Premier League Matchday 2: The Standouts

The second weekend of the 2025/26 Premier League season didn’t just provide goals and drama—it revealed early signs of who might shape the campaign ahead. From record signings who wasted no time making their presence felt, to seasoned veterans who reminded everyone of their value, Matchday 2 offered a snapshot of football’s capacity for both renewal and resilience.

Here’s a deep dive into the players who stood tallest across the league.

Viktor Gyökeres: Arsenal’s New Spearhead

When Arsenal confirmed the signing of Viktor Gyökeres, expectations were sky-high. Yet even by those standards, his two-goal debut in Arsenal’s 5–0 rout of Leeds United felt like a statement of intent.

Gyökeres was everything Arsenal needed in a centre-forward: direct, ruthless, and unselfish in his movement. His goals came in brilliant fashion: one via a composed burst after a slick build-up and another from the penalty spot in stoppage time, showcasing the variety in his arsenal (pun intended).

That Arsenal suffered injuries to Bukayo Saka and captain Martin Ødegaard dampened the afternoon, but Gyökeres’ introduction softened the blow. It was a glimpse of how Arsenal might finally bridge the gap between slick build-up and decisive finishing in their pursuit of the title.

Jack Grealish: Everton’s Catalyst in a New Home

For Everton, August 24, 2025 will be remembered as a historic day: the grand opening of the Hill Dickinson Stadium. And if the venue provided the stage, Jack Grealish provided the performance.

Making his first Premier League start in Everton blue, Grealish looked liberated. Twice he cut Brighton apart with precise through-balls, the first releasing Iliman Ndiaye for the stadium’s inaugural goal, the second teeing up James Garner to seal a 2–0 victory.

What stood out wasn’t just the technical quality but the leadership. Grealish dropped deep to dictate tempo, demanded the ball in tight spaces, and thrived under the pressure of expectation. For a club still healing from years of turbulence, he embodied hope and direction. The roar when he was named Player of the Match summed it up: Everton have a new talisman, and a new home to fuel belief.

João Palhinha: A Midfield General at the Etihad

Few players can walk into the Etihad and keep composure and poise against Manchester City on their own turf. João Palhinha, however, has a knack for making difficult tasks look routine.

In Tottenham’s 2–0 away win over the champions, Palhinha was a revelation. Sitting at the base of midfield, he screened the back line with discipline, breaking up City’s transitions before they could build momentum. Offensively, he surprised everyone with a late run into the box to score Spurs’ second goal—a perfect illustration of timing and awareness.

The Portuguese midfielder brought something Spurs had been crying out for: control. Alongside Brennan Johnson, who grabbed the opener, Palhinha gave Tottenham balance, bite, and belief. It was more than just a victory; it was a psychological blow to City and a signal that Spurs’ ambitions under their new regime may stretch further than expected.

Dango Ouattara: Brentford’s Clinical Debutant

For Brentford, the challenge this season is to avoid stagnation after several years of mid-table stability. The signing of Dango Ouattara looked a gamble—but after just one game, it already feels like a masterstroke.

Against Aston Villa, Ouattara’s speed and decisiveness caused endless problems. His debut goal, a well-placed finish after breaking in behind—proved to be the difference-maker, sealing a 1–0 win that could prove precious in the long run.

What impressed most was his adaptability. Rather than sticking to the wings, he roamed intelligently, offering himself as an outlet and stretching Villa’s back line. For manager Keith Andrews, who has emphasized transition play, Ouattara looks like the perfect fit.

Emile Smith Rowe: Fulham’s Super-Sub Savior

Sometimes it takes just a few seconds to change a game. Emile Smith Rowe needed only 93.

Introduced in the second half against Manchester United, Smith Rowe immediately latched onto a loose ball and drilled home the equalizer, rescuing a point for Fulham in a 1–1 draw.

It wasn’t just the goal; it was the injection of urgency. Fulham had looked flat, struggling to create against United’s defensive structure. Smith Rowe’s energy flipped the tone, lifting teammates and supporters alike.

For a player whose career has been punctuated by injuries and false starts, this was a timely reminder of his talent. If he can sustain fitness, Smith Rowe could be Fulham’s difference-maker in tight games all season.

Martin Dúbravka: Veteran Composure for Burnley

At 36, most keepers are winding down. Martin Dúbravka, however, chose Burnley for a fresh challenge—and delivered instantly.

In a 2–0 victory over Sunderland, Dúbravka kept a clean sheet, organizing his back line with authority and making crucial saves at key moments. While Burnley’s young squad buzzed with energy, it was their veteran goalkeeper who provided calm when Sunderland pressed for an equalizer.

His presence already feels transformative. For a club often accused of naivety at this level, Dúbravka offers the experience and composure required to grind out results in the Premier League’s unforgiving environment.

Game of the Week: Liverpool 3 - 2 Newcastle

St. James’ Park delivered a Premier League classic as Liverpool edged Newcastle 3–2 in a dramatic, chaotic encounter.

Liverpool struck first when Ryan Gravenberch rifled home a superb opener, and Newcastle’s night worsened when Anthony Gordon was sent off before halftime. Just after the restart, Hugo Ekitike doubled the Reds’ lead, seemingly putting the game beyond doubt.

But Newcastle fought back. Bruno Guimarães powered in a header to spark belief, and deep into stoppage time substitute William Osula snatched a dramatic equalizer to make it 2–2.

Then came the twist. In the 100th minute, 16-year-old debutant Rio Ngumoha struck the winner, etching his name into Liverpool folklore and breaking Newcastle hearts.

For Liverpool, it was a statement of resilience and a glimpse of a star for the future. For Newcastle, a night of pride and frustration—proof of their fight, but a reminder of how fine the margins are at the top.

Final Verdict

The second weekend of the 2025/26 season was less about settling into rhythm and more about staking claims. Gyökeres, Grealish, and Palhinha, in particular, looked like players capable of defining their clubs’ trajectories, while others—Ouattara, Smith Rowe, Dúbravka—proved that match-winning contributions can come from unexpected places. And at St. James’ Park, the dramatic 3–2 showdown between Liverpool and Newcastle—complete with goals, a red card, a stoppage-time equalizer, and 16-year-old Rio Ngumoha’s fairytale winner—captured the very essence of Premier League unpredictability. If these performances are a sign of things to come, the Premier League’s narrative this season promises to be as unpredictable, dramatic, and compelling as ever.