EPL: Halland scores twice in City’s win, Sunderland defeat West Ham, as Spurs hit three against Burnley

Manchester City have started the 2025-26 Premier League season with a convincing 4-0 win against Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Erling Haaland opened the scoring to put City in front after the home side saw Marshall Munetsi’s header ruled out for offside. Midfielder Tijjani Reijnders then made it two on his Premier League debut.
Haaland added his second of the game with a sharp finish after a lovely attacking move and then Rayan Cherki also scored on his Premier League debut to make it 4-0.
Tributes were paid to Diogo Jota throughout the day by the Wolves fans in their first league match since the passing of their former striker.
Meanwhile, Sunderland made a winning start to their first Premier League campaign since 2016-17 as they deservedly beat West Ham at a raucous Stadium of Light.
Eliezer Mayenda, who scored in the Championship play-off final in May, nodded substitute Omar Alderete’s delivery into the corner shortly after the hour mark to spark wild scenes of jubilation among the home supporters.
It was another play-off hero who doubled Sunderland’s lead as Dan Ballard – who rescued Regis le Bris’ team in the semi-final first leg against Coventry – guided his header into the corner.
And Wilson Isidor put the icing on the cake in added time, beating Hermansen with a well-placed shot into the far corner.
Also, two goals from Richarlison, including a stunning scissor kick, helped Thomas Frank win his first Premier League match in charge of Tottenham as his Spurs side proved too good for newly promoted Burnley.
Brazil forward Richarlison only scored four Premier League goals in 2024-25 but was superb as he showed the form that convinced Spurs to pay £60m to sign him from Everton three years ago.
He scored the first league goal in the Frank era when he did superbly to spin and control a shot on the turn after only 10 minutes, following excellent work on the right from Mohammed Kudus on his Spurs league debut following his £55m summer move from West Ham.
The two linked up again for Spurs’ second, Kudus hanging up a cross from the byeline and Richarlison acrobatically volleying in, with the goal repeatedly shown and enjoyed by the home fans on the stadium’s four big screens.
It got even better for Tottenham in the 66th minute as Richarlison started the move – the ball fell for Pape Matar Sarr and he played it through for Brennan Johnson to race clear and provide a clinical finish.