Bruno masterclass, Xabi-ball and another Tarkowski stoppage-time equaliser: Premier League Matchday 2 Recap (2026/27)

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Full Results (Matchday 2)

  • Crystal Palace 1–4 Manchester City

  • Liverpool 2–2 Nottingham Forest

  • Bournemouth 1–1 Everton 

  • Coventry 0–1 Hull

  • Tottenham 0–2 Newcastle 

  • Chelsea 4–3 Brighton 

  • Leeds 1–1 Brentford 

  • Sunderland 1–0 Fulham

  • Manchester United 5–2 Ipswich 

  • Aston Villa 0–1 Arsenal 

Game of the Matchday 

Chelsea 4–3 Brighton

Chelsea one-upped their first match of the season on their first home match of the season as they went from winning 3-2 against Fulham to beating Brighton 4-3 at Stamford Bridge, cranking the entertainment up to 11.

Xabi Alonso's side zoomed away to a 3-0 lead inside 33 minutes and it started to look like Brighton were going to get the beating that they themselves dished out to Aston Villa the previous matchday. Though Brighton did not give up and eventually reduced The Blues' lead to just a single goal in the 64th minute of the game. 

Cole Palmer then eased the tension, dribbling away and firing a picture-perfect shot from outside the box to make it 4-2. By the time Pascal Gross headed in another goal, it was just too late for The Seagulls. That makes it two in two for Alonso, and although there will be doubts over their leaky defense, I'm not complaining.

Biggest Surprise

Liverpool 2–2 Nottingham Forest

Liverpool fans must hate it when they see their next game is up against a team managed by Oliver Glasner. In the previous 7 times they've faced him, he has only been beaten twice. Add to this the fact that Nottingham Forest have found comfort in Anfield, winning here in the last two seasons.

The surprise here was how even with new managers at both clubs, the trend continued. Andoni Iraola had won only 2 of his 5 games against Glasner, while winning 3 of his previous 6 matches against Forest, although not losing a single game against either of them. 

Liverpool for their 69% possession, could only create 1 big chance, as compared to Forest's 5. The Tricky Trees also hit the crossbar in the closing stages of the first half, highlighting their superior quality of offence against the home side.

Best Team Performance

Manchester United 5–2 Ipswich

The best team performance of the matchday belongs to The Red Devils. Though, for things to get good for Manchester United, they first had to get bad. Ipswich lead at United's first match of the season at Old Trafford via left-back Leif Davis. United pulled one back before half time through Bruno Fernandes to make it 1-1 at the break.

Then whatever Michael Carrick said at the interval in the dressing room clearly worked wonders for them as they absolutely tore Ipswich apart, especially Bruno. A fiery 26-minute spell brought them 4 goals which rattled the visitors, who could only net in another at the near-end of the game courtesy of a United defensive error.

Manchester United generated an xG of 4.01 in the second half alone, creating a whopping 8 big chances. Not only that, but they also kept it watertight at the back with The Tractor Boys only being able to generate an xG of 0.06 before their equaliser at the end skewing that stat to 1.03. 

United fans will surely take many positives from this victory, although they should not ignore the somewhat obvious negatives too.

Player of the Matchday

Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United)

I've said it before and I'll say it again — where will Manchester United be without Bruno Fernandes? That is a rhetorical question because we all know the answer to that. He has been at the forefront of everything great about United for quiet some time. Although last season, the club did add a few more high quality supporting players for him, he's still levels above his teammates.

Even in the game against Ipswich, United were struggling until he equalised and then took matters into his own hands, scoring this Premier League season's first hat-trick, and his third ever for The Red Devils.

Bruno registered an xGI of 2.50 which highlights just how dangerous his attacking capability is. Every threatening attack was flowing through him and this is not the last time that will happen in this month, let alone this season. He is a creative beast, and right now also the top scorer! Looks like after getting the most assists record last season, he is eyeing most goals for this one!

Honorable mentions - Rayan Cherki (Manchester City), Lewis Hall (Newcastle) & Alex Scott (Bournemouth)

Moment of the Matchday

James Tarkowski equalises late against Bournemouth

Skip to 1:24 to watch Tarkowski's goal here

Bournemouth followed up conceding a stoppage time dagger from Josko Gvardiol in the last matchday to conceding a stoppage time equaliser to James Tarkowski in this one. Luckily for Bournemouth, the pattern suggests a stoppage time winner against Newcastle in matchday 3! Anyway I digress.

This is not the first time that Tarkowski has netted a stoppage time equaliser. Yet, that doesn't diminish the moment one bit. Hayden Hackney lobbed in a deep, floaty corner from the left side of the pitch and after an indecisive clearance from The Cherries, Tarkowski turned goal side and rifled a striker's finish into the corner, albeit with a slight deflection, rescuing a valuable point for The Toffees.

That strike prevented Bournemouth from opening their points account for the season, while more importantly for Everton, it made sure they remain unbeaten heading into the third matchday.

Looking Ahead – Matchday 3 Fixtures (IST Kick-offs)

Saturday, 5 September (IST)

    • Ipswich vs Liverpool - 12:30 am

    • Newcastle vs Bournemouth - 5:00 pm

    • Brentford vs Sunderland - 7:30 pm

    • Brighton vs Leeds - 7:30 pm

    • Fulham vs Crystal Palace - 7:30 pm

    • Manchester City vs Coventry - 7:30 pm

    • Nottingham Forest vs Tottenham - 7:30 pm

    • Hull vs Aston Villa - 10:00 pm

    Sunday, 6 September (IST)

    • Everton vs Manchester United - 6:30 pm

    • Arsenal vs Chelsea - 9:00 pm

    by ShotBlogged


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