The opening round of the 2025/26 Premier League brought plenty of thrills, with standout displays from several players. Notably, new arrivals such as Ekitike, Kudus, and Reijnders left a strong impression.
Recently, Sports Illustrated revealed their Team of the Week for Round 1, highlighting a blend of established stars and fresh faces who made significant impacts.
David Raya (Arsenal)
Raya delivered an outstanding performance (Photo: SI News)
In the high-profile match at Old Trafford, the Spanish goalkeeper was a solid wall, helping Arsenal withstand Manchester United’s pressure. Raya made seven crucial saves, repeatedly denying MU’s clear chances. Thanks to his reliability, Arsenal kept a clean sheet and secured a narrow 1-0 victory.
Rico Lewis (Man City)
Rico Lewis impressed in the clash with Wolves (Photo: SI News)
Deployed on the right by Pep Guardiola, Lewis stood out for his energy and effective attacking contributions. The young player provided an assist for Haaland and fulfilled his defensive duties well, proving his worth in Man City’s star-studded squad.
Dan Ballard (Sunderland)
On Sunderland’s Premier League return, centre-back Ballard immediately took charge of the defense. He opened the scoring and repeatedly broke up West Ham’s attacks. Ballard’s solidity was key to their stunning 3-0 win.
Josh Acheampong (Chelsea)
Chelsea’s young talent played with remarkable maturity (Photo: SI News)
Given a starting spot at just 18, the youngster did not disappoint Chelsea fans. His confident style saw him excel defensively and show promise going forward. Acheampong is considered a notable discovery for The Blues this season.
Riccardo Calafiori (Arsenal)
Calafiori emerged as Arsenal’s hero (Photo: SI News)
In his Premier League debut, the Italian defender became Arsenal’s match-winner by scoring the only goal, defeating MU at Old Trafford. Beyond his goal, Calafiori also impressed with his composure and tactical awareness.
Tijjani Reijnders (Man City)
Tijjani Reijnders was named Man of the Match (Photo: SI News)
The Dutch newcomer had a flawless Premier League debut, netting a goal and providing an assist to shine in midfield. His intelligent passing and dynamic movement added a new dimension to Man City’s play.
Adam Wharton (Crystal Palace)
Facing Chelsea, Wharton displayed composure in midfield, reading the game well, contesting strongly, and intercepting several dangerous passes. His maturity surprised many experts.
Mohammed Kudus (Tottenham)
New signing Kudus adapted quickly to his new team (Photo: SI News)
Since joining Spurs, Kudus wasted no time showcasing his value with a brilliant performance. He assisted both goals for Richarlison and troubled Leicester’s defense with his pace and unpredictable dribbling.
Antoine Semenyo (Bournemouth)
Against Liverpool, Semenyo shocked everyone with a brace. The Ghanaian forward capitalized on The Kop’s defensive errors and demonstrated his lethal finishing. This performance suggests he will be a key asset for Bournemouth.
Hugo Ekitike (Liverpool)
Hugo Ekitike proved to be worth every penny (Photo: SI News)
On his Liverpool debut, Ekitike made a strong impact with a goal and an assist. Although his new club lost 2-3, his individual display gave Anfield supporters plenty of hope.
Richarlison (Tottenham)
Richarlison transformed on opening day (Photo: SI News)
The Brazilian star had a sensational start, scoring twice, including a spectacular bicycle kick. Richarlison’s confidence and efficiency delivered a convincing win for Tottenham.
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