‘Glaring issue’ Utd still hasn’t fixed; new signings who started with a bang — PL Talking Pts

The new English Premier League season kicked off with a bang as champions Liverpool pulled off a thrilling late victory at Anfield in the season opener.

Fellow title contenders Manchester City picked up a thumping win, while Arsenal claimed the points at Old Trafford, but Manchester United have been praised despite losing.

Tottenham made a “dream start” to the post-Ange Postecoglou era as London rivals Chelsea and their new signings faltered.

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Newly promoted Sunderland made a fairytale return to the top flight in an action-packed opening weekend with Leeds United still to host Everton to kick off their campaigns.

Scroll down for all the biggest talking points from the beginning of the new Premier League season!

Man City smash Wolves, Spurs win 3-0 | 02:10

‘GLARING ISSUE’: UTD TRANSFER GAP EXPOSED

It seems a little bit bizarre that Manchester United were praised for losing 1-0 at Old Trafford to Arsenal given their proud history.

But so dire was the Red Devils last season, having recorded their lowest ever points tally in the Premier League, that glimpses of hope were taken for an opening day loss.

Ruben Amorim unveiled new £200 million (AU$416 million) attacking trio of Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko, but they were unable to find the back of the net against the league’s stingiest defence of the last two seasons.

Despite the Gunners keeping a clean sheet, United great Gary Neville said on Sky Sports post-match that his former side were “the better team in terms of performance”, given they registered 22 shots to nine, and boasted 62% possession.

Manchester United's head coach Ruben Amorim and his players greet fans after the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester United and Arsenal at Old Trafford stadium in Manchester, England, Sunday, Aug. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson) Source: AP

The new-look attack Mbeumo and Cunha threatened consistently, while Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes played well in midfield.

Amorim was delighted that his side kept the Old Trafford faithful on the edge of their sets throughout the afternoon.

“The most important thing - we weren’t boring. I’m really proud of the guys. They were really brave in everything they did during the game,” he told Sky Sports.

“Congratulations for the performance, but not congratulations [for the result] because we lost the game at home.

“We clearly deserved a different result and we need to move forward to the next one.

“We were more aggressive than last year, we sprinted more, we were braver, we went one against one for the whole game and we pressed high.”

The good will toward United unsurprisingly did not sit well with former Red Devils captain Roy Keane.

The one-time United hard man turned pundit was even displeased with his former teammate Neville for showing too much leniency.

“The expectations at United now are so low, that even Gary [Neville] said on commentary, everyone is okay with a 1-0 defeat. They’ve got to do better,” Keane said on Sky Sports.

“It does worry me. Some of the new signings, there was encouragement with that. They were getting you up the pitch with a bit of power.

“Things will improve, it’s tough against Arsenal, but no goals and another defeat. There’s still problems there with Man Utd.”

The most glaring issue was stand-in goalkeeper Altay Bayindir’s costly blunder.

The 27-year-old Turkish international flapped at a corner and left Riccardo Calafiori to knock in a simple header in what proved to be the match-winner in the 13th minute.

The error sparked a heated debate between Keane and Premier League winner with Manchester City Micah Richards on Sky Sports, with Keane saying, “you can’t baby a goalkeeper”, as Richards defended the United goalkeeper.

Bayindir was chosen ahead of last season’s first-choice shot stopper Andre Onana, who Amorim said was fit but had missed all five of United’s pre-season friendly.

Onana was not even named on the bench with Tom Heaton given that position.

United have been linked with several other goalkeepers, and Gary Neville believes a new No.1 cannot come soon enough.

“There’s a glaring issue that Man Utd cannot ignore and it is the fact they need to find a goalkeeper,” he said on the Gary Neville Podcast.

“They have to. I’m unequivocal on that because I had an experience with Man Utd for 20 years where there were two big periods of seven or eight years with Peter Schmeichel and Edwin van der Sar.

“In between, we had seven or eight goalkeepers in a six, seven, eight-year period and it is really unsettling when you haven’t got a dominant No.1, who is dominant in the air, who owns his six-yard box, comes and punches everything and makes a lot of saves to win you points when your defenders make mistakes.

Manchester United's goalkeeper Altay Bayindir concentrates during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester United and Arsenal at Old Trafford stadium in Manchester, England, Sunday, Aug. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson) Source: AP

“I don’t know where they are on PSR, but they might have to magic up a bit more money in the next week or two, or do something on loan.

“The two that have been mentioned in the last two weeks have been Emi Martinez and [Gianluigi] Donnarumma.

“The reason I think they would be good goalkeepers for Man Utd is not necessarily because they are the best goalkeepers in Europe, but they are big personalities and characters.

