Premier League Matchweek 2 Recap: Scores, Top Players & Team of the Week

Premier League weekend roundup (23–25 August 2025)

What a weekend. Upsets, braces from unlikely sources, a 100th–minute winner on Tyneside, and a statement road win that shifted the early-season mood.

Weekend scoreboard

Headlines and key takeaways

• Spurs stun City at the Etihad: Brennan Johnson and João Palhinha struck before the break as Tottenham controlled transitions and kept a clean sheet in a 2–0 away win over a revamped City.
• Arsenal ruthless but count the cost: A 5–0 dismantling of Leeds featured a Jurrien Timber brace and goals from Bukayo Saka and Viktor Gyökeres; however, both Martin Ødegaard (shoulder) and Saka (hamstring concern) were forced off, clouding an otherwise dominant day.
• Liverpool’s late show at St James’ Park: Hugo Ekitike put Liverpool ahead seconds into the second half, and 17‑year‑old Rio Ngumoha won it in the 100th minute, cancelling out Bruno Guimarães and William Osula for a 3–2 thriller.
• Chelsea run riot in London derby: Enzo Fernández, Moisés Caicedo, João Pedro, and Pedro Neto were among the scorers in a 5–1 dismantling of West Ham to open Matchweek 2 on Friday night.
• Everton launch at their new home: Iliman Ndiaye and James Garner scored as the Toffees beat Brighton 2–0; Jordan Pickford’s saves underpinned the clean sheet.
• Fine margins elsewhere: Tight 1–0 wins for Bournemouth and Brentford, and shared spoils for Palace–Forest and Fulham–Manchester United rounded out a balanced slate.

Match notes

Manchester City 0–2 Tottenham

• Control in chaos: Spurs’ midfield (anchored by Palhinha) disrupted City’s rhythm, turning turnovers into incision; Johnson finished a slick move before Palhinha punished a goalkeeping error on the stroke of halftime.
• Defensive steel: Cristian Romero marshalled the back line superbly as Spurs protected their box and limited clear chances against elite opposition.

Arsenal 5–0 Leeds

• Set‑pieces and full‑backs: Timber scored twice from dead‑ball situations, while Riccardo Calafiori supplied two assists in a performance that showcased Arsenal’s varied attacking routes.
• Gyökeres finding his groove: The new No. 9 scored from open play and later converted a stoppage‑time penalty to cap the rout.
• Injury watch: Ødegaard left with a shoulder issue; Saka later exited with hamstring discomfort—both to be assessed, a sobering subplot for Arteta.

Newcastle 2–3 Liverpool

• Momentum swings: Ekitike’s goal seconds after halftime flipped the game, Newcastle rallied through Guimarães and Osula, but academy winger Ngumoha nicked it at 90+10’ in a breathless finish.

West Ham 1–5 Chelsea

• Statement away day: Chelsea piled on with five different scorers and a dominant João Pedro display (one goal, two assists) to reset the tone after an uneven opening week.

Everton 2–0 Brighton

• Clinical wide play: Jack Grealish (on loan) created both goals with quality deliveries; Pickford led the league in saves over the weekend to preserve the clean sheet.

Awards

Most outstanding team

• Tottenham Hotspur: Winning 2–0 away at the Etihad is the authoritative result of the round. Beyond the scoreline, Spurs blended disciplined pressing with vertical punch, controlled City’s half‑spaces, and showed a new, nastier edge under Thomas Frank.

Player of the week

• Jurrien Timber (Arsenal): A defender’s masterclass—two goals, plus an assist—while Arsenal conceded nothing. Impact at both ends, leadership in set‑pieces, and relentless timing in the box made him the weekend’s most complete performer.

Team of the week (4‑2‑3‑1)

• GK: Jordan Pickford (Everton): Most saves of any keeper and the backbone of a statement clean sheet vs Brighton.
• RB: Jurrien Timber (Arsenal): Brace and an assist from full‑back while locking down his flank.
• CB: Cristian Romero (Tottenham): Commanded Spurs’ area with tackles, recoveries, and interceptions in the shutout at City.
• CB: Marcos Senesi (Bournemouth): Clearance machine in a gritty 1–0 win; no defender cleared more all weekend.
• LB: Riccardo Calafiori (Arsenal): Two assists and constant thrust in a dominant display.
• CM: João Palhinha (Tottenham): Set the tone physically, disciplined in his positioning, and scored the dagger.
• CM: Moisés Caicedo (Chelsea): Scored and dictated midfield tempo in a five‑goal romp.
• RW: Yankuba Minteh (Brighton): Electric threat despite the loss; led the league in touches in the opposition box and chance creation among wingers.
• CAM: João Pedro (Chelsea): One goal, two assists, and constant craft between the lines.
• LW: Jack Grealish (Everton): Two assists, tempo control, and final‑third quality in Everton’s win.
• ST: Viktor Gyökeres (Arsenal): A striker’s brace—near‑post precision and late‑game composure from the spot.