Ten of the best games on the opening day of the Premier League season
Published:Premier League openers: 10 of the best
The Premier League fixtures announcement has thrown up some intriguing encounters in the opening round.
Vincent Kompany’s promoted Burnley will host his former club and Treble winners Manchester City, while fellow new boys Luton visit Brighton, and Chelsea welcome Liverpool.
We have already looked at the latest title odds on the back of the fixtures release, but here we’re looking at 10 of the most memorable Premier League openers from previous years.
1992: Sheffield United 2 Manchester United 1
It's Saturday 15th August 1992 – the day Brian Deane scored the first #PL goal…#PLMoments pic.twitter.com/QJGYVdSKDC
— Premier League (@premierleague) September 26, 2016
This game was not a classic like those below but it did feature the first Premier League goal. Brian Deane scored it, then won it for the hosts from the spot after Mark Hughes had levelled. Fortunes soon changed as Alex Ferguson’s side won the title and the Blades were relegated.
1994: Sheffield Wednesday 3 Tottenham 4
#OnThisDay 2️⃣7️⃣ years ago, the PL was introduced to Jurgen Klinsmann and '𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭' celebration… pic.twitter.com/m1ulxTyyPi
— Premier League (@premierleague) August 20, 2021
This launched what was meant to be a continental new era for Spurs, with Jurgen Klinsmann leading the line after a move from Monaco. He delivered too, scoring and then performing one of the Premier League’s most memorable celebrations – a dive to live up to his reputation.
1996: Middlesbrough 3 Liverpool 3
It was shirts-over-your-head time at the Riverside as Fabrizio Ravanelli marked his Boro debut with a hat-trick. The White Feather took on Liverpool’s Spice Boys and nearly came out on top but, at the end of the season, Boro went down despite the Italian’s 16 goals.
1996: Wimbledon 0 Manchester United 3
A legendary #GoalOfTheDay 🤩
Take it away, David Beckham… pic.twitter.com/khscN2R1OM
— Premier League (@premierleague) December 8, 2021
David Beckham’s majestic lob from his own half triggered one of the English game’s most celebrated and high-profile careers. Beckham was a well-established prospect before he caught Neil Sullivan napping – but this goal certainly helped him make a name for himself.
2016: Arsenal 3 Liverpool 4
The hosts took the lead through Theo Walcott, who recovered from seeing a penalty saved by Simon Mignolet to score just 69 seconds later.
However, Jurgen Klopp’s side stormed back as Philippe Coutinho (2), Adam Lallana and Sadio Mane put them 4-1 ahead, before Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Calum Chambers set up an exciting finish to a thrilling game.
2017: Arsenal 4 Leicester 3
The night started perfectly for Arsenal as new signing Alexandre Lacazette marked his league debut with a goal after just 94 seconds, only for Shinji Okazaki to level three minutes later. Jamie Vardy then capitalised on poor defending to twice put the Foxes ahead either side of Danny Welbeck’s equaliser.
Last time we played Leicester… 😱
A @premierleague classic 🔥#LCFCvAFC pic.twitter.com/2HoxqzVlyk
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) May 9, 2018
However Aaron Ramsey levelled, then fellow substitute Olivier Giroud’s 85th-minute goal settled a breathless encounter in Arsenal’s favour.
2017: Watford 3 Liverpool 3
Stefano Okaka gave Watford an eighth-minute lead, with Abdoulaye Doucoure re-establishing their one-goal advantage shortly after Mane equalised.
Watford 3-3 Liverpool
A 94th-minute Miguel Britos leveller means @WatfordFC are unbeaten in their last 3 opening day #PL matches pic.twitter.com/JCm3pcMwb6
— Premier League (@premierleague) August 12, 2017
Roberto Firmino levelled from the penalty spot after debutant Mohamed Salah was fouled, with the Egypt international then poking Liverpool ahead – only for Miguel Britos to equalise and give Marco Silva a positive first outing as Watford boss.
2020: Liverpool 4 Leeds 3
Champions Liverpool were given a scare by a fired-up Leeds side playing their first top-flight match in 16 years but ultimately a Salah hat-trick proved decisive.
It was a seven-goal thriller when we hosted @LUFC last season, including a hat-trick for @MoSalah ⚽️ #LIVLEE pic.twitter.com/VhTwArQtoc
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) February 22, 2022
Three times the Reds were pegged back after taking the lead with a Salah penalty, a Virgil van Dijk header and another Salah strike, with equalisers coming from Jack Harrison, Patrick Bamford and Mateusz Klich. Salah finally settled the contest with a second spot-kick two minutes from time.
2021: Brentford 2 Arsenal 0
Brentford announced their arrival in the Premier League in style as goals from Sergi Canos and Christian Norgaard secured a memorable 2-0 win over Arsenal. The Bees finally came full circle as their last match in the top flight, in May 1947, was a 1-0 home defeat against Arsenal.
2022: Manchester United 1-2 Brighton
Erik ten Hag endured a chastening reminder of the size of the job he had taken on at Manchester United as his first game in charge ended in a 2-1 defeat to Brighton at Old Trafford. Starting with Cristiano Ronaldo on the bench, United were thoroughly outplayed in the first half as two Pascal Gross goals in the space of nine minutes gave the Seagulls a deserved lead. Ten Hag’s men did improve after the break once Ronaldo had come on, but only found the back of the net through an Alexis Mac Allister own goal and were unable to get a leveller.
All odds and markets correct as of date of publication