The first weekend of the 2025/26 Premier League season is done and dusted, with Championship winners Leeds United closing out the action with a 1-0 win over Everton at Elland Road on Monday.
Leeds sealed a quick return to the Premier League by edging the Championship title race last season, finishing on 100 points along with Burnley but with a better goal difference.
Lukas Nmecha took just five touches to register his first Premier League goal after being introduced as a late substitute, with the Wolfsburg signing converting from the spot to see Leeds take all three points.
The season kicked off on Friday, with Liverpool surrendering a two-goal lead before Federico Chiesa and Mohamed Salah scored to cap an emotional night against Bournemouth in which late striker Diogo Jota was remembered by the Kop.
Promoted Sunderland briefly held top spot on Saturday following a 3-0 win over West Ham United. It was the Black Cats' first Premier League win in eight years.
Manchester City's new signings shone in a prolific start for Pep Guardiola's side, with Erling Haaland also registering his first goals of the campaign in a 4-0 demolition of Wolves.
On Sunday, Arsenal showed Manchester United there is still plenty of room for improvement despite a massive summer outlay on new players as the Gunners left Old Trafford with a 1-0 win.
Here is our team of the week (4-3-3 formation).
Manager
Daniel Farke (Leeds United)
Has the unwanted record as the only manager to lose 15 consecutive matches in England's top tier, so masterminding Leeds' triumphant Premier League return, with the inspired late introduction of Nmecha, secured victory over Everton and a small measure of redemption for the German coach.
Goalkeeper
David Raya (Arsenal)
Pulled off seven saves to deny a new-look Manchester United attack as the Gunners got their season up and running with three points.
Defenders
Daniel Munoz (Crystal Palace)
The Colombian was reliable when called upon in defence and offered menace going forward as Palace played out a goalless draw against Chelsea.
William Saliba (Arsenal)
Stood firm in the face of anything Manchester United could muster and also got an important flick that led to Arsenal's winner at Old Trafford.
Dan Ballard (Sunderland)
Regis Le Bris handed debuts to seven players in Sunderland's first match back in the English top flight in eight years but it was the stalwart of last season's promotion who shone brightest with a goal and a clean sheet against West Ham.
Rayan Ait-Nouri (Man City)
With Wolves offering no attacking threat, the left-back was allowed to showcase his attacking and crossing skills against his former club.
Midfielders
Tijjani Reijnders (Man City)
A goal, an assist and an all-round display capped a memorable first game in English football for City's new midfielder.
Pape Matar Sarr (Tottenham)
Brilliant in the Uefa Super Cup defeat to Paris Saint-Germain, the Senegalese was again the driving force as Spurs dominated Burnley to open their campaign with a 3-0 win.
Antoine Semenyo (Bournemouth)
Showed immense courage to carry on after being the victim of racist abuse in the first half at Anfield. His two superb second-half goals are a testament to his character and quality.
Strikers
Erling Haaland (Man City)
He's back. City's chief consumer of goals bagged a brace in the 4-0 demolition of Wolves as City signalled their intent to reclaim their Premier League throne.
Richarlison (Tottenham)
Two superb finishes – the second an early contender for goal of the season – against Burnley was just the start the Brazilian and Spurs needed under new coach Thomas Frank.
Hugo Ekitike (Liverpool)
A man-of-the-match performance on his Premier League debut. The 22-year-old Frenchman showed some delightful touches and no shortage of composure with a goal and an assist against Bournemouth.
6 UNDERGROUND
Director: Michael Bay
Stars: Ryan Reynolds, Adria Arjona, Dave Franco
2.5 / 5 stars
MATCH INFO
Barcelona 2
Suarez (10'), Messi (52')
Real Madrid 2
Ronaldo (14'), Bale (72')
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%3Cp%3EDirectors%3A%20Joaquim%20Dos%20Santos%2C%20Kemp%20Powers%2C%20Justin%20K.%20Thompson%3Cbr%3EStars%3A%20Shameik%20Moore%2C%20Hailee%20Steinfeld%2C%20Oscar%20Isaac%3Cbr%3ERating%3A%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3ECompany%20name%3A%20CarbonSifr%3Cbr%3EStarted%3A%202022%3Cbr%3EBased%3A%20Dubai%3Cbr%3EFounders%3A%20Onur%20Elgun%2C%20Mustafa%20Bosca%20and%20Muhammed%20Yildirim%3Cbr%3ESector%3A%20Climate%20tech%3Cbr%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%20%241%20million%20raised%20in%20seed%20funding%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
What is Reform?
Reform is a right-wing, populist party led by Nigel Farage, a former MEP who won a seat in the House of Commons last year at his eighth attempt and a prominent figure in the campaign for the UK to leave the European Union.
It was founded in 2018 and originally called the Brexit Party.
Many of its members previously belonged to UKIP or the mainstream Conservatives.
After Brexit took place, the party focused on the reformation of British democracy.
Former Tory deputy chairman Lee Anderson became its first MP after defecting in March 2024.
The party gained support from Elon Musk, and had hoped the tech billionaire would make a £100m donation. However, Mr Musk changed his mind and called for Mr Farage to step down as leader in a row involving the US tycoon's support for far-right figurehead Tommy Robinson who is in prison for contempt of court.
RESULT
Al Hilal 4 Persepolis 0
Khribin (31', 54', 89'), Al Shahrani 40'
Red card: Otayf (Al Hilal, 49')
Brief scoreline:
Crystal Palace 2
Milivojevic 76' (pen), Van Aanholt 88'
Huddersfield Town 0
Januzaj's club record
Manchester United 50 appearances, 5 goals
Borussia Dortmund (loan) 6 appearances, 0 goals
Sunderland (loan) 25 appearances, 0 goals
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder MHEV
Power: 360bhp
Torque: 500Nm
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Price: from Dh282,870
On sale: now
Scoreline
UAE 2-1 Saudi Arabia
UAE Mabkhout 21’, Khalil 59’
Saudi Al Abed (pen) 20’
Man of the match Ahmed Khalil (UAE)
What's in the deal?
Agreement aims to boost trade by £25.5bn a year in the long run, compared with a total of £42.6bn in 2024
India will slash levies on medical devices, machinery, cosmetics, soft drinks and lamb.
India will also cut automotive tariffs to 10% under a quota from over 100% currently.
Indian employees in the UK will receive three years exemption from social security payments
India expects 99% of exports to benefit from zero duty, raising opportunities for textiles, marine products, footwear and jewellery
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