The second gameweek of the 2026/27 Premier League season delivered plenty of talking points, from Manchester United finally getting their first win to Chelsea maintaining their perfect start under Xabi Alonso. Newcastle also impressed against another difficult opponent, while Liverpool once again showed that their rebuild under Andoni Iraola will require patience. Arsenal, meanwhile, remain perfect after beating Aston Villa 1-0 on Monday night.
Premier League Gameweek 2 Results
- Crystal Palace 1-4 Manchester City
- Liverpool 2-2 Nottingham Forest
- Tottenham Hotspur 0-2 Newcastle United
- Hull City 1-0 Coventry City
- Bournemouth 1-1 Everton
- Chelsea 4-3 Brighton
- Leeds United 1-1 Brentford
- Sunderland 1-0 Fulham
- Manchester United 5-2 Ipswich Town
- Aston Villa 0-1 Arsenal
Here are five major observations from the latest Premier League gameweek.
5. How Will Manchester United Survive Without Bruno Fernandes?
Manchester United finally got their season going with an emphatic 5-2 victory over Ipswich Town, but the biggest takeaway was once again the importance of Bruno Fernandes.
After Leif Davis gave Ipswich an early lead, Fernandes equalised before half-time. He then completed his hat-trick in the second half, including a penalty, before assisting Bryan Mbeumo as United completed their comeback.
It was Fernandes' second Premier League hat-trick and another reminder of just how heavily United depend on their captain. Since joining the club in 2020, he has effectively carried the creative and attacking responsibility on his shoulders, producing 21 assists and nine goals in the 2025/26 league campaign alone.
His current contract runs until June 2027, with an option for another year. If Fernandes does not renew, United's future without him could look extremely difficult. The club must start preparing for that possibility now.
4. Newcastle Ending the Season With European Qualification Won't Be the Biggest Shock
Newcastle United have made an excellent start under Matthias Jaissle.
They opened the season with a 2-2 draw against Liverpool at St James' Park before producing another impressive performance to beat Tottenham 2-0 away from home. Anthony Elanga and Yoane Wissa scored in the second half to give Newcastle their first victory under Jaissle.
Going unbeaten against Liverpool and Tottenham in the opening two games is a strong statement from the new manager.
Newcastle also have an excellent blend of Premier League-proven players and exciting young talent, while further additions could still arrive before the transfer window closes. Crucially, they have no European football this season.
That could become a huge advantage as the campaign progresses. A Europa League or even Champions League finish for Newcastle would therefore not be the biggest surprise.
3. There's Something Going on With Viktor Gyökeres and Mikel Arteta
Viktor Gyökeres was signed to be Arsenal's headline striker, yet he has surprisingly failed to play a single minute in the Premier League so far.
Kai Havertz started ahead of him in Arsenal's 3-0 victory over Coventry and scored the opening goal. Gyökeres remained on the bench throughout the match. The same trend has now been repeated in Arsenal's 0-1 win over Unai Emery's Aston Villa.
The strange part is that Havertz has historically had injury problems, making Arteta's decision even more curious. Although his exclusion from the Villa game can be justified, the fact he was also left out against Coventry despite having a comfortable lead against them suggests something has gone wrong between the player & Arteta.
That has naturally raised questions about what is happening behind the scenes. Perhaps there is a tactical reason, fitness issue or another explanation that will emerge soon. For now, however, Gyökeres' situation at Arsenal is certainly one to watch.
2. The Liverpool Rebuild Project Will Take Time
Liverpool's opening two games have made one thing obvious: this is a work in progress.
After drawing 2-2 with Newcastle on the opening weekend, Liverpool were held to another 2-2 draw by Nottingham Forest at Anfield. Alexander Isak and Victor Muñoz scored, but defensive problems and slow starts remained familiar issues.
Andoni Iraola has inherited a team that needs significant rebuilding. The manager's success will depend not only on his tactical ability but also on the level of support he receives from the board.
Liverpool have now added major talent, including Bradley Barcola, but the overall project still feels unsettled. If Iraola eventually has to work with the squad available to him for the entire season, Liverpool could face a long and painful road back to the top.
1. Chelsea Could Be Arsenal's Biggest Threat to the Title
Chelsea might currently be the most frightening attacking team in the Premier League.
They destroyed Brighton's defence early on before surviving a remarkable comeback to win 4-3 at Stamford Bridge. Romeo Lavia, Pedro Neto, João Pedro and Cole Palmer were on target for Xabi Alonso's side.
The combination of Morgan Rogers, Cole Palmer and João Pedro gives Chelsea enormous attacking potential, while their squad depth is arguably among the best in the league.
The biggest advantage, however, could come later in the season. Chelsea has no European football, while Arsenal could be fighting through the latter stages of the Champions League. That could give the Blues fresher legs during the decisive months of the title race.
Arsenal may still be favourites, but Chelsea are rapidly becoming their biggest threat. The season is only beginning, so we'll have to wait and see how this fascinating title race develops.
