Enzo Maresca celebrated his inaugural Premier League victory with Manchester City as "the perfect day," yet he was quick to point out that his squad remains very much a "work in progress" after the win over Bournemouth. The match offered a clear illustration of this unfinished state: Marc Guehi was oddly positioned in midfield, while Rico Lewis found himself deployed at right-back, roles that are far from their natural positions.
Neither player is likely to retain those spots for long, but the situation highlights a deeper problem – City’s roster depth is alarmingly thin at the moment. The performance displayed many of the traits Maresca himself described as an unfinished article. With several of their star performers still finding their rhythm, the team cannot yet be expected to challenge Arsenal or any other top‑four side. Erling Haaland and Phil Foden, usually the focal points of the attack, were unusually subdued, and even Elliot Anderson struggled, losing more duels than he won.
Guehi, a natural defender, simply does not fit the profile of a central midfielder, and his temporary placement only underscored the shortage of genuine options in the middle of the park. Nevertheless, there are reasons for cautious optimism.
If City can keep picking up points while Mareska continues to fine‑tune his line‑up, the individual quality of the squad should gradually surface. Players will regain sharpness, Guehi will likely revert to his defensive duties, and fresh reinforcements are on the horizon – most notably the anticipated signing of Ayyoub Bouaddi.
The club is fully aware that significant work remains before the summer transfer window shuts, and the next few weeks will be crucial for bolstering the squad. What began as an afternoon that threatened to end in frustration was transformed into a triumphant debut for Maresca, thanks largely to tactical tweaks made at halftime. The Italian manager deserves credit for those adjustments, which turned a potentially bleak Etihad debut into a smile‑filled victory.
However, such luck is unlikely to be a weekly occurrence, and the onus will now be on the players to deliver consistency. In a separate narrative, Alexander Isak returned to St James' Park for the first time since his contentious exit from Newcastle. The emotional homecoming was strikingly muted; the Swedish striker, once known for his effortless glide and swagger inside the stadium, appeared far removed from that former self. Injuries have hampered his rhythm since his move to Liverpool, and a forward whose body is not at peak fitness can quickly lose both sharpness and confidence.
The hostile atmosphere created by a vocal Newcastle crowd added another layer of difficulty. Even accounting for these factors, Isak’s display fell short of the expectations held by the supporters.
He lacked the movement, explosiveness, and menace that once defined his game, and perhaps most importantly, the aura that made him a fan favourite. While there is still ample time for him to rediscover his best form, whether the "old Isak" will ever fully return remains an open question. Meanwhile, Yoane Wissa, signed by Newcastle as a pure finisher, was forced into a deeper, play‑making role against Liverpool.
The French forward spent large stretches acting as a No 10, orchestrating attacks and linking play. Under the guidance of manager Matthias Jaissle, Wissa appeared to thrive, showing both intensity and quality. Newcastle’s pressing game was relentless – they pressed high, counter‑pressed aggressively, and tried to suffocate Liverpool whenever they lost possession.
Wissa was central to this effort, finding pockets of space that Liverpool’s midfield struggled to control and delivering a brilliant burst and pass that set up Joe Willock’s goal, reducing the deficit to 2‑1. The 2‑2 draw against Liverpool served as a statement of intent for Newcastle under their new leadership, and within the chaos of a classic high‑scoring encounter, Wissa’s performance emerged as a compelling subplot. His ability to combine work rate with technical skill suggests that Jaissle may have uncovered a role that maximises his strengths. Further down the south coast, Aston Villa entered the Brighton match with confidence, chanting their recent European triumphs.
However, that bravado quickly evaporated after Brighton rattled them with four goals in the first 31 minutes. Villa arrived at the Amex Stadium after a busy summer that saw several star players leave following their Europa League victory, and they started the game without a recognised striker due to ongoing transfer speculation surrounding Ollie Watkins. Goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez was also absent, fueling rumors that he and Watkins could depart alongside other recent signings such as Ezri Konsa, Youri Tielemans, Lucas Digne and Morgan Rogers.
The remaining back line – Pau Torres and Victor Lindelöf – appeared uncertain, while Joao Gomes endured a nightmare debut that ended with a straight red card. Without a clear focal point up front, Villa relied on Emiliano Buendía, Ross Barkley and debutant George Hemmings to lead the attack, but the lack of a genuine number nine was evident. The heavy defeat only intensified Villa’s urgency to finalise their squad before the transfer deadline on September 1. The speculation surrounding key departures has become a distracting backdrop for manager Unai Emery, who now faces the challenge of rebuilding a coherent unit.
Statistically, Villa joined a very exclusive club: they became only the second Premier League side ever to concede four goals, receive a red card and score an own goal in the first half of a match, a feat previously achieved solely by Southampton against Manchester United in February 2021. Brighton, on the other hand, joined a short list of clubs that have netted four first‑half goals in the opening game of a Premier League season, following Bolton (2001/02), Manchester United (2006/07) and Liverpool (2019/20). Brighton’s resurgence under Fabian Hurzeler continues to be a story of adaptation.
The club has undergone a summer overhaul, losing several key players – Danny Welbeck, Jan‑Paul van Hecke, Joel Veltman and James Milner among them – and faces further departures with Carlos Baleba and Yakubu Minteh possibly on the way out before the window closes. Yet, as in previous seasons, Brighton has demonstrated resilience.
Their 4‑0 victory over Villa was not merely a win; it was a bold statement of intent, showcasing the intensity and cohesion that have become hallmarks of Hurzeler’s side. The performance set the tone for what could be an exciting campaign for the Seagulls, as they look to build on their early momentum despite the inevitable challenges of a transfer‑heavy summer.