Ruben Amorim\u2019s side drew 1-1 away at Fulham<\/a>.<\/p>\nUnited picked up their first point of the season in the process, but they felt like they let two more points slip at Craven Cottage.<\/p>\n
Captain Bruno Fernandes uncharacteristically blasted a first half penalty over the bar, although they still took the lead near the hour mark courtesy of an own goal.<\/p>\n
Fulham substitute Emile Smith Rowe scored the equaliser in the 73rd minute, which meant United left London with a bad taste in their mouth.<\/p>\n
Even if the hosts felt they were hard by done with VAR awarding the missed penalty United for Calvin Bassey and Mason Mount grappling at a corner, but when Bassey was pushed in the lead up to the own goal, VAR did not intervene.<\/p>\n
United great Gary Neville was buoyant about his former club last week, but had backflipped on that stance following the Fulham draw.<\/p>\n
\u201c[My optimism] has been checked slightly because it felt like there were a couple of the old scars reappearing and opening up,\u201d Neville said on The Gary Neville Podcast.<\/p>\n
LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 24: Ruben Amorim, Manager of Manchester United, gives instructions to his players during a break in play during the Premier League match between Fulham and Manchester United at Craven Cottage on August 24, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt\/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n
\u201cI think the goalkeeper (Altay Bayindir) is still looking very shaky on those crosses from corners, which can\u2019t continue because that anxiety builds, and then in central midfield I think United have to do a piece of business now.<\/p>\n
\u201cI would have liked to have thought that Mainoo could step up and be that person, but it\u2019s quite clear that at this moment in time Ruben Amorim is not having him.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe starts with Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes, he then puts Mason Mount back in there and then he brings [Manuel] Ugarte on in front of him, which tells you he\u2019s fourth-choice really.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat means that they are going to need to get something sorted because it\u2019s going to be a problem.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe two in there do get exposed when that front three are just a little bit higher and that back five get pushed back a bit.<\/p>\n
\u201cThose gaps, those acres of space seem to open up, and I thought United got cut through quite a few times in the second half.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think Bruno Fernandes is part of that in there and he [Amorim] is going to have to sort it out.\u201d<\/p>\n
Manchester United’s Slovenian striker #30 Benjamin Sesko (C) reacts after the team conceded an equalising goal during the English Premier League football match between Fulham and Manchester United at Craven Cottage in London on August 24, 2025. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS \/ AFP) \/ RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorised audio, video, data, fixture lists, club\/league logos or ‘live’ services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club\/league\/player publications. \/Source: AFP<\/p>\n
The finger is also being pointed at new attacking trio Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko for a combined \u00a3200 million (A$416.5 million).<\/p>\n
Cunha and Mbeumo, who are both proven performers in the Premier League, have showed positive signs despite United not having scored a goal off one of their own boots in two outings so far this campaign.<\/p>\n
But Sesko, who joined from RB Leipzig, is yet to start and Neville was concerned with what he saw once Amorim brought the Slovenian into the game against Fulham.<\/p>\n
\u201cI said this last week and it\u2019s a little bit worrying: Fulham got a lot stronger when they made their substitutions, I actually thought United got worse when they made theirs,\u201d Neville said.<\/p>\n
\u201cSesko, at the moment, let\u2019s just say it, he\u2019s nowhere near in terms of fitness or just getting up to speed.\u201d<\/p>\n
Grealish stars in maiden win at new home | 02:57<\/p>\n
EVERTON\u2019S NEW STAR SHINES ON HISTORIC DAY<\/p>\n
Everton enjoyed a dream start to life at the new Hill Dickson Stadium with a 2-0 victory against Brighton in the first Premier League match at the 53,000 seat stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock in Liverpool.<\/p>\n
The stadium itself looked sublime was widely praised with Everton manager David Moyes describing the club\u2019s new home as \u201cremarkable\u201d, while Liverpool great Jamie Carragher said it was \u201clooking fantastic\u201d before kick off.<\/p>\n
Toffees supporters would no doubt have been keeping their fingers crossed that the club would have a smooth transition from Goodison Park, the club\u2019s home since 1892, to the new venue, and new signing Jack Grealish helped ensure that would be the case.<\/p>\n
Iliman Ndiaye had the honour of scoring the first Premier League goal at the stadium after also scoring the last at Goodison Park.<\/p>\n
But in his first start for Everton, it was loanee Grealish who earned player of the match honours as he bagged two assists, a feat he achieved just once in his time at Manchester City.<\/p>\n
\u201cEverton have brought in a lot of players over the summer and there are more to come,\u201d Carragher told Sky Sports. <\/p>\n
