The 2025-26 Premier League season was a rollercoaster of drama, with late goals, unexpected results, and a title race that went down to the wire. Here's a breakdown of the season's key moments, with a healthy dose of personal commentary and analysis.
August: A Mixed Bag for Top Clubs
- Liverpool's Emotional Start: The Reds' season began with a bang, as they paid tribute to Diogo Jota's tragic passing. They secured a 4-2 win over Bournemouth, but it was their 2-1 victory over Newcastle, secured by Rio Ngumoha, that truly stood out. The highlight of their month was Dominik Szoboszlai's stunning free-kick against Arsenal, which won goal of the month.
- City's Early Struggles: Manchester City's season started with a whimper, losing 2-0 at home to Tottenham and then 2-1 away to Brighton. It was a stark contrast to their eventual dominance.
- Everton's New Home: Everton officially opened their new stadium, Hill Dickinson Stadium, with a win. It was a positive start to their new era.
- Sunderland's Strong Return: Sunderland made a strong return to the top flight, winning two out of their first three games.
September: Late Drama and Manager Changes
- Arsenal's Resilience: The Gunners showed their mettle, coming from behind to beat Newcastle with a 96th-minute winner by Gabriel Magalhães. They also drew with Manchester City in a thrilling encounter, with Gabriel Martinelli scoring a late equalizer.
- Liverpool's Late Goals: The Reds continued their trend of late goals, winning against Burnley with a 95th-minute Mo Salah penalty. Eddie Nketiah's winner for Crystal Palace was another late drama.
- Aston Villa's Turnaround: After a slow start, Aston Villa turned things around, beating Fulham from a goal down. It was a sign of their resilience.
- Managerial Changes: Graham Potter's departure from West Ham and Nuno Espírito Santo's arrival at the club marked a turbulent month for the Hammers.
- Manchester Derby: Manchester City comfortably won the Manchester derby, showcasing their early-season dominance.
October: Chelsea's Rise, Liverpool's Slump
- Nottingham Forest's Unstable Start: Ange Postecoglou's tenure at Nottingham Forest was short-lived, lasting just 40 days. The team struggled, losing 3-0 to Chelsea.
- Bournemouth's Rise: Bournemouth's 2-0 win over Forest lifted them to second place. Sunderland's 2-1 win at Chelsea further solidified their top-four ambitions.
- Burnley's Late Heroics: Burnley's Lyle Foster scored a 95th-minute winner against Wolves, sparking anger from the home fans.
November: Tempers Flaring, Title Race Heating Up
- Idrissa Gueye's Slapping Incident: Everton's Idrissa Gueye gave Michael Keane a slap, leading to a red card and an apology. It was a moment that highlighted the intensity of the season.
- Arsenal's Dominance: Arsenal thrashed Tottenham 4-1, with Eberechi Eze scoring a hat-trick. They went six points clear at the top.
- Manchester City's Cruise: City comfortably beat Liverpool 3-0, showcasing their attacking prowess.
- Newcastle's Heroics: Harvey Barnes' goal gave Newcastle a win over City, a surprising result.
- Bournemouth's Late Drama: Tyler Adams' long-range goal almost won it for Bournemouth against Sunderland, but they lost 3-2.
- West Ham's Protest: West Ham fans protested against the club's owners, but their side still beat Burnley 3-2.
December: Salah's Accusations, Haaland's Dominance
- Mohamed Salah's Accusation: Salah accused Liverpool of 'throwing him under the bus' after being left out of the starting lineup for three games.
- Aston Villa's Dominance: Villa's 4-1 win over Arsenal showcased their consistency. When the two sides met again, Arsenal dominated and won 4-1.
- Erling Haaland's Record: Haaland became the quickest player to reach 100 Premier League goals, a testament to his brilliance.
- Manchester City's Thriller: City's 9-goal thriller with Fulham was a display of their attacking prowess.
January: Chelsea's Turmoil, Carrick's Strong Start
- Chelsea's Turmoil: Enzo Maresca's departure from Chelsea was acrimonious, with Liam Rosenior briefly replacing him.
- Manchester United's Change: Ruben Amorim's tenure at United ended after a 1-1 draw with Leeds. Michael Carrick stepped in and started strongly, beating City and Arsenal.
- Brentford's Hat-trick Hero: Igor Thiago's hat-trick against Everton and then a brace against Sunderland pushed him in the race for the golden boot.
February: Haaland's Penalty Heroics, Tottenham's Slump
- Haaland's Penalty Heroics: City's 93rd-minute penalty against Liverpool showcased Haaland's ability to deliver in crucial moments.
- Arsenal's Wastefulness: Arsenal threw away a two-goal lead against Wolves, a result that highlighted their inconsistency.
- Tottenham's Sacking: Tottenham sacked Thomas Frank and replaced him with Igor Tudor, but the Croatian's tenure started poorly.
March: Rosenior's Strange Quote, Arsenal's Lead
- Liam Rosenior's Strange Quote: Rosenior's 'respect the ball' quote was bizarre, but it showcased the players' focus.
- Tottenham's Struggles: Tudor's tenure continued with defeats for Tottenham, further damaging their chances.
- Arsenal's Lead: Arsenal opened up a nine-point lead, with Max Dowman becoming the youngest Premier League goalscorer.
- Brighton's Success: Danny Welbeck's stellar season continued with both goals against Liverpool in a 2-1 victory.
April: Title Race's Final Stretch
- City vs. Arsenal: Manchester City beat Arsenal 2-1, a result that left both clubs with the title in their hands.
- West Ham's Thumping: West Ham thrashed Wolves 4-0, while Forest beat Burnley and Sunderland, leaving Tottenham in a relegation zone.
May: Arsenal's Title, City's Farewell
- Arsenal's Title: Arsenal secured their first title since 2004, finishing seven points ahead of City. It was a celebration on the streets of London.
- City's Farewell: Pep Guardiola said goodbye to City after 10 glorious years, a testament to his success.
- Tottenham's Escape: Tottenham evaded the drop, a testament to their resilience.
- West Ham's Relegation: West Ham, Wolves, and Burnley were relegated, a tragic end to their seasons.
