raya made crucial saves to preserve the clean sheet, while Martin Ødegaard and Gabriel Martinelli impressed in attack.
However, there were concerns over Thomas Partey and Oleksandr Zinchenko’s performances, particularly Partey, who struggled physically.
Defensively, William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes had shaky moments, but Arsenal's talent ultimately made the difference.
Refereeing decisions didn’t favour Arsenal, with a missed penalty call on Saka and a questionable non-red card for Yerson Mosquera.
Despite these controversies, Arsenal controlled the match and secured the win, though they’ll need to tighten up as the season progresses.
Liverpool vs Ipswich
Liverpool secured a strong victory against newly promoted Ipswich Town in their season opener, with a 2-0 win that showcased tactical adaptability under new manager Arne Slot.
The first half was challenging as Ipswich crowded the centre of the pitch, limiting Liverpool’s options.
However, Slot made a decisive change at halftime, bringing on Ibrahima Konaté to protect the right flank, allowing Trent Alexander-Arnold to invert and create more passing lanes. This adjustment paid off, leading to the opening goal from a midfield combination involving Ryan Gravenberch, Mohamed Salah, and Alexander-Arnold.
Gravenberch was outstanding in controlling the midfield, impressing with his ball-carrying and passing range, and was named Man of the Match. Dominik Szoboszlai also significantly impacted the second half, pressing Ipswich’s defence and forcing errors that kept the opposition pinned back.
While there are still areas to address for Slot, such as contract renewals and squad depth, Slot’s early tactical acumen suggests a promising future for Liverpool under his management.
Man City vs Chelsea
Manchester City began their Premier League campaign with a commanding 2-0 victory over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, highlighted by a goal from former Blues midfielder Mateo Kovačić. Chelsea co-owner Todd Boehly left his executive box shortly after City’s second goal, raising eyebrows as the cameras caught his exit.
Kovačić, who was sold by Chelsea last year for £30 million, didn’t celebrate his goal out of respect for his former club.
His dominant midfield performance overshadowed Chelsea's expensive recruits, including Enzo Fernández, who struggled to contain him.
City’s star, Erling Haaland also made his mark, scoring the opener after shrugging off Marc Cucurella to slot the ball past goalkeeper Robert Sánchez. Haaland’s 91st goal in 100 appearances for City shows the striker’s elite mentality, a trait always praised by Pep Guardiola.
Chelsea, despite their lavish spending and summer signings, looked disjointed.
New manager Enzo Maresca, a former City coach, now faces different challenges, with uncertainty surrounding key players like Raheem Sterling and Conor Gallagher.
Contrastingly, City’s iron-willed performance extended their unbeaten league run to 24 games, proving they remain the team to beat.
Chelsea, however, are left with mounting doubts and questions as they start the season on a shaky note.
Man Utd vs Fulham
Joshua Zirkzee made an immediate impact on his Manchester United debut, scoring the decisive goal in a 1-0 victory over Fulham in the Premier League season opener on Friday night.
The Dutch striker netted in the 87th minute, finishing off a cross from Alejandro Garnacho, who had come on as a substitute alongside Zirkzee in the second half.
In a match that lacked excitement, both teams had chances to break the deadlock earlier. Bruno Fernandes missed several opportunities for United, while Fulham failed to capitalise on a couple of promising counter-attacks.
Despite the unremarkable performance, Erik ten Hag's side secured all three points, mirroring last season’s narrow opening-day win.
Tottenham vs Leicester City
Jamie Vardy once again proved to be Tottenham Hotspur’s tormentor, scoring a crucial goal to secure a 1-1 draw for Leicester City in their return to the Premier League. Despite being 38 next January, Vardy’s competitive edge and goal-scoring instinct were on full display, reminding everyone of his enduring quality.
Vardy's equaliser came with Leicester’s first attempt on goal, just when it seemed Tottenham would overpower them. His header cancelled out Pedro Porro’s opener for Spurs and sparked a transformation in Leicester’s performance.
The veteran striker’s goal and presence revitalised his team, who looked far more confident after levelling the score.
The draw left Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou frustrated, especially as his new £65 million signing Dominic Solanke failed to convert key chances.
Tottenham dominated the first half but couldn’t capitalise on their opportunities, a familiar occurrence from last season.
Vardy’s goal celebration was a pointed reminder of Leicester’s 2015-16 Premier League triumph, a title that continues to elude Tottenham.
As he was subbed off, Vardy couldn’t resist taunting the Spurs fans with a cheeky 1-0 gesture, referring to his Premier League medal, rubbing salt in the wound of their title-less history.
Community Shield Preview: 3 things to note as Man United take on Man City in derby final
Previously, TheRadar reported that Wembley Stadium will once again host its traditional curtain-raiser, the Community Shield match, signalling the return of English football today, August 10. The anticipation for the Premier League is building and fans are already excited.
The 117th FA Community Shield features a rematch of May’s FA Cup final, pitting Manchester City against Manchester United in a Manchester derby with significant implications.
