Premier League opener: Man City edge Bournemouth 2-1, Liverpool salvage late draw at Newcastle
Synopsis
Manchester City's Premier League opener nearly unravelled before two goals in the final seven minutes sealed a 2-1 comeback win over Bournemouth. Liverpool survived a stoppage-time penalty drama at Newcastle, while Brighton's 4-0 demolition of Aston Villa was the starkest result of an action-packed opening weekend.
Key Takeaways
Manchester City beat Bournemouth 2-1 at home on 24 August , with goals from Marc Guehi (84') and Josko Gvardiol (90+1') after trailing from the 26th minute .
Liverpool drew 1-1 at Newcastle United , rescued by a Dominik Szoboszlai penalty in the ninth minute of stoppage time .
Brighton hammered Aston Villa 4-0 , with the contest effectively over inside 30 minutes ; Joao Gomes was sent off before half-time.
Jack Hinshelwood scored twice in quick succession for Brighton; Victor Lindelof contributed an own goal.
New Liverpool coach Andoni Iraola made his Premier League debut in the Newcastle clash.
Manchester City launched their 2024-25 Premier League campaign with a hard-fought 2-1 home victory over Bournemouth on Sunday, 24 August, coming from behind thanks to two late goals in the final minutes of the match. Liverpool, meanwhile, rescued a dramatic 1-1 draw at Newcastle United deep into stoppage time, while Aston Villa suffered a humbling 4-0 defeat at Brighton.
City's Comeback at the Etihad
Manchester City entered the fixture carrying the weight of a 3-0 Community Shield loss to Arsenal the previous weekend, and early signs were far from reassuring. Marcus Tavernier put Bournemouth ahead in the 26th minute following a swift counterattack, amplifying questions about City's early-season sharpness.
City pressed in the second half but struggled to find a breakthrough until Marc Guehi headed home from a Rayan Cherki corner in the 84th minute. Cherki proved decisive again moments later, setting up Josko Gvardiol to poke home the winner in the 91st minute — a goal confirmed after a VAR review. It was a nervy but ultimately clinical finish from the reigning champions.
Liverpool Rescue a Point in Stoppage Time
New Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola endured a turbulent debut as his side fell behind at St. James' Park within just five minutes, Anthony Elanga converting from a Newcastle United counterattack. Cody Gakpo levelled with a long-range effort in the 55th minute, only for substitute Joe Willock to restore the home side's advantage just two minutes later.
Liverpool appeared set to begin the season with a defeat until Dominik Szoboszlai stepped up to convert from the penalty spot in the ninth minute of stoppage time, after Victor Munoz was brought down by Lewis Hall. The point was hard-earned but Iraola acknowledged his side had more to offer.
'I don't think we deserved to lose the game and I value the effort from the players,' Iraola told Sky Sports. 'I haven't looked at the stats, but I'm sure we will have more chances, more everything. I think we were arriving, probably in the first half, we were not finishing anything,' he added.
Brighton Dismantle Aston Villa in First Half
Brighton produced the most emphatic result of the opening weekend, thrashing Aston Villa 4-0 at home in a contest that was effectively settled within the first 30 minutes. Victor Lindelof's own goal opened the scoring in the 8th minute, before Maxim De Cuyper doubled the lead in the 18th minute. Jack Hinshelwood then netted twice in quick succession to make it 4-0 before half-time.
Villa's afternoon worsened further when Joao Gomes was sent off before the interval, leaving the visitors to navigate the second half with ten men and no realistic path back into the contest. It was a chastening start to the season for Villa.
Storylines to Watch
City's reliance on late goals — and their Community Shield showing — will keep scrutiny on their early-season cohesion. Iraola's Liverpool project is in its infancy, but a comeback point on the road carries some encouragement. Brighton, meanwhile, signal early title-race relevance with a statement win. The next round of Premier League fixtures will offer a clearer picture of where each side truly stands.
Point of View
But the first-half profligacy he flagged is a real problem. Brighton's 4-0 over Villa, meanwhile, is the result that deserves more attention: Roberto De Zerbi's successor has wasted no time asserting that the Seagulls' overachieving era was no fluke.
NationPress
24 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Manchester City's Premier League opener against Bournemouth end?
Manchester City won 2-1 at home against Bournemouth on 24 August, coming from a goal down. Marc Guehi headed in an equaliser in the 84th minute before Josko Gvardiol scored the winner in the 91st minute, confirmed by VAR.
How did Liverpool's first Premier League game of the season go?
Liverpool drew 1-1 away at Newcastle United on 24 August. Dominik Szoboszlai converted a penalty in the ninth minute of stoppage time to salvage a point after Newcastle had led twice. It was new head coach Andoni Iraola's Premier League debut.
What happened in Brighton vs Aston Villa on the Premier League opening weekend?
Brighton beat Aston Villa 4-0 at home, with the match effectively decided inside 30 minutes. Victor Lindelof scored an own goal, Maxim De Cuyper added a second, and Jack Hinshelwood netted twice before half-time. Joao Gomes was sent off for Villa before the interval.
Who scored for Manchester City in their win over Bournemouth?
Marc Guehi scored with a header from a Rayan Cherki corner in the 84th minute, and Josko Gvardiol poked home the winner in the 91st minute, also assisted by Cherki.
Who is Andoni Iraola and why is his Liverpool debut significant?
Andoni Iraola is Liverpool's new head coach, previously in charge of Bournemouth. His Premier League debut with Liverpool ended in a 1-1 draw at Newcastle, a result he described as one his side did not deserve to lose, while acknowledging their missed chances in the first half.
