Season 35 of the English Premier League got underway with another Friday night kickoff under the lights, this time at Anfield — the second time the curtain raiser has been staged at the Liverpool ground after 2019, following its introduction in the 2017–18 campaign.

As usual, it didn’t fail to trigger a series of emotions, questions, and responses because of the saying: winners celebrate, while losers explain. However, not all those without a win were losers, and not all complaints were unwarranted.

Yet it is the Premier League, never ceasing to be its usual self. The calmness that never lasts. The uncontrolled chaos, as well as the predictable controversies, were all on display during the weekend, and the many cooks only added more spice to the broth.

From the Friday night kickoff at Anfield to Arsenal’s trademark win that sealed Sunday evening in Old Trafford, here are the highlights from the Premier League opening weekend that may have gone under your radar.

The Calm, and The Chaos

Anfield | Semenyo Rises Above Racism as Hugo Ekitike Shines

By opening the scoring on his Premier League debut, Hugo Ekitike became the fifth Frenchman to score the first goal of a new Premier League season after Djibril Cissé, Samir Nasri, Alexandre Lacazette, and Paul Pogba.

He then set up Cody Gakpo for Liverpool’s second to stand out as the first Frenchman to score and assist on his Premier League debut, and the first Liverpool player to do so since Darwin Núñez in 2022.

Antoine Semenyo, who was racially abused by a Liverpool fan during the game, went on to score twice to even the score, before Federico Chiesa came off the bench to net the winner two minutes from time with his first-ever Premier League goal.

Mohamed Salah added a fourth deep into injury time to seal a 4–2 win, extending his record of most goals on Premier League opening weekends to ten, while also equaling Andy Cole’s tally of 187 goals in the competition.

Villa Park | Toothless Magpies Missed Golden Chance

Newcastle United finally got their season underway amidst a dramatic summer that is expected to drag into the final weeks of the transfer window in early September.

At Villa Park, where they had won just one and lost five in their last six league visits, they were presented with a huge chance to seal another rare win after the hosts were reduced to ten men at the start of the final quarter.

Unfortunately, they could not capitalize as Alexander Isak’s absence was felt, with both Anthony Elanga and Anthony Gordon missing big chances that could have sealed a win for Eddie Howe’s side.

It was the first goalless draw in this fixture since May 2016 at the same ground, and it was enough for Aston Villa to prevent what would have been their first home loss since a 2–0 defeat to Arsenal in August 2024.

The AMEX | Muniz Denied Brighton

Brighton were heading for a fifth consecutive Premier League opening weekend win, only for substitute Rodrigo Muniz to crash their party with a last-minute equalizer.

The hosts had taken the lead from a Matthew O’Reilly penalty five minutes before the hour mark, won by Georginio Rutter after Sander Berge was penalized for a foul.

Muniz, who came on for the final quarter, fired home after a corner clearance fell into his path in the final minute, rescuing Fulham at a venue where they lost to a last-minute penalty last season.

Brighton’s winning run on opening weekends ended, while Fulham remain with just one win in their four opening weekend games since returning to the top flight in 2022–23.

Stadium of Light | The Lads Have Landed

Sunderland made a massive statement on their return to the top flight after eight years by beating West Ham United 3–0, their biggest opening-weekend win in 51 years, since 1974.

Eliezer Mayenda, Daniel Ballard, and Wilson Isidor scored the goals, making manager Régis Le Bris the third Frenchman to win his first Premier League game after Arsène Wenger (Arsenal) and Alain Perrin (Portsmouth).

The Black Cats also became the first newly promoted side to win a Gameweek 1 fixture since Bournemouth beat Aston Villa in 2022–23. Their result is the biggest opening-day win for a newcomer since Huddersfield Town’s 3–0 victory over Crystal Palace in 2017–18.

An impressive start for Sunderland, who have struggled in their most recent years in the top flight, but have shown with their summer transfer activity, including the signing of Nordi Mukiele on Sunday, that they’re not here to be pushovers.

Tottenham Hotspur Stadium | The Richarlison Show

UEFA Europa League winners Spurs put their Super Cup disappointment behind them by kicking off the new Premier League season with an impressive 3–0 win over newcomers Burnley.

