Newly promoted Hull City stunned Manchester United 2-0 in a dramatic opening weekend of Premier League action.
Tottenham also suffered a heavy defeat as Brentford produced an impressive display at the Gtech Stadium.
The results added plenty of excitement to a weekend that had already started with Arsenal beating newly promoted Coventry.
A dream return for Hull, a nightmare for United
Hull City enjoyed a perfect return to the Premier League with a 2-0 win over Manchester United.
The victory marked Hull’s first Premier League win against United. It was also their first league victory over the Red Devils since 1974.
Sergej Jakirovic’s team made the most of two set-piece chances in the first half. Semi Ajayi opened the scoring before Nobel Mendy doubled Hull’s advantage.
United struggled to create clear chances after the break. Hull dropped deeper and defended their lead with confidence.
Goalkeeper Tszolakis also made several important saves to preserve Hull’s clean sheet.
The defeat will concern Manchester United supporters after the club entered the season with renewed optimism.
Several new players still need time to settle into the team. However, United must improve quickly if they want to challenge near the top of the Premier League table.
The result also highlighted a familiar problem for United. They struggled to break down an opponent that defended in numbers.
Manager Michael Carrick will now look for a response in the next fixture.
Big-spending Spurs ripped apart by Brentford
Tottenham suffered another major setback as Brentford recorded a convincing win at the Gtech Stadium.
Spurs began the season with plenty of optimism following Roberto De Zerbi’s arrival. The club also spent more than £230 million during the transfer window.
That optimism quickly disappeared against Brentford.
Keane Lewis-Potter, Vitaly Janelt and Michael Kayode all found the net. Tottenham struggled to create meaningful opportunities throughout the match.
Brentford could have won by an even bigger margin. Igor Thiago missed a second-half penalty.
The statistics showed Brentford’s dominance. They produced 26 shots compared with Tottenham’s nine. Their expected goals figure was also far higher at 3.96, while Spurs recorded only 0.47.
Sandro Tonali struggled to influence the midfield after his big-money arrival. Mattheus Fernandes came on as a substitute but could not change the game.
The defeat raises early questions about Tottenham’s squad and their ability to adapt to De Zerbi’s approach.
Spurs are also reportedly looking at further additions. Their defensive options could become a priority with captain Mickey Van Den Ven currently injured.
Late winners for Leeds and Ipswich as Everton cruise to victory
Several other matches produced dramatic results during the opening weekend.
Everton began their campaign with a win over Crystal Palace. Goals from Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Thierno Barry secured a 2-0 victory.
Crystal Palace missed several key players and struggled to create enough chances to trouble Everton.
Leeds United also claimed three points thanks to a late winner against Nottingham Forest.
Anton Stach headed home in the 88th minute to give Leeds a 1-0 victory. The match had remained closely contested for most of the game.
The result gave Leeds an important win while leaving Nottingham Forest frustrated.
Ipswich Town also impressed after beating Sunderland 2-1.
Ipswich controlled much of the match but needed a late goal from Jack Clarke to secure the victory.
The result will concern Sunderland, who struggled to turn their opportunities into goals.
A fiery start to the Premier League season
The opening weekend has already provided plenty of surprises.
Hull City showed that newly promoted teams can compete with established Premier League clubs. Brentford also sent a warning to their rivals with an outstanding performance against Tottenham.
It remains too early to make major predictions about the season. Teams still need time to settle, while several clubs are continuing to strengthen their squads.
Nine new managers are also adapting to their teams and the demands of the Premier League.
However, the opening results suggest that another competitive campaign could be ahead.
Manchester United and Tottenham will now look for immediate responses. Meanwhile, Hull, Brentford, Leeds and Ipswich can build confidence from their impressive starts.
If the opening weekend is any indication, the Premier League could deliver plenty more surprises in the weeks ahead.
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