Manchester City and Liverpool have started the Premier League season in dominant fashion, sharing the top spot ahead of the first international break. City, the defending champions, maintain a perfect record, while Liverpool under new boss Arne Slot have also collected maximum points, signaling a strong title challenge.
City’s early season form has been ominous, with Pep Guardiola’s men earning impressive away wins against Chelsea and West Ham, along with a comfortable 3-0 home victory over Ipswich. Remarkably, all of this was achieved without key midfielder Rodri, showcasing City’s incredible squad depth. Slot, meanwhile, has made an excellent start at Liverpool, cruising to a 3-0 win at Old Trafford, sending a strong message that Liverpool remain serious contenders despite Jurgen Klopp’s departure.
Brighton have also impressed, with new manager Fabian Hurzeler guiding them to a memorable win over Manchester United and a solid draw at Arsenal. Hurzeler’s quick adaptation to the Premier League has caught the attention of many, while Eddie Howe’s Newcastle have overcome a tricky transfer window to secure two wins and a draw.
Arsenal, despite missing out on a perfect start, have shown signs of their strength. A red card for Declan Rice in a draw against Brighton may have cost them a spot at the top of the table, but a strong away win at Aston Villa reinforced their credentials as contenders once again this season. Villa themselves have made a positive start, securing wins against West Ham and Leicester, continuing the momentum they built under Unai Emery last season.
Brentford, Bournemouth, and Nottingham Forest have all exceeded expectations so far, sitting in the top half of the table. Brentford’s Thomas Frank has guided the Bees to two wins despite ongoing speculation over star striker Ivan Toney. Bournemouth, under Andoni Iraola, have coped well following the departure of Dominic Solanke, and Nuno Espirito Santo’s Forest have surprised with five points from their opening fixtures.
Chelsea’s season has been a typical rollercoaster. After an opening defeat to City, they bounced back with a commanding win at Wolves, though a frustrating draw with Crystal Palace highlighted their inconsistency. Enzo Maresca’s side will need to iron out these issues to mount a serious push for Champions League qualification. Tottenham, similarly, have shown flashes of promise, but injuries and inconsistency have hampered their start. West Ham, adjusting to life under new manager Julen Lopetegui, also look to improve after a challenging opening set of fixtures.
Elsewhere, Fulham’s transfer activity hasn’t translated into points, with only four collected so far. Leicester and Ipswich, both recently promoted, are still searching for their first win back in the Premier League, though there are encouraging signs.
On the flip side, Manchester United are already under pressure. Erik ten Hag’s team suffered defeats to Brighton and Liverpool, leading to familiar questions about the club’s direction. United must improve quickly to avoid further scrutiny. Everton, meanwhile, sit rock bottom with no points after a disappointing start. Their latest heartbreak came after squandering a lead at home to Bournemouth.
Southampton, also without a win, are facing growing doubts over Russell Martin’s tactics, despite their style of play earning praise. Wolves and Crystal Palace, both struggling after losing key players in the summer, will hope for improvement now the transfer window is closed and their squads are settled.
