The second week of the 2025/26 Premier League season was packed with goals, drama, and plenty of surprises. From a 16-year-old wonderkid scoring a match-winning goal, to big clubs stumbling, and new signings making their mark, the weekend had everything a soccer fan could ask for. Let’s break down the highlights and then look at the Team of the Week—featuring the best players who really stood out.
Weekend Highlights
Liverpool’s teenage hero: Sixteen-year-old Rio Ngumoha stole the show as he scored a stunning late winner in Liverpool’s 3-2 victory over Newcastle. Imagine being just 16, younger than most high school juniors, and already deciding Premier League matches!
Arsenal on fire: Arsenal showed they mean business in the title race with a 5-0 thrashing of Leeds United at the Emirates. New striker Viktor Gyökeres got off the mark with his first two goals for the club.
Manchester City stumble: Last season’s champions, Manchester City, slipped up, losing 2-0 to Tottenham. That’s their first defeat of the new campaign. Fun fact: City have lost their second league game of the season only once in the last five years.
Chelsea hammer West Ham: Chelsea are flying under Enzo Maresca. They smashed West Ham 5-1, with Joao Pedro and Trevoh Chalobah starring.
Everton’s historic night: Everton played their first Premier League game at their brand-new Hill Dickinson Stadium, and it couldn’t have gone better—they beat Brighton 2-0. Fans went crazy, celebrating their new home with fireworks, songs, and plenty of cheers.
Other winners: Bournemouth beat Wolves, Brentford continued their solid start, and Burnley grabbed their first three points of the season with a win over Sunderland.
Premier League Team of the Week
Here’s the XI that shone brightest, with a mix of defending, creativity, and goal-scoring magic.
Goalkeeper
Jordan Pickford (Everton) – Rating: 8.2
Pickford showed again why he’s England’s number one goalkeeper. He made four saves, including a crucial penalty stop against Danny Welbeck that kept Brighton from getting back into the match. For Everton fans, it was the perfect way to start life at their new stadium.
⚽ Soccer Fact: Jordan Pickford has now saved 10 penalties in the Premier League, putting him among the top English shot-stoppers in history.
Defence
Jurrien Timber (Arsenal) – Rating: 10
What a game! Timber was everywhere against Leeds—scoring twice, setting up a goal for Bukayo Saka, and keeping a clean sheet. That’s the dream performance for a defender.
Trevoh Chalobah (Chelsea) – Rating: 8.5
Chalobah had an excellent night against West Ham. Not only did he defend well, winning tackles and making clearances, but he also scored Chelsea’s fifth goal, showing that defenders can be threats in attack too.
Riccardo Calafiori (Arsenal) – Rating: 8.3
Calafiori worked hard on the left wing. His perfect pass set up Gyökeres’ first Arsenal goal. He balanced attacking with solid defending—a must in the modern game.
James Garner (Everton) – Rating: 8.5
Usually a midfielder, Garner filled in at left-back against Brighton and didn’t look out of place. He even scored a rocket from distance in front of Everton’s new South Stand. Nine clearances and two key passes? That’s versatility at its best.
Premier League
Midfield
Iliman Ndiaye (Everton) – Rating: 8.5
Ndiaye is quickly becoming a fan favorite. He scored the first goal at Hill Dickinson Stadium, following up on his last goal at Goodison Park (Everton’s old home). The Senegalese forward showed his sharpness and gave fans plenty to cheer about.
Josh Cullen (Burnley) – Rating: 8.3
Cullen, Burnley’s captain, led by example. He scored the opener against Sunderland and later assisted the second goal with a clever pass. Leadership plus skill—a captain’s dream performance.
Joao Pedro (Chelsea) – Rating: 9.2
Pedro was outstanding. Normally a striker, he dropped into midfield after Cole Palmer’s injury and controlled the game. He scored the opening goal with a powerful header, then assisted twice. He also won nine duels—showing fight and flair.
Marcus Tavernier (Bournemouth) – Rating: 8.0
Tavernier’s early strike against Wolves was deflected, but it still counts! His hard work in midfield gave Bournemouth their first win of the season. Sometimes, persistence pays off in soccer.
Premier League
Forwards
Bukayo Saka (Arsenal) – Rating: 8.2
Saka finally opened his account for the season, scoring from a tight angle against Leeds. He also created two chances before picking up an injury. Arsenal fans will hope he’s back soon—he’s too important to lose.
Viktor Gyökeres (Arsenal) – Rating: 7.9
New signing Gyökeres netted his first two Arsenal goals. One was a smart finish after cutting inside, the other a confidently taken penalty. Arsenal hope he’ll become the reliable striker they’ve been missing.
Premier League
Soccer Combo of the Week
Arsenal’s Timber → Saka → Gyökeres combination showed how dangerous their attack can be. Timber’s assist for Saka, plus Calafiori’s pass to Gyökeres, highlighted how their full-backs are now key creators. When defenders are scoring and assisting like this, the team becomes even harder to stop.
Premier League
Extra Soccer News
Transfer buzz: Rumors are swirling about Manchester United chasing a new defensive midfielder after their poor start. Names like João Neves and Martin Zubimendi are linked.
Injury watch: Liverpool fans are worried after Darwin Núñez picked up a slight knock. Luckily, reports say it’s nothing serious.
Fun fact: Did you know that the Premier League has had over 31,000 goals scored since it started in 1992? Gyökeres and Ngumoha just added two more to that huge tally this week.
Final Thoughts
The second week of the Premier League had everything: teenage stars, new stadium celebrations, big upsets, and huge wins. Arsenal fans will be buzzing after a 5-0 win, Chelsea are showing they mean business under Maresca, and Everton fans will never forget their first night at Hill Dickinson Stadium.
The season is still young, but already the storylines are building. Will Liverpool’s 16-year-old hero continue to shine? Can Arsenal challenge Manchester City for the title? Will Chelsea keep up their ruthless form? We’ll find out as the weeks roll on.
For now, this Team of the Week shows just how much talent the league has to offer—from experienced internationals like Pickford and Saka, to rising stars like Ngumoha and Ndiaye. Soccer fans everywhere can’t wait for Week 3!