Richarlison netted two sensational goals, both assisted by Mohammed Kudus, before Brennan Johnson sealed the win with a third, condemning the visitors to another opening-weekend loss.

Burnley, who last won a top-flight opener in 2019, have suffered back-to-back relegations from their last two promotions, and this poor display in London could be an early warning if they don’t improve quickly.

Spurs remain unbeaten on opening weekends since a 1–0 home loss to Everton in 2020, and Thomas Frank will now look ahead to a trip to Manchester City in search of back-to-back wins for the first time since February.

Molineux | Tribute to Jota Under the Blue Sky

Wolves paid tribute to their former player Diogo Jota and his brother André Silva, who tragically lost their lives in a car accident earlier in the summer, but couldn’t crown it with a win as Manchester City thrashed them 4–0.

Erling Haaland opened the scoring on 34 minutes before Premier League debutant Tijjani Reijnders doubled the lead three minutes later.

Reijnders then set up Haaland for a third, becoming the first City player to score and assist on his league debut since Sergio Agüero against Swansea in August 2012.

Another debutant, Rayan Cherki, came off the bench to add a fourth, sealing a dominant performance that sends Pep Guardiola’s men top of the league on goal difference.

City have now won all but one of their opening-weekend fixtures under Guardiola, the most of any team in that period.

Stamford Bridge | Chelsea, Palace, Unbreached

World champions Chelsea failed to win their opening game of the Premier League for a third straight season after being held to a goalless draw by Crystal Palace.

Eberechi Eze thought he had broken the deadlock in what could be his final game for The Eagles, only for his sublime free-kick to be ruled out by VAR for a foul.

Despite dictating much of the tempo, Chelsea created little with only three shots on target from 19, while Palace looked more dangerous but missed two big chances.

Chelsea are now winless in their last three Premier League Gameweek 1 fixtures, their longest such run since 1995–1998, while also failing to beat Palace in three straight meetings.

City Ground | Enormous Wood Fell on the Bees

Chris Wood scored twice to become the player with the most non-penalty Premier League goals since Nuno Espírito Santo’s appointment at Nottingham Forest, taking his tally to 30, level with Mohamed Salah.

Dan Ndoye added a third on his debut to seal a 3–1 win for Forest, while Brentford grabbed a late consolation through Thiago Rodríguez’s penalty.

Wood has now scored 91 Premier League goals, overtaking Olivier Giroud (90). Meanwhile, Morgan Gibbs-White’s assist for Ndoye was his 27th in the competition for Forest, equaling Ian Woan’s club record.

Old Trafford | 1–0 to the Arsenal, Again

It was not one of their better performances, but Arsenal ground out another rare Premier League win at Old Trafford, Riccardo Calafiori’s early goal securing a 1–0 victory.

It was the same scoreline as each of their previous five league wins at United’s ground, and Mikel Arteta’s third in six visits — as many as Arsenal managed in their previous 29 before his appointment.

Arsenal became the first team to prevent United from scoring in a Premier League opener since Everton in 2012, and the first to do so at Old Trafford in the modern era.

The Controversies

Anthony Taylor’s Howlers at Anfield

Marcos Senesi appeared to handle the ball as the last man, denying Hugo Ekitike a free run at goal, a clear red card incident. Yet both Taylor and VAR ignored it.

Liverpool were also let off when VAR didn’t check two possible Bournemouth penalties, while Alisson escaped sanction twice for holding onto the ball beyond the eight-second rule.

Eberechi Eze’s Disallowed Free-kick at Stamford Bridge

Though the VAR applied the letter of the law, eyebrows were raised as Eberechi Eze’s stunning free-kick was chalked off, a decision inconsistent with similar incidents allowed in the past.

Arsenal’s Goal at Old Trafford

Declan Rice’s corner led to William Saliba seemingly impeding Altay Bayındır, who then failed to stop Calafiori’s header. Despite United’s complaints, the referee and VAR allowed the goal.

As always, there were more questionable calls. But this is the Premier League, where chaos and controversy never fail to keep it at the center of world football’s attention.