“You’ve seen Donnarumma in a European final save those penalties for Italy. He looked like a giant. He’s played for PSG in huge games under pressure. Martinez has played in the World Cup final and won it for Argentina.

“They have played under extreme pressure and they almost walk out with that arrogance and dominance of a goalkeeper - Man Utd need that.”

Arsenal's Italian defender #33 Riccardo Calafiori (2L) wheels away to celebrate as Manchester United's Turkish goalkeeper #01 Altay Bayindir (C) reacts after Calafiori scored the opening goal during the English Premier League football match between Manchester United and Arsenal at Old Trafford in Manchester, north west England, on August 17, 2025. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorised audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / Source: AFP

ANGE REPLACEMENTS ‘DREAM START’

New Tottenham boss Thomas Frank summed up his side’s 3-0 win at home against the newly promoted Burnley by saying, “it was a perfect start, a dream start”.

The Danish manager, who was previously in charge of Brentford, added: “We all know we need to follow up on it, but today I will just enjoy it. I hope the players, the club, the fans enjoy it today because that’s important.

“A good performance against a difficult opponent is never easy in the Premier League.”

Tottenham Hotspur's Danish head coach Thomas Frank applauds on the pitch at the end of the English Premier League football match between Tottenham Hotspur and Burnley at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, on August 16, 2025. (Photo by Ben STANSALL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorised audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / Source: AFP

The win provided some much-need positivity at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium after they blew a 2-0 lead in regulation time and in the penalty shootout of the UEFA Super Cup against PSG to miss out on another piece of silverware.

Nothing really materialised, but some fans also gathered to continue to protests that were a key feature of last campaign, with a banner that read “built a business, killed a football club” in reference to club chairman Daniel Levy.

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The controversial club head could hardly have asked for a better start to the new season with new signing Mohammed Kudus providing two assists for a brace for fit again Richarlison.

The Brazilian has scored 13 goals in his last 16 league starts, but was seldom on the park last campaign, making just four league starts for former manager Ange Postecoglou.

Richarlison showed the attacking weapon he can be when healthy however, scoring an early goal of the season contender with a bicycle kick.

There had even been talks of Richarlison departing the club during the transfer window, but for now Frank has positioned him ahead of Dominic Solanke in his front man pecking order.

Things could get even better for Tottenham with reports in the past 24 hours suggesting that talks with Crystal Palace over the signing of Eberechi Eze are ramping up.

Although, Palace boss Oliver Glasner did pour cold water on discussion about the potential departures of Eze and Marc Guehi after their 0-0 draw with Chelsea saying, “it is nothing personal with all of you [journalists] but advice to the kids, don’t always believe what you read, especially on the internet, and here is the same”.

Liverpool score two late to win opener | 02:50

‘UNBELIVEABLE’ LIVERPOOL ISSUE; CITY’S ‘NEW HERO’

Liverpool started their campaign in emphatic fashion, while Manchester City made a statement that they mean business after a trophyless season last time out.

The champions overcame a scare from Bournemouth, leading 2-0 before the Cherries drew level and the Reds scored in the 88th and 94th minutes to prevail in an exciting season opener at Anfield.

“It was a great game to watch,” Liverpool manager Arne Slot declared post-match.

“This is what fans want to see.”

Liverpool fans were certainly rapt to witness new signing Hugo Ekitike score the first goal of the new season in a superb start for the former Einthracht Frankfurt forward.

Goals to Cody Gakpo, Federico Chiesa and last season’s golden boot winner Mohamed Salah showed off the Reds attacking brilliance, but Liverpool great Jamie Carragher was concerned about their defending after Antoine Semenyo scored a double in the space of minutes.

Semenyo caught out the Reds defensive line in transition on both occasions with Carragher pointing the finger at Virgil van Dijk’s centre back partner Ibrahima Konate.

“It is unbelievable,” Carragher on Sky Sports. “It’s fantastic from Semenyo - but Liverpool have had this problem.

“How many players were ahead of the ball - maybe eight players - when they were winning 2-1? That can’t happen. It’s absolutely shocking at this level.

“For Semenyo to run that far and get his shot away is incredible - but where Konate is going? He had a really poor night tonight at centre-back.”

Racist abuse suspends EPL opener | 01:09

Carragher on the other hand was full of praise for City, who demolished Wolves 4-0 away from home.

Erling Haaland kicked off the season in excellent fashion with a double, but it was the other two names on the score sheet that would have pleased Pep Guardiola most.

New signing Tijjani Reijnders added City’s second goal, provided an assist for Haaland’s second after starting the play that led to his first, and completed 22 passes in the final third in a player of the match performance.

