5 of the Greatest Premier League Opening Day Clashes Ever

The Premier League’s opening day is always a thrilling affair, offering fans a fresh start and a glimpse of what’s to come in the new season. Over the years, the opening day has delivered some memorable clashes, each packed with drama, excitement, and unexpected twists.

With the start of the Premier League just five days away, we decided to look at some of the greatest opening day clashes that fans of the Premier League have ever witnessed. These battles have left a lasting impression on fans, who remember these clashes to this day. 

1) Liverpool 4 – 3 Leeds United (2020/21) 

The opening match of the 2020-21 Premier League season between Leeds United and Liverpool at Anfield was a captivating spectacle that set the tone for an exhilarating campaign. Leeds, returning to the Premier League after a 16-year absence, faced the reigning champions, Liverpool, in a clash that promised excitement, and it certainly delivered. 

Liverpool started strong, with Mohamed Salah scoring a penalty just minutes into the match, giving the home side an early lead. However, Leeds quickly demonstrated their attacking prowess, equalizing through a stunning goal from Jack Harrison, who curled a shot past goalkeeper Alisson. The back-and-forth nature of the game continued as Virgil Van Dijk nodded home from a Liverpool corner to hand the Reds the lead in the 20th minute. Leeds refused to back down, showcasing their fearless style under manager Marcelo Bielsa. Patrick Bamford scored a well-deserved goal, leveling the match at 2-2. 

However, just three minutes after Bamford’s equalizer, Salah scored his second of the day in the 33rd minute, handing Liverpool a 3-2 lead going into halftime. However, Leeds responded with determination, with Mateusz Klich finding the net again, making it 3-3 and sending the visiting fans into raptures. In a match filled with drama and end-to-end action, Liverpool had the last laugh, as Mohamed Salah netted a late penalty to seal a 4-3 win for Liverpool on opening day. 

2) Arsenal 4 – 3 Leicester City (2017/18) 

The 2017 Premier League opening day clash between Arsenal and Leicester City at the Emirates Stadium was a thrilling spectacle that set the tone for the season. The match was a dramatic showcase of attacking football and resilience. From the outset, the game lived up to its billing as a captivating encounter. Arsenal took an early lead with a goal from their new signing, Alexandre Lacazette. The French striker marked his Premier League debut with a composed finish, giving the Gunners a 1-0 advantage. 

Leicester responded with characteristic resilience. They equalized through a goal from Shinji Okazaki, who pounced on a loose ball to level the score.  In the 29th minute, Mr. Leicester Jamie Vardy handed the Foxes a 2-1 lead. However, Arsenal regained parity through Danny Welbeck in the dying embers of first half stoppage time. Following the break, Jamie Vardy doubled Leicester’s lead from an inch-perfect Riyad Mahrez pass in the 56th minute.  

The match continued to ebb and flow, with both teams showcasing their attacking prowess. Arsenal eventually took control with two more goals. The first came from a brilliant strike by Aaron Ramsey, who scored with a deft finish. The final goal was a dramatic late winner from Olivier Giroud, who headed in a cross to seal a 4-3 victory for the Gunners. 

3) Chelsea 2 – 3 Burnley (2017/18) 

The 2017-18 season began with a matchup between Chelsea and Burnley at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea, the defending champions, were expected to start their title defense with a strong performance against a Burnley side that had narrowly avoided relegation the previous season. What transpired was nothing short of shocking. 

Burnley stunned the home crowd by taking a 3-0 lead within the first half, with goals from Sam Vokes and Stephen Ward. Chelsea's fans were left in disbelief as their team struggled to respond. In the second half, Chelsea managed to pull one back through Alvaro Morata. However, Gary Cahill and Cesc Fabregas received their marching order, making a Chelsea comeback more difficult. David Luiz further reduced Chelsea’s deficit in the 88th minute, setting up a grandstand finish. However, despite their efforts, Burnley held on for a remarkable victory, marking one of the biggest opening day upsets in Premier League history.  

This match was a wake-up call for Chelsea and set the tone for a tumultuous season that would see them finish fifth, outside the Champions League spots. For Burnley, it was a dream start that would propel them to a successful season, ultimately finishing in seventh place and qualifying for the Europa League.   

4) Arsenal 3 – 4 Liverpool (2016/17) 

The 2016-17 Premier League season kicked off with a thrilling encounter between Arsenal and Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium. Both teams were eager to make a strong start to their campaign, and the match delivered a spectacle that left fans on the edge of their seats.  

Arsenal got things underway when Theo Walcott scored in the 31st minute to hand the Gunners a much-deserved lead. However, just minutes before Arsenal’s opener, Simon Mignolet saved Walcott’s penalty. Arsenal were made to rue their missed opportunities, as Phil Coutinho scored a stunning freekick from 30 yards out to level the scores. After the halftime break, Liverpool raced out of the blocks. In the 49th minute, Adam Lallana handed the Reds a 2-1 lead. Phil Coutinho doubled his tally for the day in the 56th minute. 

However, the best goal of the day belonged to Sadio Mane. The debutant scored a stunning solo goal with his left foot that handed Liverpool a comprehensive 4-1 lead on the day. However, the Gunners didn’t back out, as goals from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Calum Chambers reduced the deficit to just one goal, setting up a grandstand finish. However, Liverpool’s porous rearguard held firm for the remaining 15 minutes to hand the Reds a famous opening day victory. 

5)Manchester United 4 – 0 Chelsea (2019/20) 

The opening day of the 2019/20 season served up an intriguing clash between Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s Manchester United and Frank Lampard’s Chelsea. This was Lampard’s first-ever match incharge of Chelsea, and it couldn’t have gone worse for him. United utterly dismantled a youthful Chelsea side with a dominant 4-0 victory.  

Before the game, former Chelsea and United boss Jose Mourinho predicted that youngsters like Mason Mount, Tammy Abraham and Fikayo Tomori would struggle in the Premier League. And after this game, he would have felt vindicated, as the Chelsea youngsters failed to impress on their Premier League debut. Marcus Rashford opened the scoring for the Red Devils after he converted an 18th minute penalty. Anthony Martial added United’s second in the 65th minute. 

Martial’s goal opened the floodgates, as the Blues looked to reduce their deficit. However, any hopes of a Chelsea comeback were extinguished in the 67th minute when Rashford latched on to a brilliant Paul Pogba long pass and calmly slotted the ball past Kepa for United’s third goal. Debutant Dan James rounded off the scoring, as he scored United’s fourth of the night. Although Lampard, along with Mount, Abraham, and Tomori, had a rough start that night, they would go on to shine throughout the 2019/20 season, ultimately securing a spot in the Champions League. They proved multiple doubters wrong, some of whom were Chelsea fans. 

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