\u201cBut there is absolutely no doubt which one has excited the Evertonians more than any other.\u201d<\/p>\n
Grealish is looking to reignite his career with his move to Merseyside, particularly with a World Cup on the horizon next year.<\/p>\n
Everton’s Jack Grealish leaves the pitch as he is substituted during the Premier League soccer match between Everton and Brightonnd in Liverpool, England, Sunday, Aug. 24, 2025. (AP Photo\/Jon Super)Source: AP<\/p>\n
It was an excellent start to issue the league a reminder of his quality, and to endear himself to his new fans.<\/p>\n
Moyes was delighted by his new star\u2019s efforts.<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, really pleased with Jack, he\u2019s done lots of good things. I don\u2019t know if he gave the ball away today, I don\u2019t know what the stats would say but if he did it was very rare,\u201d the Everton boss said.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe also got involved with a couple of important goals for us as well. We\u2019ve been looking for different attacking options and he gave us something a little bit different today.\u201d<\/p>\n
Asked if Grealish\u2019s performance was a real positive for the player and the fans, Moyes replied: \u201cIt was positive for the manager as well. The manager was thinking, we all want the Jack Grealish which we all know.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut you don\u2019t play for the club and you don\u2019t play in games if you\u2019ve not got it. Jack\u2019s certainly got it, we need to get him to show it more. <\/p>\n
\u201cI thought today, I said to him, get at people, get your licence to go and take people on and make things happen. But also the big thing is he ball carried for us.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know if he gave the ball away too often when he did. He retained the ball for us as well which gave us a little bit more composure at different times. <\/p>\n
\u201cBut his assists, especially the first one, was a little bit more of what you\u2019re hoping from him. I hope he\u2019s got more of them to come.\u201d<\/p>\n
Irankunda scores UNREAL free kick | 00:36<\/p>\n
\u2018THE WORLD IS AT HIS FEET\u2019: ARSENAL UNVEILS TEEN PRODIGY<\/p>\n
Arsenal\u2019s 5-0 rout of newcomers Leeds United did not appear to be of utmost interest at the surface level.<\/p>\n
But the Gunners turned heads by debuting 15-year-old Max Dowman, who became just the third player under the age of 16 to play in a Premier League match.<\/p>\n
The English teenager attacker was brought off the bench in the 64th minute, and almost blew the roof of the Emirates when he cut inside two defenders and listened the crowds\u2019 calls of \u201cshoot\u201d but blazed his left-footed attempt over the bar from almost 20 metres.<\/p>\n
A half-volley soon after sailed wide, while his superb link up played was rewarded in stoppage time as he earned Arsenal a penalty, which new signing Viktor Gy\u00f6keres slotted to cap off his home debut with a double.<\/p>\n
Dowman is clearly a star on the rise, and Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said that what the fans witnessed in his debut, was what they see on a day-to-day basis from the youngster who emerged from their academy.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is what we see every single day in training,\u201d Arteta told BBC Sport.<\/p>\n
Arsenal’s Max Dowman acknowledges the fans after the English Premier League soccer match between Arsenal and Leeds United at Emirates stadium in London, England, Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025. (John Walton\/PA via AP)Source: AP<\/p>\n
\u201cWe gathered the information about how he handles certain situations, in terms of training, being in the squad and not being selected afterwards in Manchester [against United], coming on the bench and feeling ready.<\/p>\n
\u201cAgain, big compliments to his family. I think they raised a kid with a level of maturity, stability and hunger that is very difficult to see.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd to the academy – Per [Mertesacker] and all the coaches and everybody that has been involved in that journey.<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause there is a kid here that has zero hesitation and is so convinced that at 15 he can go and deliver, which I have never witnessed in my life.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor us he brings joy, he brings emotion and something else that makes our jobs so great.\u201d<\/p>\n
Former Arsenal star Theo Walcott knows all about the pressure of being thrust into the spotlight at a young age.<\/p>\n
Walcott was selected in England\u2019s 2006 World Cup squad at just 17 years of age, after earlier that year having transferred to Arsenal following a stint with Southampton in the Championship.<\/p>\n
Arsenal’s English midfielder #56 Max Dowman (L) vies with Leeds United’s Swedish defender #03 Gabriel Gudmundsson during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Leeds United at the Emirates Stadium in London on August 23, 2025. (Photo by HENRY NICHOLLS \/ AFP) \/ RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorised audio, video, data, fixture lists, club\/league logos or ‘live’ services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club\/league\/player publications. \/Source: AFP<\/p>\n
