The Premier League returns: what happened on matchday 1?

The long wait for Premier League football is finally over, and the first round of fixtures did not disappoint. Though 9 of the 20 teams failed to score, there were still 24 goals, including an incredibly early ‘goal of the season’ contender. On top of that, we had: a red card, a controversial penalty, and a confusing disallowed goal. Sports Talk United brings you the first of many (38 in total) Premier League recaps.

A tribute, a slur, and a 6-goal thriller

We begin at Anfield, home of the defending champions Liverpool, who defeated Bournemouth 4 – 2 in the opening game of the 24/25 season. The night started with an incredibly moving tribute to Diogo Jota, the Liverpool forward who tragically died in a car crash this summer. The last time fans saw him, he was on top of the bus during the victory parade through the city. As this was the first competitive fixture of the season at Anfield, the entire stadium chose this moment to celebrate their player, and sing his song throughout.

The match itself was dominated in the early stages by the home side, though they struggled to create clear-cut opportunities. The game was then halted near the half-hour mark, after Bournemouth winger Antoine Semenyo was racially abused by someone in the crowd. The fan in question, a 47-year-old man from Liverpool, has since been arrested, released on conditional bail, and received a nationwide stadium ban. The fact that Semenyo was able to play on is testament to his extraordinary mentality, and would go on to have a significant impact on the game (*spoilers).

Back to the game, and Liverpool’s pressure finally told in the 38th minute, as Hugo Ekitike opened the scoring in slightly fortuitous circumstances. 20 yards out and running at centre-back Senesi, Ekitike benefitted from a ricochet off of the defender’s legs, back into his path. Ekitike took a touch, before finishing emphatically into the bottom corner from 16 yards. Liverpool started the second half in similar fashion, and it only took 4 minutes for Cody Gakpo to extend the lead. Receiving the ball left of goal on the edge of the box, he continued cutting inside, making space for himself, before firing low past Petrović.

Despite the 2-goal lead, Liverpool were often at risk on the counter, and Bournemouth pulled a goal back via that method in the 64th minute. David Brooks was played into space down the left flank, before firing a dangerous, low cross to the back post, where Semenyo fired in from close range. With 15 minutes of the game to go, Semenyo received the ball in his own half, before carrying it 40 yards forward. With runners either side of him, he decided to shoot from the edge of the box, and his powerful effort found the back of the net. Suddenly it was 2 – 2, and Anfield was shocked.

With time running out, it fell to substitute Chiesa (literally) to put Liverpool ahead again in the 88th minute, after a cross wasn’t headed clear, and the Italian volleyed in from the penalty spot. There was still time for Liverpool to score a 4th, after Mohamed Salah chased down a clearance, out-running the Bournemouth defence, before slotting into the bottom corner.

Richarlison fires Spurs to victory

Before the season began, you’d have been forgiven for forgetting Richarlison still played for Spurs. He struggled for game time under Ange Postecoglu, and only scored 5 goals in 24 appearances across all competitions. Under Thomas Frank, he seems to have started the season with real purpose. After being given a surprising start in the UEFA Super Cup loss to PSG on penalties, he scored Spurs’ opening 2 goals of the domestic calendar against Burnley. Both were quality finishes, but the second was a work of art. The first goal came after excellent work down the right flank from debutant Mohammed Kudus, who beat his man, before firing a cross to the penalty spot. Richarlison had peeled away from his marker, before firing a difficult chance into the bottom corner in the 10th minute.

Despite dominating possession, Spurs couldn’t find a way to extend the lead, and Burnley looked just as likely to score as the home side. Then, after the hour mark, a moment of magic made the 3 points safe. Kudus once again stood his marker up, before beating him around the outside, and clipping the ball to the back post. Richarlison had to run away from goal, before executing a brilliant overhead kick from 16 yards out, firing low beyond the ‘keeper. What made the goal even better was the fact that every Spurs player had touched the ball in the build-up, before Richarlison’s exquisite finish.

There was still time for Spurs to add a third, and Brennan Johnson found the goal, after being played through by Pape Matar Sarr. The Welshman had the pace to reach the through-ball first, before clipping a clever finish with the outside of his foot, beating the advancing Martin Dubravka. It finished 3 – 0, and though the stats suggest the match was fairly even, Spurs’ were clinical when needed.

Black cats cross Hammers’ path

It was a good weekend for the newly-promoted sides, despite Burnley’s defeat at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Leeds United managed a 1 – 0 victory against Everton, after a late (and controversial) penalty was converted by Luke Nmecha. The real performance of matchday 1 came from Sunderland, who destroyed West Ham 3 – 0 at a raucous Stadium of Light. Despite fielding 7 debutants in the starting line-up, the 3 goals came from 3 players who were part of Sunderland’s play-off winning squad.

The home side looked the more dangerous in the first half, but came alive with half an hour to go. A searching cross from Alderete on the left wing found Eliezer Mayenda in the area, who produced a powerful header from 16 yards, guiding it just inside the left-hand post. 10 minutes later, Sunderland doubled their lead through Dan Ballard, who stayed up following a corner. West Ham failed to clear, the ball came to Adingra down the right, and his excellent cross was diverted in from 8 yards. West Ham pushed Sunderland further and further back, in an attempt to get back in the game. As the match went into stoppage time, and West Ham’s pressure was building, the home side intercepted the ball through Talbi. He waited for support, before playing a ball down the left flank for Wilson Isidor to chase. He cut inside, ran to the edge of the box, and guided the ball low into the far corner. After 8 years away, Sunderland’s return to the Premier League was a happy one.