Opening weekend talking points

The Premier League is back with champions Arsenal in full flow on Friday night, two of the three promoted teams beginning with a win on Saturday and Tottenham Hotspur suffering a humbling defeat by Brentford after a summer of heavy transfer spending. Anton Stach scored a spectacular late winner for Leeds United at Nottingham Forest and Everton beat Crystal Palace in front of UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham.

Every Premier League Sunday, writers from The Athletic give their views on the weekend talking points so far.

Which promoted teams look capable of staying up?

Liam Tharme: Hull’s 5-4-1 shape was well-coached, they held a good defensive line and repeatedly caused Manchester United problems with long balls and set pieces, the elements which worked especially well for Leeds last season.

Ipswich Town have been bold in their investment, a little like Sunderland last season, and there should be no writing Coventry City off despite Frank Lampard’s side being outclassed away at champions Arsenal.

Gregg Evans notes positive signs for Hull and Ipswich. "Whether players like Semi Ajayi and Paddy McNair have the staying power deep into December to keep clean sheets — which ultimately will be key because Hull don’t look like a team full of goals — remains to be seen."

For Ipswich, the ability to turn to a player like Jack Clarke, who grabbed the winning goal, could be the difference, with variety of forward options.

Eduardo Tansley highlights Julio Enciso as the most exciting player on the pitch for Ipswich against Sunderland. "In all of 2024-25, they achieved one home win in the Premier League, but have already matched that in their first game of this season."

New players catching the eye

Tharme: Hull’s Nobel Mendy. He headed the second goal and was a colossus at the back, recording 12 clearances — more than anyone else — before being subbed on 64 minutes with an injury. "Already the reported €25m (£21m; $29m) that Hull paid Rayo Vallecano for the Senegal international this summer looks worth every penny." Surviving promoted teams often rely on an aerially dominant centre-back: Ethan Pinnock at Brentford and Shane Duffy for Brighton & Hove Albion, Joe Rodon with Leeds United last year.

Campbell: Christos Tzolis. Bought from Club Brugge for £34m, the Greek winger "has the small space intricacy and combination play" and is bringing out the best in Riccardo Calafiori too. Everton’s new central midfielder Hayden Hackney also deserves a mention.

Evans: Mamadou Sangare starred for Lens last season with high numbers for true tackles and recoveries, and his forward running helped create Brentford’s opener on Premier League debut.

Tansley: Enciso punished a sloppy pass from Sunderland’s Luke O’Nien, skipping round Dan Ballard to set up Ipswich’s opener. Still only 22, the Paraguayan received a standing ovation when he came off with cramp.

De Zerbi or Carrick: who is most concerned?

Tharme picks De Zerbi. Spurs have finished 17th in consecutive seasons and have conceded 10 goals in eight games under him with two clean sheets. Credit is due for buying Jan Paul van Hecke and Marcos Senesi, the two best line breakers in the league last season, and Champions League midfield quality in Mateus Fernandes and Sandro Tonali.

Campbell picks Carrick. Manchester United looked insipid and one-paced. Diogo Dalot and Kobbie Mainoo were dropped for Noussair Mazraoui and Andrey Santos, while Patrick Dorgu played on the left wing. The centre-back area looks a lottery and there was a lack of a focal point without Benjamin Sesko, who was not fit to start. Carlos Baleba will add more dynamism but the new midfield of Santos and Youri Tielemans looked flat.

City or Liverpool rebuild?

Tharme says City look stronger. The record-breaking transfer of Elliot Anderson should help fill the Rodri hole, with previous window signings Rayan Cherki and Antoine Semenyo giving flexibility up front. Alexander Isak needs fitness and Liverpool’s midfield and centre-back partner for Virgil van Dijk look thin.

Campbell notes the loss of Rodri feels more seismic than Mohamed Salah’s departure from Liverpool. City have secured Anderson and could add Ayyoub Bouaddi from Lille. Liverpool still have gaps, with Jeremy Jacquet accomplished but the squad thin.

Evans points to City having lost Rodri and hoping Anderson replaces him, while Liverpool have known since March that Salah would be leaving yet with eight days left have not secured his successor. Defence looks fixed with Jacquet and Ronald Araujo, and hope rests on Trey Nyoni filling the void left by Curtis Jones, but Barcola breakthrough is needed at Anfield.

What’s next

Manchester City host Bournemouth on Sunday, while Brighton host Aston Villa, who have lost Morgan Rogers, Ezri Konsa, Youri Tielemans and Lucas Digne this summer but have agreed in principle to sign Leon Goretzka. Liverpool travel to Newcastle in the late game. On Monday night Fulham host Chelsea, with Chelsea’s new head coach Xabi Alonso able to call on Rogers, who moved for £117m. Fulham have brought in Alvaro Arbeloa and raided Real Madrid for Gonzalo Garcia and Cesar Palacios, while they have also signed Shea Charles from Southampton.