Premier League: Best Opening Weekend Matches

The 2024/25 Premier League season is almost upon us, and here we take a look back some of the best matches on the opening weekend.

The captivating drama of Premier League football is set to return, with the 2024/25 season set to begin when Erik Ten Hag’s Manchester United come face to face with a Fulham side led by Marco Silva at Old Trafford on Friday 16th August 2024 in what is an 8pm kick-off at the Theatre Of Dreams.

Below are the other fixtures that are set to take place on the opening weekend of the new campaign:

• Ipswich Town vs. Liverpool (Saturday 17th August, 12:30 KO).
• Arsenal vs. Wolves (Saturday 17th August, 15:00 KO).
• Everton vs. Brighton (Saturday 17th August, 15:00 KO).
• Newcastle United vs. Southampton (Saturday 17th August, 15:00 KO).
• Nottingham Forest vs. Bournemouth (Saturday 17th August, 15:00 KO).
• West Ham United vs. Aston Villa (Saturday 17th August, 17:30 KO).
• Brentford vs. Crystal Palace (Sunday 18th August, 14:00 KO).
• Chelsea vs. Manchester City (Sunday 18th August, 16:30 KO).
• Leicester City vs. Spurs (Monday 19th August, 20:00 KO).

There are a plethora of matches that are set to take place at Premier League grounds up and down the country, and doubtless, some will leave a lasting impression with some memorable moments and score lines. All 20 clubs will of course be looking to get off to the best of starts with all three points on the opening weekend of the 2024/25 season.

Here, in no particular order, we are going to be taking a look back at some of the most memorable opening day matches from over the years.

Liverpool 4 – 3 Leeds United (2020/21)

We start this list with a seven goal thriller between reigning Champions Liverpool and Leeds United at Anfield on the opening weekend of the 2020/21 Premier League season. It was Jurgen Klopp’s Reds who edged in the end, beating Leeds 4 – 3 that day.

Mohamed Salah gave the hosts the lead from the penalty spot within the first five minutes of the contest (4’) before Marcelo Bielsa’s side found their equaliser to restore parity through forward Jack Harrison a short time after the opener (12’).

Liverpool re-took the lead through Virgil Van Dijk (20’) before a fourth goal of an incredible first half saw Patrick Bamford make it 2 – 2 with half an hour gone (30’). It was then the hosts who re-took the lead through another goal from Salah just before half time to make it 3 – 2 to the Reds (33’).

It was 3 – 3 halfway through the second half when North Macedonia international Mateusz Klich found the back of Alisson’s net to restore parity once more for the away side (66’).

Then, with just minutes of the game remaining, Klopp’s Liverpool side got another penalty kick that saw Mohamed Salah complete his hat-trick from the spot (88’).

Manchester United 5 – 1 Leeds United (2021/22)

The next game on this list also involves Leeds United, but this time it is their game against fierce rivals Manchester United at Old Trafford on the 2021/22 season’s opening weekend. It was to be an emphatic 5 – 1 victory at the Theatre Of Dreams for the Red Devils.

Bruno Fernandes broke the deadlock with half an hour of the game having elapsed (30’), but Leeds did equalise through Luke Ayling very early on into the second half (49’). Fernandes did get his brace to give Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s United the lead just minutes later to make it 2 – 1 (54’).

Mason Greenwood then made it 3 – 1 (52’), before Bruno Fernandes got his sensational hat trick with just half an hour of the game remaining (60’). The goal scoring was complete when Brazilian midfielder Fred found the back of the net (68’) to hand the hosts a stunning 5 – 1 victory.

Middlesbrough 3 – 3 Liverpool (1996/97)

We will now be rewinding to the latter stages of the 20th Century for a Premier League fixture between Middlesbrough and Liverpool at the Riverside Stadium back in the 1996/97 campaign. It was, in the end, an incredible 3 – 3 draw between these two teams.

The game got off to the best of starts for Roy Evans’ Liverpool, with Stig Inge Bjornebye giving the Reds the lead (4’) before Fabrizio Ravanelli got Boro’s opening goal of the game from the penalty spot with almost half an hour gone (26’). However, they weren’t level for long, as John Barnes did though then give the visitors the lead just three minutes later (29’).

Ravanelli got his brace just before half time to make it 2 – 2 going into the break (36’). Robbie Fowler gave Liverpool the lead midway through the second half before Ravanelli completed his hat-trick to make it 3 – 3 (81’), the sixth and final goal of an extraordinary game.

Chelsea 6 – 0 West Brom (2010/11)

Chelsea who were led by then-Head Coach Carlo Ancelotti, were able to beat West Brom emphatically at Stamford Bridge on the opening weekend of the 2010/11 Premier League season, beating the Baggies 6 – 0.

Florent Malouda gave the West London hosts the lead (6’) before Didier Drogba made it 2 – 0 just before half time (45’). Drogba then made it 3 – 0 just after half time (55’), before Frank Lampard added a fourth with just under half an hour of the game remaining (63’). Didier Drogba then completed his sensational hat-trick to make it five moments later (68’) before Malouda closed the scoring after having opened it with just a couple of minutes left to go in the game (90’).

Sheffield Wednesday 3 – 4 Spurs (1994/95)

The fifth and final incredible opening weekend Premier League fixture that we are going to take a look back at here is a fixture between Sheffield Wednesday and Spurs at Hillsborough from the very early days of the Premier League in the 1994/95 season. It was an amazing 7 goal thriller, with the visitors from North London eventually triumphing 4 – 3. It was also a debut for new signing Jurgen Klinsmann, who had a great impact on the game.

Teddy Sheringham started the goal scoring by giving Tottenham the lead with almost 20 minutes gone (19’) before Darren Anderton made it 2 – 0 (30’), which is how it would stay right up until the whistle went for half time.

Dan Petrescu pulled a goal back just after half time (54’) before an own goal from Colin Calderwood restored parity at 2 – 2 for hosts Wednesday (66’). Nick Barmby did manage to re-establish the lead for Tottenham (71’) before debutant Jurgen Klinsmann then made his impact by sensationally scoring shortly after to make it 4 – 2 to hand his new side all three points (82’). David Hirst did get a consolation goal for the Owls just a minute later (83’).

Excitement and anticipation are building ahead of the 2024/25 Premier League season, which is set to get underway on Friday 16th August. It looks set to be an enthralling season with some captivating football and some shock results, as all of the clubs battle to achieve their respective targets.

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