Premier League Daily Report - 2026-08-23

Manchester City began Enzo Maresca’s reign with a 2-1 victory over Bournemouth at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday. Marcus Tavernier put the visitors ahead in the 26th minute, and Bournemouth held their advantage until the closing stages. Marc Guéhi equalised with an 84th-minute header from a corner before Joško Gvardiol struck in the first minute of stoppage time. The defender’s finish was initially ruled offside, but the decision was overturned following a VAR review. City’s recovery marked a winning start for Maresca, who succeeded Pep Guardiola after the former manager’s decade in charge.

Maresca called the result “the perfect day” after City turned a largely unconvincing performance into three points. Rayan Cherki made a decisive impact from the bench, supplying the assists for both goals, while Maresca’s unusual selection included Guéhi in central midfield and Nico O’Reilly as the No 10. The late turnaround gave City an immediate lift at the beginning of the post-Guardiola era, but Bournemouth’s ability to frustrate the hosts for long periods showed that the new manager still has work to do before his side consistently reflects his preferred style.

Dominik Szoboszlai converted a penalty in the ninth minute of stoppage time to give Liverpool a 2-2 draw at Newcastle United on Sunday. Anthony Elanga opened the scoring for Newcastle in the fifth minute, finishing a counter-attack after William Osula released him behind the Liverpool defence. Cody Gakpo equalised shortly after half-time, but Joe Willock restored Newcastle’s lead less than three minutes later with his first Premier League goal since 2024. Liverpool were handed their opportunity when Lewis Hall fouled Victor Muñoz inside the penalty area, allowing Szoboszlai to score with the final kick of the match.

The point gave Andoni Iraola an unbeaten beginning as Liverpool manager, although the performance offered Newcastle considerable encouragement under Matthias Jaissle. Liverpool fought back twice but struggled to control the contest for sustained periods, while Newcastle’s defensive plan kept them close to a notable victory. The fixture also carried added emotion as supporters paid tribute to Kevin Keegan, and the late penalty ensured another dramatic meeting between the clubs. Newcastle were left to reflect on a strong effort that brought only a draw, while Liverpool’s resilience prevented Iraola’s first league match from ending in defeat.

Brighton & Hove Albion opened their Premier League campaign with a 4-0 win over Aston Villa on Sunday. Brighton scored all four goals within the first 31 minutes, turning the match into a one-sided contest before the interval. Jack Hinshelwood scored twice as Villa endured a disastrous start to the season, while the visitors were also reduced to 10 men. The emphatic result placed Brighton among the opening weekend’s most impressive winners and contrasted sharply with Villa’s difficult afternoon.

The speed of Brighton’s start meant Villa were unable to settle into the match or build a response before the damage was done. Brighton’s four-goal margin offered an immediate statement of attacking efficiency, while the dismissal left Unai Emery’s side facing a substantial early deficit with a player fewer. For Brighton, the result provided confidence and momentum at the outset of the campaign; Villa must recover quickly after an opening fixture in which the contest was effectively decided inside the first half-hour.

Everton began the new Premier League season with a 3-0 victory over Nottingham Forest. Thierno Barry scored in the success, ending a difficult personal wait by finding the net at the first opportunity of the new campaign. The French striker had taken 17 matches into his Everton career before breaking his league scoring duck last season, making his immediate contribution a notable feature of the opening-day result. Everton’s winning margin also gave them a positive start at Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Barry’s goal carried significance beyond the scoreline because it followed a slow and uneven first season on Merseyside. He had previously experienced a mid-season improvement, including a match-winning finish against Aston Villa and two goals as a substitute against Manchester City, but had found the spring more difficult. Starting the campaign on the scoresheet should ease some of that pressure and gives Everton an early attacking boost. The 3-0 result, meanwhile, offered the club a firm foundation after a season in which Barry’s adaptation had been closely followed.

Aston Villa have reached an agreement in principle to sign Leon Goretzka from Bayern Munich on a free transfer, according to a report carried by Yahoo Sports Canada. The 31-year-old midfielder left Bayern in June, and the proposed deal remained subject to a medical. Villa had spent much of the summer considering João Palhinha as a midfield option, but Palhinha eventually chose Benfica, prompting Unai Emery’s club to pursue Goretzka instead. The report described the agreement as an important opportunity for Villa amid financial restrictions, key departures and injury problems affecting their squad-building plans.

Goretzka would bring experience and physical presence to a midfield that Villa reportedly wanted to strengthen after Amadou Onana suffered an ACL injury expected to sideline him for virtually the entire season. The move would therefore address an immediate squad need without a transfer fee, although the medical remained the next stage before completion. Villa’s pursuit of Goretzka also illustrated how the club have had to find value in the market while working within financial limitations. His potential arrival would give Emery another established option as Villa attempt to respond to their 4-0 defeat by Brighton on the opening weekend.