How Did the Elite Teams Perform in the First Week of the Premier League?

1. What was the key to Manchester City's victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers?

New Manchester City midfielder, Tijjani Reijnders, dispelled negative perceptions about himself in his Premier League debut by scoring one goal and providing one assist. His performance helped City secure a resounding 4-0 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers in the league's opening week.

Although Kevin de Bruyne has departed, Reijnders has demonstrated potential as a new star for City. He contributed to the team's first three goals. This proves that Reijnders has quickly adapted from Serie A to the Premier League.

City manager Pep Guardiola praised Reijnders as an influential player since the first day of his arrival. Guardiola described him as a brilliant acquisition due to his work rate, game-reading ability, and good finishing skills.

Erling Haaland scored a brace, with both of his goals resulting from accurate passes from Reijnders. The synergy between the two has raised hopes for the emergence of two formidable strikers this season.

Reijnders also succeeded in filling the void left by Rodri, collaborating with Nico Gonzales as a double pivot. They locked down Wolves, preventing them from creating dangerous opportunities.

In addition to Reijnders, another impressive debutant was goalkeeper James Trafford and wing-back Rayan Ait-Nour. Substitute player Rayan Cherki even scored a goal in a short amount of time.

2. What caused Liverpool's victory over Bournemouth?

Liverpool dramatically defeated Bournemouth with a score of 4-2 in the opening match of the Premier League at Anfield. "The Reds" rallied after initially leading 2-0, only to have Bournemouth equalize at 2-2.

Federico Chiesa, who came on as a substitute in the 82nd minute, became the hero by scoring the decisive goal in the 88th minute. This goal restored Liverpool's lead to 3-2 and marked a special moment for Chiesa. This goal may change his future at Liverpool. Chiesa has been rumored to leave due to a lack of playing time.

This match became increasingly dramatic as it was dedicated to honoring Diogo Jota, who left Anfield forever due to a tragic accident. Chiesa declared his goal as a tribute to his teammate.

Liverpool manager Arne Slot praised Chiesa for his contributions that have had an immediate impact. He also mentioned that Chiesa still holds an important position within the team.

Hugo Ekitike, the new striker for Liverpool, made an impressive debut by scoring one goal and providing one assist with his sharp instincts. Ekitike showcased his best abilities in his first match with Liverpool. His towering physique is the secret to Ekitike's prowess.

Florian Wirtz, the new midfielder for Liverpool, is still adapting to the style of play in the English Premier League. His performance has not been optimal, with many ball losses and minimal contributions to the attack.

Despite the win, Liverpool's defense was not perfect, conceding two goals from Bournemouth's counter-attacks.

3. Why can Arsenal overcome Manchester United?

Arsenal was surprised by Manchester United, who dominated the course of the match. The home team was only ineffective in the final touch. However, the season opener indicated that Arsenal still relies on set-piece situations to score goals.

In the match between MU and Arsenal at Old Trafford Stadium on Sunday (17/8/2025 WIB), the "London Cannons" won 1-0 thanks to a quick goal from wing-back Ricardo Calafiori from a corner kick.

If Arsenal wants to win a trophy this season, they can no longer rely too heavily on set pieces. They must engage in open play. That night, Arsenal was fortunate to be saved by the brilliance of goalkeeper David Raya and a solid back four that withstood the onslaught from MU.

The debut of striker Viktor Gyokeres has received criticism. The performance of the Swedish player was quite minimal as he rarely touched the ball. It was not only Gyokeres; other Arsenal forwards also performed below standard.

The defeat was hard to accept for the "Red Devils" who played in front of their own supporters. Statistically, MU had the advantage in the number of shots, 22-9, and ball possession at 61.2 percent.

MU was able to neutralize Arsenal's gameplay due to their aggressiveness. Last season, the distance between MU players was too wide when launching attacks. This season, the 3-4-2-1 formation under coach Ruben Amorim is executed perfectly with players positioned closer together.