Liverpool's late heroics and City's stumble: how 2025-26 kicked off

The Premier League's opening weekend had everything — emotional returns, shock defeats, and the kind of chaotic finishes that make you forget why you stopped biting your nails.

Liverpool came back to Anfield for the first time since losing Diogo Jota, and yeah, they made it count. A 4-2 demolition of Bournemouth set the tone for the champions, though they needed a late surge to seal it. Then came a scrappy win over Newcastle thanks to Rio Ngumoha — not exactly the flowing football the Reds usually serve up, but wins are wins.

Arsenal looked sharper. Dominik Szoboszlai's free-kick was the kind of thing you rewind three times and show your mate, the ball bending like it had a mind of its own. Clean enough to win goal of the month, which says something about the other contenders.

And then there's Manchester City. Two losses in the opening fortnight? Tottenham dismantled them 2-0 at the Etihad, and Brighton followed up with a 2-1 away win. Not exactly the start Guardiola's crew needed.

Everton had their own milestone moment, winning their first game at the newly named Hill Dickinson Stadium. A fresh ground, fresh vibes, fresh hope — though we all know how that tends to go.

Sunderland, meanwhile, came back to the top flight like they meant business. Two wins from three games. Not bad for a side that'd been away from the main event.

It's just 100 photos from one season, but they tell you everything. The celebrations, the anger, the scrambles in the box when nobody knows what's happening. That's the Premier League.