\u201cEven with myself, there was a lot of weight, so I had to wait six months to even play,\u201d Walcott said on Sky Sports.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was all expectation and then I, of course, went to the World Cup without playing in the league, no choice of my own, and then there\u2019s a different pressure.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s going to have pressure every day now, the way he is around the place and at school of course.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m sure Arsenal really look after him in that side of things. You can just get the sense that he\u2019s got a good head on his shoulders.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s got good man management there as well, Mikel Arteta, who, as well will look after him and he trusts him.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think that\u2019s the biggest thing, when you have a manager that trusts you it allows you to express yourself.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think the world is at his feet, but it kind of makes me sick at times just thinking look let\u2019s let him enjoy his football.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s going to obviously still develop mentally as well, I think that\u2019s one thing we need to not shy away from.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it\u2019s important to obviously look after him in that sense but with the squad, I get the sense that they really do, I think Declan Rice in particular as well.\u201d<\/p>\n
Spurs down City, Gunners win – PL Wrap | 02:25<\/p>\n
\u2018LET\u2019S GO FOR IT\u2019: SPURS CARRY FORWARD ASPECT OF ANGE ERA<\/p>\n
It was two goals less than the thrashing Ange Postecoglou\u2019s side inflicted on Manchester City at the Etihad last year, but Tottenham delivered arguably the most impressive performance of the weekend by downing City 2-0 away from home.<\/p>\n
Spurs scored two first half goals, one through Brennan Johnson where VAR overruled the linesperson\u2019s flag and another through Bayern Munich loanee Joao Palhinha following City goalkeeper James Trafford\u2019s howler.<\/p>\n
Tottenham\u2019s aggressive approach is an aspect of the Postecoglou era that new manager Thomas Frank has carried forward, having scored five goals in their opening two matches. <\/p>\n
\u201cI definitely believe in the aggressive press, as you saw today, and as you saw with my Brentford team,\u201d Frank said post-match.<\/p>\n
\u201cI believe in being front-footed. I like that mentality, it\u2019s a more offensive way of defending. It\u2019s more fun to defend on the opponents\u2019 half. So, yeah, let\u2019s go for it.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Dane, whose side are yet to concede a goal this season, added: \u201cWe have been working so hard on our defensive principles. Mentality is the key thing – you need mentality to win games like this.\u201d<\/p>\n
Tottenham’s head coach Thomas Frank hugs Tottenham’s Mohammed Kudus after the Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Tottenham in Manchester, England, Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025. (AP Photo\/Dave Thompson)Source: AP<\/p>\n
As well as scoring the second goal, Palhinha was crucial for his physicality in midfield.<\/p>\n
The 30-year-old struggled to make an impact in Germany last season, but he was previously regarded as one of the most ferocious tacklers in the Premier League when he played for Fulham.<\/p>\n
Newcastle legend and the Premier League\u2019s all-time greatest goal scorer Alan Shearer was very impressed with what he saw from Palhinha, and his midfield counterparts.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was a midfield masterclass from those three, Sarr, Bentancur and Palhinha. They pressed, they were aggressive and they invited the short pass,\u201d Shearer told BBC\u2019s Match of the Day.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf they didn\u2019t win the first tackle, they won the second tackle \u2013 that was a constant all afternoon from those three.<\/p>\n
\u201cTackles, blocks, look at this block from Palhinha \u2013 he could be a fantastic signing for Tottenham Hotspur, so many last ditch tackles, the timing of them were absolutely perfect.<\/p>\n
\u201cThose numbers there tell you they absolutely dominated that midfield battle today, all three were magnificent, it was great to watch.\u201d<\/p>\n
Tottenham’s Joao Palhinha celebrates after scoring during the Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Tottenham in Manchester, England, Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025. (AP Photo\/Dave Thompson)Source: AP<\/p>\n
Shearer\u2019s colleague Micah Richards then added that health of centre back pairing Mickey Van de Ven and Cristian Romero was vital to Tottenham\u2019s success, after the pair were rarely alongside one another last Premier League season.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think Van de Ven was injured a lot last season, Romero was excellent. I thought the back four were really exceptional, at times they had to weather the storm, of course away at Manchester City is always going to be difficult,\u201d Richards said on BBC\u2019s Match of the Day.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was just a perfect performance, Man City had chances, a couple Haaland probably should have put away, but when they needed to dig deep they did.\u201d<\/p>\n
West Ham thrashed by in-form Chelsea | 01:55<\/p>\n
