THE WEEKEND IN 90 SECONDS
Hull stun United, Hinshelwood steals the show, three lessons from opening weekend, plus Monday Night Soccer
THE RESULTS
GAME OF THE WEEK: HULL CITY 2-0 MANCHESTER UNITED
WHAT HAPPENED:
If you were looking for an opening-weekend shock, this was it.
Newly promoted Hull City marked their return to the Premier League after nine years in style, beating English giants Manchester United 2-0 at the MKM Stadium.
Semi Ajayi opened the scoring from a corner before Nobel Mendy doubled the lead with another first-half header.
United dominated possession with 72% and had 21 shots, but Hull’s disciplined five-man defense and an outstanding debut from Greek goalkeeper Konstantinos Tzolakis kept them frustrated for 90 minutes despite their talented squad and constant pressure.
WHY WE CHOSE IT:
This was more than just an upset - it was a statement.
Hull entered the game as huge underdogs against one of England’s biggest clubs. Instead, they looked organized, aggressive and confident, absorbing United’s pressure and making the most of their set-piece opportunities.
This is what makes the Premier League so unpredictable: newly promoted teams can never be taken lightly, and on any given weekend, anyone can beat anyone.
TURNING POINT:
Hull’s second goal in the 38th minute changed everything.
United were already struggling to break down Hull’s five-man defense, and Mendy’s header gave the Tigers a 2-0 lead before halftime. From there, Hull became increasingly comfortable protecting their advantage while the home crowd piled even more pressure on United.
BOT90 VERDICT:
Hull sent a serious warning to the rest of the Premier League.
United were poor, but don’t take anything away from Hull. They were disciplined, physical and fearless, and fully deserved the three points.
For Manchester United, it’s an early reality check for Michael Carrick’s new era. They will need to adjust quickly when opponents sit deep, defend in numbers and look to punish them on the counterattack.
For Hull, this is the kind of victory that can set the tone for an entire season.
Final verdict: Hull are here to compete, not just survive.
PLAYER OF THE WEEKEND: JACK HINSHELWOOD - BRIGHTON
WHAT HE DID:
Jack Hinshelwood is our Player of the Weekend after a standout performance in Brighton’s 4-0 demolition of Aston Villa. The 21-year-old midfielder scored twice in the space of just two minutes, helping Brighton race into a four-goal lead inside the opening 31 minutes.
WHY HE STOOD OUT:
Hinshelwood has quietly developed into an important part of Brighton’s young squad. A product of the club’s academy, he has already made more than 60 senior appearances and represented England at U21 level, but he remains a player who can fly under the radar compared with some of Brighton’s more highly publicized young stars.
Against Villa, Hinshelwood was a constant threat from midfield. His movement and timing allowed him to repeatedly find dangerous positions, and his two finishes showed the attacking quality he can bring to Brighton. His second goal, a well-taken header, came just moments after his first as Villa completely lost control of the game.
WHAT’S NEXT?:
With performances like this, could a senior England call-up be next? Hinshelwood has already won the U21 European Championship with England, and if he can continue producing at this level, he could soon force his way into the conversation for the senior squad.
Is Jack Hinshelwood England’s next midfield star? It's far too early to say, but after this performance, he's certainly a player worth keeping an eye on.
3 THINGS WE LEARNED
THE NEW BOYS MEAN BUSINESS
Two promoted teams won on opening weekend, with Hull shocking Manchester United and Ipswich beating Sunderland. That immediately challenges the idea that promotion means a season spent simply trying to survive. It is only one weekend, but both teams looked organized, fearless and ready for the step up. The message is simple: the Premier League’s new arrivals are not here to make up the numbers.
MONEY DOESN’T BUY INSTANT CHEMISTRY
Tottenham spent heavily this summer, but their 3-0 defeat at Brentford showed that assembling expensive players and building a team are two very different things. Brentford looked sharper, more organized and more cohesive, while £39m signing Sangaré delivered an excellent debut. Spurs may eventually click, but opening weekend was a reminder that a big transfer bill brings expectations - not guaranteed results.
THE CHAMPIONS HAVEN’T MISSED A BEAT
Arsenal began their title defense with a comfortable 3-0 win and immediately looked like the team everyone else still has to catch. There was no obvious championship hangover: they controlled the game, scored early and never really looked threatened. One match proves very little, but the champions started exactly how champions are supposed to start.
BOT90 PREDICTION CHECK
Liverpool 2-2 Newcastle
Our Pick: Liverpool 3-1
We expected goals - and got four of them - but Newcastle denied Liverpool the win. Our bigger miss: Alexander Isak, who we backed to score twice, didn’t find the net.
Verdict: Right game script. Wrong result.
Manchester City 2-1 Bournemouth
Our Pick: Bournemouth to win.
We nearly called the upset. Bournemouth pushed City all the way before two late goals turned the game around.
Verdict: We’re claiming the moral victory.
FROM THE MANAGERS:
MITCH’S TAKE
Aston Villa could be in for a long season
I rate Unai Emery highly, but Villa have lost the spine of the team that helped them succeed and, so far, haven’t adequately replaced those key players. With important departures, the added demands of Champions League football and a squad that still needs to gel, I worry they could struggle badly. I had this concern before the 4-0 defeat to Brighton, that result only strengthened it. If Villa don’t strengthen soon, I could see them facing something similar to Tottenham last season: a talented club unexpectedly battling at the wrong end of the table.
Hot take: Villa need to act quickly, or this season could get uncomfortable fast./
DAN’S TAKE
Leeds could be this season’s surprise package.
A 1-0 win away at Nottingham Forest might not grab the headlines from opening weekend, but the performance should. Leeds looked energetic, organized and comfortable at Premier League level and Anton Stach’s late free kick gave them the win their performance deserved. They’ve recruited intelligently this summer, and this didn’t look like a team hoping to scrape together enough points to survive.
My call: Leeds are going to surprise a lot of people this season./
FULHAM VS CHELSEA
Gameweek 1 finishes with a West London derby and two teams beginning new eras.
Xabi Alonso takes charge of Chelsea for the first time in a competitive game after a huge summer rebuild, while former Real Madrid teammate Álvaro Arbeloa makes his Premier League managerial debut with Fulham. Chelsea have spent heavily and expectations are high. Tonight is the first chance to see whether all those new pieces can immediately click.
ONE THING TO WATCH
Chelsea’s new-look attack.
Morgan Rogers is expected to feature alongside Cole Palmer after arriving from Aston Villa for a British-record fee. Chelsea have assembled some serious attacking talent this summer - now we get our first proper look at how Alonso plans to fit it all together.
BOT90 CALL
Fulham 1-2 Chelsea
Derbies are rarely straightforward, especially at Craven Cottage, but Chelsea simply have too much attacking quality. We expect Fulham to make them work for it before the Blues eventually find a way through.
