Liverpool draw 2-2 at Newcastle as Manchester City and Brighton secure opening Premier League wins

Szoboszlai penalty rescues Liverpool at Newcastle

Andoni Iraola began his tenure as Liverpool manager with a 2-2 draw away against Newcastle United in the opening round of the Premier League. The Merseyside club, having parted ways with Arne Slot at the end of the previous season, fell behind after five minutes when Anthony Elanga scored on a counter-attack for the hosts. Cody Gakpo equalised for Liverpool in the second half with a strike from distance, but Newcastle quickly regained the lead in the 57th minute through substitute Joe Willock. Willock, who had just replaced 18-year-old debutant Sean Steur, finished off another counter-attack following a turnover by Ryan Gravenberch on the edge of the penalty area. Liverpool salvaged a point in the 99th minute when Dominik Szoboszlai converted a penalty after Víctor Muñoz was brought down in the box. Six Dutch players featured in the starting lineups at St. James' Park, including Sven Botman and Steur for Newcastle, alongside Virgil van Dijk, Jeremie Frimpong, Gravenberch, and Gakpo for Liverpool.

Manchester City recover late under Maresca

Manchester City secured a 2-1 victory over Bournemouth in their opening league fixture under new manager Enzo Maresca. Following Pep Guardiola's departure after a ten-year spell and a second-place finish last season, City entered the campaign having lost 3-0 to Arsenal in the Community Shield the previous week. Bournemouth, now managed by Marco Rose following Iraola's move to Liverpool, took the lead in the 26th minute through Marcus Tavernier. Justin Kluivert missed an opportunity to double Bournemouth's lead before half-time and was later substituted in the 75th minute. City mounted a late turnaround in the closing minutes, with defender Marc Guéhi scoring in the 84th minute and Joško Gvardiol netting the winner in the 92nd minute. The match was City's first league game since the transfers of Dutch internationals Nathan Aké to Fenerbahçe and Tijjani Reijnders to Al-Qadsiah, as well as the exit of assistant coach Pepijn Lijnders.

Brighton score four in opening half-hour against Aston Villa

Brighton & Hove Albion defeated Aston Villa 4-0 at home, establishing their four-goal lead within the first 31 minutes of the match. The visiting side, coached by Unai Emery and entering the season as reigning Europa League winners after finishing fourth in the league, fell behind in the eighth minute following an own goal by Victor Lindelöf. Belgian left-back Maxim De Cuyper doubled Brighton's lead ten minutes later, before Jack Hinshelwood scored twice in quick succession in the 30th and 31st minutes. Villa played the remainder of the contest with ten men after midfielder João Gomes received a red card in the 40th minute. Brighton started Dutch goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen and right-back Mats Wieffer, who played 78 minutes, while Villa fielded goalkeeper Marco Bizot and left-back Ian Maatsen, with Lamare Bogarde entering in the 74th minute.