Premier League REVIEW 23 Aug 2026: Brighton Hammer 10-Man Villa 4-0; City and Newcastle Score Late

Brighton and Hove Albion produced the result of the opening weekend, beating Aston Villa 4-0 at the Amex to sit top of the table after one round with a goal difference of four. Villa were behind inside eight minutes when V. Lindelof turned into his own net, and Brighton were out of sight by half-time: M. De Cuyper made it 2-0 on 18 minutes before J. Hinshelwood struck twice in the space of a minute, on 30 and 31, for 4-0. Villa's afternoon got worse before the break when Joao Gomes, signed from Wolverhampton Wanderers this summer, was sent off on 40 minutes. Our model had made Brighton only 44% favourites; the result went their way regardless.

Manchester City needed a fightback to beat Bournemouth 2-1 at the Etihad, a match our model had correctly called 64% in City's favour. M. Tavernier put the visitors ahead on 26 minutes, and City did not draw level until Marc Guehi, the former Crystal Palace captain who moved to the Etihad from Selhurst Park, scored on 84 minutes. J. Gvardiol settled it with a goal in the first minute of second-half stoppage time, completing City's turnaround.

Newcastle United and Liverpool shared a 2-2 draw at St James' Park. A. Elanga put the hosts ahead inside five minutes, only for C. Gakpo to level for Liverpool on 55 and J. Willock to restore Newcastle's lead two minutes later. Liverpool salvaged a point deep into the second half when D. Szoboszlai converted a penalty on 90 minutes. The draw leaves both sides with a point apiece from their opening fixture, Newcastle 10th and Liverpool 9th in the early table, both behind a Brighton side that starts the season with a maximum haul and Aston Villa sitting bottom after their heavy defeat.