Holders Liverpool beat Arsenal 1-0 in English soccer’s Premier League, whereas fallen favourites Man Metropolis lose 2-1 at Brighton.
Printed On 31 Aug 2025
Dominik Szoboszlai curled residence a superb long-range free kick to earn Liverpool a 1-0 win over Arsenal in an early-season assembly between two of the doubtless Premier League title contenders.
Manchester Metropolis was additionally anticipated to be difficult for the championship this season, however collapsing to a 2-1 loss at Brighton – for a second straight loss – was one other signal that Pep Guardiola’s workforce has misplaced its aura of dominance.
Little separated Liverpool and Arsenal at Anfield earlier than Szoboszlai stepped as much as an 83rd-minute free kick and whipped it into the highest nook from about 30 yards.
“I believed I’d take a danger,” Szoboszlai informed Sky Sports activities. “I used to be assured, so I attempted it and at last! It’s a very long time while you observe on a regular basis and Trent [Alexander-Arnold] was taking the free kicks, however lastly I may have my likelihood, and I did it.
“This [type of] shot I didn’t observe in the previous couple of weeks as we had been capturing from nearer, however I needed to take a danger and shoot it slightly bit tougher.”
Filling in at full again in an emergency, the Hungary captain – usually an attacking midfielder – did his greatest impression of now-departed proper again Alexander-Arnold with a top-quality strike that was out of retaining with the remainder of the sport.
It’s now three straight wins to open the season for Liverpool, the defending champion.
For Arsenal, it was a primary loss and first purpose conceded – extending its winless file at Anfield courting again to 2012.
“Arsenal had an unbelievable season final season and thrice in a row coming second,” Szoboszlai added.
“To be sincere, it’s a praise at all times to maintain on going with Metropolis, with Chelsea with us – it’s at all times actually arduous. They’ve an unbelievable workforce and an unbelievable coach.”
Man Metropolis lose once more as former Liverpool midfielder Milner nets EPL file
Metropolis’s defeat at Brighton adopted a 2-0 residence loss final weekend to Tottenham, which is demonstrating the identical vulnerabilities and brittleness it confirmed final season when surrendering the title to Liverpool after 4 consecutive years as champions.
“That is the truth: we aren’t on the degree from a very long time [ago],” stated Metropolis midfielder Rodri, the reigning Ballon d’Or winner, who was beginning within the league for the primary time since September final 12 months following a severe knee damage.
Brajan Gruda surged by way of an open defence, rounded goalkeeper James Trafford and slotted into an empty web for the 89th-minute winner for Brighton, which trailed to Erling Haaland’s first-half strike – his 88th purpose in 100 Premier League appearances since transferring to England in 2022.
Metropolis conceded an equalizer within the 67th minute after Matheus Nunes raised his arm within the space to dam a shot, with James Milner changing the penalty for Brighton to turn out to be – at age 39 years and 239 days – the second-oldest scorer in Premier League historical past. He’s additionally the second youngest, having netted as a 16-year-old for Leeds.
With Metropolis noticeably fading, Brighton created a succession of possibilities earlier than Gruda transformed one to seal a repeat of his workforce’s come-from-behind 2-1 win over Metropolis final season.
Metropolis’s solely factors to date this season have come from a 4-0 opening-round win at Wolverhampton, after which pundits had been saying Guardiola’s workforce was again. Now, it has fewer factors than Manchester United.
West Ham eased the strain on supervisor Graham Potter with a 3-0 win at Nottingham Forest, secured by late targets by Jarrod Bowen, Lucas Paqueta — from the penalty spot — and Callum Wilson.
West Ham misplaced its first two video games within the league, conceding eight targets within the course of, and likewise was eradicated from the English League Cup in midweek.
Paqueta, the Brazil midfielder, celebrated his profitable penalty kick by pretending to reply a name and throw away a cellphone earlier than kissing the badge on his jersey – maybe a nod to being linked over the previous 24 hours with a transfer to Aston Villa.
Crystal Palace visits Villa within the ultimate recreation on Sunday to wrap up the Premier League’s third spherical.