The 27-year-old Dutch international, who was the Serie A midfielder of the season before crossing to City from AC Milan, has been hailed as the replacement for Kevin De Bruyne and showed he can fill those enormous boots.

Meanwhile, fellow new signing Rayan Cherki came off the bench to score City’s fourth in an eye-catching display that showed off why Thierry Henry, who coached the former Lyon attacker with the French under 21s, said he has never seen anyone dribble quicker with both feet.

“They’ve got a new hero,” Redknapp said of City fans on Sky Sports.

“It was a classy performance [from Reijnders]. When you bring in new players, you want them to start well to endear themselves to the fans.

“There will be plenty of them thinking, ‘I want a number 10 shirt’, or ‘I’m going to buy a Reijnders shirt now’, because they are going to be the new heroes.

“There have been so many amazing midfield players at that club, like David Silva, like Kevin De Bruyne, but time moves on. Can you do the right recruitment and bring in the right players?

“It’s early but [Reijnders and Cherki] have got used to the Premier League very quickly.”

Semenyo bags double after being abused | 00:42

CHELSEA ‘NOT READY’ FOR TITLE PUSH

Club World Cup winners Chelsea endured a disappointing start to the new season, held to a scoreless draw at home to FA Cup champions Crystal Palace.

In fact, the Blues were lucky to escape with a point as Eberechi Eze’s 13th minute free kick was disallowed after VAR spotted Palace captain Marc Guehi had pushed Moises Caicedo to create a gap for the ball to fly through and had moved too close to the Chelsea wall when Eze struck the ball as a result.

The outcome was not disastrous as Palace have been incredibly tough to beat in recent times.

In fact, Oliver Glasner’s men have won the Community Shield to go with their FA Cup trophy, the first in the club’s history, as well as collecting points in away fixtures at Anfield and the Emirates in their last ten matches.

But the supporters at Stamford Bridge would no doubt have been expecting more to start the season after their success in Europe.

They also handed maiden Premier League starts for Chelsea for new attacking weapons Joao Pedro and Jaime Gittens, while fellow newcomer forwards Liam Delap and Estevao came off the bench.

Enzo Maresca’s side registered 19 shots to 11, and had 72% possession, but the inability to score led Manchester United great Gary Neville to rule Chelsea out of the title race after just one match.

“When I look at Chelsea, they have good young players but you are not looking at Joao Pedro and Liam Delap in the same light as Arsenal, Liverpool’s or City’s front players,” Neville said on Sky Sports.

“They are good and I think they will have a good season but they are not ready. That’s not just because of Palace. They have drawn against a very good team.

“I think that top three are going to be fighting it out, one might drop away, I don’t know which one it will be.”

Sunderland's Granit Xhaka, centre, celebrates with teammates after the English Premier League soccer match between AFC Sunderland and West Ham United in Sunderland, England, Saturday, Aug. 16, 2025. (Owen Humphreys/PA via AP) Source: AP

SUNDERLAND FAIRYTALE

Eight years after their last Premier League outing, Sunderland produced a fairytale return to the top flight, hammering West Ham 3-0 at home.

The spotlight has shone on the newly promoted sides this season after the three promoted teams have gone straight back down to the Championship in the last two seasons.

Sunderland gave their fans at the Stadium of Light reason to believe they can break that trend, however.

A physical performance broke down Graham Potter’s side with second half goals to Eliezer Mayenda, Dan Ballard and Wilson Isidor sealing the three points.

New signing, new skipper and former Arsenal captain Granit Xhaka led the way in midfield, and the Black Cats were dangerous on the counter attack given West Ham had 64% possession.

Manchester United great Gary Neville believed he saw enough from Sunderland to suggest that they can avoid the drop.

Neville was particularly pleased with the fact Sunderland embraced playing imperfect football, and did not try to play a stylish passing game that has not succeeded for many sides upon making the jump from the Championship.

“So for me, Sunderland, yes, they demonstrated a lot of the qualities that I think can keep you in this league,” Neville said on Sky Sports.

“Because if you’re playing for Liverpool, City and Arsenal, the three best teams in the league, and Sunderland come and try and play football against you and pass it around the pitch, you’re really happy.”

SUNDERLAND, ENGLAND - AUGUST 16: Wilson Isidor of Sunderland celebrates after scoring the third goal during the Premier League match between Sunderland and West Ham United at Stadium of Light on August 16, 2025 in Sunderland, England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images) Source: Getty Images

He added: “Because I’ve been there. I’m really happy if they try and take us on at football, because I know we’re going to win that game. But if they try and basically be direct against us, beat us up, be aggressive, run in behind us, be a threat.”

Of the other promoted sides, Burnley endured a tough return to the top flight losing 3-0 at Tottenham, while Leeds United welcome Everton on Tuesday morning AEST.

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