\u2018THEY LOOKED OLD\u2019: CITY CONCERNS<\/p>\n
On the other side of the coin, Saturday\u2019s earlier kick off was worrying for Manchester City.<\/p>\n
Tottenham are a team that have caused Pep Guardiola headaches for several years, but it was a chalk and cheese showing from City after their 4-0 demolition of Wolves to open their campaign.<\/p>\n
Manchester United great Gary Neville said that the loss was of great concern for Guardiola as despite he has revamped his squad this transfer window by signings the likes of Tijjani Reijnders and Rayan Cherki, they looked \u201clike an old team\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was a stark difference in performance levels,\u201d Neville told NBC Sports.<\/p>\n
Manchester City’s Spanish manager Pep Guardiola (R) reacts during the English Premier League football match between Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north west England, on August 23, 2025. Tottenham won the match 2-0. (Photo by Darren Staples \/ AFP) \/ RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorised audio, video, data, fixture lists, club\/league logos or ‘live’ services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club\/league\/player publications. \/Source: AFP<\/p>\n
\u201cI think after last weekend we all probably thought, were we staring the obvious in the face? That Manchester City, Pep Guardiola, we\u2019re all ignoring them for the title.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re all looking at Liverpool and Arsenal primarily, and City could be the obvious title challengers to them and could win it because of Pep Guardiola. <\/p>\n
\u201cBut yesterday, I thought Tottenham ran all over them. They looked a little bit like an old team, which is worrying.<\/p>\n
\u201cTottenham pressed and hurried really well.<\/p>\n
\u201cThomas Frank coming in\u2019s done a really good job in the first couple of weeks.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut worrying signs for City yesterday because that was a strong team they had out.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The English Premier League\u2019s second match week of the season has been full of surprises, even if the…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":95507,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[70379,2620,48684,12033,2347,63,689,22706,42662,2090,62966,69239,70373,69240,17057,6232,70375,70378,9006,67607,70395,70392,70368,69234,15329,70376,70377,70391,2057,70387,6231,6234,6246,59917,5717,2105,12016,43,70386,50006,8099,50609,53015,53055,1613,70396,11999,6255,70385,70383,70393,70370,70371,70394,8316,70384,70389,673,10668,44,3583,70390,677,70365,70369,70364,24938,70388,11543,1614,70366,1532,70367,6228,10134,2643,53077,6229,46409,7663,70374,2639,41,39,42,40,70381,20432,70372,70380,3586,70382,6237,2062],"class_list":["post-95506","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-headlines","tag-30-benjamin-sesko","tag-agence-france-presse","tag-alan-shearer","tag-alexander-isak","tag-august","tag-australia","tag-australia-and-new-zealand","tag-bayern-munich","tag-brennan-johnson","tag-british-broadcasting-corporation","tag-bruno-fernandes","tag-calvin-bassey","tag-city-goalkeeper","tag-city-of-liverpool","tag-city-of-manchester","tag-club-world","tag-club-league-logos","tag-cristian-romero","tag-david-moyes","tag-defensive-principles","tag-ditch-tackles","tag-dream-fashion","tag-dream-start","tag-emile-smith-rowe","tag-emirates","tag-english-midfielder","tag-english-teenager-attacker","tag-equalising-goal","tag-europe","tag-fantastic-signing","tag-fixture-lists","tag-football-match","tag-football-news","tag-gary-neville","tag-germany","tag-getty-images-inc","tag-goal-scorer","tag-headlines","tag-home-debut","tag-jack-grealish","tag-james-trafford","tag-jamie-carragher","tag-john-walton","tag-leeds-united-football-club","tag-liverpool","tag-man-management","tag-manchester-city-football-club","tag-manchester-united-football-club","tag-match-honours","tag-micah-richards","tag-mickey-van-de-ven","tag-midfield-counterparts","tag-midfield-masterclass","tag-mike-hewitt","tag-mikel-arteta","tag-missed-penalty","tag-nbc-sports","tag-new-south-wales","tag-newcastle","tag-news","tag-northern-europe","tag-obvious-title-challengers","tag-oceania","tag-offensive-way","tag-online-in-match","tag-opening-game-loss","tag-pep-guardiola","tag-performance-levels","tag-positive-signs","tag-premier-league","tag-real-positive","tag-ruben-amorim","tag-seat-stadium","tag-single-club-league-player-publications","tag-single-day","tag-sky-sports","tag-soccer-match","tag-social-media-in-match","tag-stoppage-time","tag-talking-points","tag-theo-walcott","tag-thomas-h-frank","tag-top-news","tag-top-stories","tag-topnews","tag-topstories","tag-transfer-saga","tag-transfer-window","tag-turned-heads","tag-unauthorised-audio","tag-united-kingdom","tag-utmost-interest","tag-video-emulation","tag-western-europe"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/95506","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=95506"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/95506\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/95507"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=95506"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=95506"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=95506"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
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