A review of the day's action, courtesy of premierleague.com, as City fight back to win, Reds strike late and Brighton beat Aston Villa

The first Sunday of the 2026/27 Premier League season delivered plenty of drama, with Manchester City staging a late comeback to win against AFC Bournemouth and Liverpool snatching a last-gasp draw at Newcastle United.

Man City scored twice in the closing stages to begin Enzo Maresca's reign with a 2-1 victory, while Dominik Szoboszlai converted a penalty in the ninth minute of stoppage time to earn the Reds a 2-2 draw at St James' Park on an emotional afternoon of tributes to Kevin Keegan

Elsewhere, Brighton & Hove Albion produced an emphatic opening-weekend victory, scoring four times in the first 31 minutes against 10-man Aston Villa.

Rayan Cherki rescued Man City from the bench with two assists as new manager Maresca made a series of intriguing tactical decisions in his first match since replacing Pep Guardiola.

Maresca named several surprises in his line-up, with centre-back Marc Guehi playing in central midfield and Nico O’Reilly, who spent last season at left-back, operating as the No 10. Phil Foden also played on the right wing in the youngest Matchweek 1 starting line-up that Man City had fielded in 17 years.

Guehi admitted he was as surprised as anyone by his new role. “It was an idea the manager had,” he told Sky Sports. “We worked on it in the week. He’s trying different things.”

But Bournemouth, in Marco Rose’s first game in charge since succeeding Andoni Iraola, took the lead in the 26th minute, Marcus Tavernier finishing from low pass at the back post.

Erling Haaland and Guehi both missed glaring chances for Man City. Haaland, who was sporting a new short haircut, failed to score on the Premier League opening weekend for the first time.

Bournemouth had never led at the Etihad, let alone won there, and they were six minutes away from claiming a famous victory when Man City equalised through Guehi’s header, before Josko Gvardiol struck the winner in stoppage time.

Cherki came on for O’Reilly just after the hour mark and set up both goals, firstly with a corner and then with an intricate pass.

It ended a run of 18 Premier League games unbeaten for Bournemouth and was the first defeat since selling Antoine Semenyo to City in January.

"It’s never done here,” Rose said. “You know what you get. The quality of the team and this stadium. They know how to finish games.”

For City, it was the latest they had trailed and gone on to win since coming from behind against Queens Park Rangers in the second minute of stoppage time on the final day of the 2011/12 season, Sergio Aguero and Edin Dzeko scoring to win them the title.

Szoboszlai scored a penalty in the ninth minute of stoppage time to earn Liverpool a draw against Newcastle in a fittingly drama-filled match on a day of tributes to Kevin Keegan.

An emotional tribute was paid to Keegan, who played for both clubs and managed Newcastle, after he died last month, at St James’ Park.

Before kick-off, the players gathered around the centre circle for a minute’s applause. A giant “Keegan 7” filled the Leazes End and a “King Kev” tifo covered the East Stand.

Newcastle came desperately close to a win following a difficult summer. Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes – the heart of their midfield – left for Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal respectively.

Eddie Howe departed and was replaced by new head coach Matthias Jaissle. Hours before kick-off, it emerged that new captain Dan Burn was out with an ankle injury; he arrived at the stadium on crutches. Joelinton was also out injured.

But Newcastle made a flying start. After playing for 1,315 minutes all last season without a league goal, Anthony Elanga needed only five to open the scoring with a rapid breakaway and finish.

Jaissle made the unexpected decision to play Yoane Wissa, usually a centre-forward, as a No 10 – and he produced arguably his best performance in a Newcastle shirt.

"The manager expects me to be a leader and lead the group,” Wissa told Sky Sports. “He wants me to be winning balls, making sure everyone is going forward, going for the kill, and sometimes just be calm. He wants me to keep up the energy."

Liverpool equalised in the 55th minute through a brilliant 20-yard strike from Cody Gakpo, but Jaissle responded with an inspired substitution, bringing on Joe Willock. Some 110 seconds later Newcastle were ahead again as a 70-metre run from Wissa set up the substitute.

Things looked bleak for new Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola, taking charge of his first match since replacing Arne Slot.

But deep into stoppage time, Victor Munoz – signed from Osasuna in June after being linked with Newcastle – was fouled by Lewis Hall, who had otherwise been excellent, in the penalty area.

Some wondered if Alexander Isak, who left Newcastle for Liverpool last summer and was heavily booed by the home fans whenever he touched the ball, would take the penalty.

Instead, Szoboszlai stepped up and drilled the ball into the top-left corner. The Hungarian later revealed it was so loud he could not hear the referee’s whistle before he took it.

"More than 50,000 fans in the stadium against you,” he said. “You can't hear your own voice. That's why I love football and that's why I am doing it.”

Iraola added: “It’s not the result you want, but scoring in the last minute gives you a better taste.”

Jack Hinshelwood started where he left off last season with two goals in 79 seconds as Brighton raced four goals ahead by the 31st minute against Aston Villa.

The 21-year-old scored three goals in the last five games of 2025/26, and his double added to a strike from Maxim De Cuyper and an own goal by Aston Villa defender Victor Lindelof.

To compound matters for Aston Villa, Joao Gomes – a summer signing from Wolverhampton Wanderers – was sent off five minutes before half-time. He became the first player dismissed in the first half of their Premier League debut since QPR’s Samba Diakite in 2012 in a game against Fulham.

Brighton did not maintain the intensity in the second half and failed to trouble the biggest opening-weekend win, set by Chelsea when they beat West Bromwich Albion 6-0 in 2010. But they became only the fourth side to score four first-half goals on Matchweek 1, following Bolton Wanderers (2001), Manchester United (2007) and Liverpool (2020).

Ollie Watkins was a conspicuous absence from Villa’s squad, after manager Unai Emery confirmed they had received bids for the striker last week.

Villa have lost several key players this summer – 19-year-old academy player George Hemmings started his first Premier League game – but Emery was not downbeat.

“In the last three years, until the transfer window finishes, we have had problems like we are having now,” he said. “The players here today are keeping the mentality I want for the team. Not complaining or blaming, even with a tough result today.”

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