AFCON 2025
Premier League Matchday 4 delivered another reminder of how quickly the landscape can change. Arsenal maintained their perfect start, while Liverpool, Chelsea and Tottenham all dropped points at home.
Elsewhere, the promoted sides continued to show they are capable of competing with the established names.
Here are three of the biggest takeaways from the weekend.
1. Arsenal are setting the early title pace
Arsenal’s 2-0 win away to Sunderland was hardly a classic, but it was another example of their ability to win difficult games.
The Gunners were made to work for the three points at the Stadium of Light, with David Raya forced to save a penalty before Bruno Guimarães and Bukayo Saka eventually settled the contest.
Four games, four wins, eight goals scored and just one conceded. That is the record of a side that has quickly found its rhythm.
While Liverpool, Chelsea and Tottenham all dropped points on home soil, Arsenal travelled to a difficult ground, absorbed pressure and left with a clean sheet and three points. The late Saka penalty was an indication of a team that knows how to find a result even when the performance is far from perfect.
There is still a long way to go, but Arsenal have already established the early standard.
2. The established contenders are already dropping points
Liverpool’s goalless draw with Fulham at Anfield was arguably the most surprising result of Saturday.
Fulham arrived without a point and left with both their first point and first clean sheet of the season. Liverpool, meanwhile, struggled to find a way through a disciplined defence and were held to a draw on home soil.
Chelsea also surrendered points, drawing 2-2 with Hull City at Stamford Bridge. Morgan Rogers opened the scoring early before Mohamed Belloumi struck twice to put Hull ahead. João Pedro eventually rescued a point for the hosts, but Chelsea’s defensive vulnerabilities remain a concern.
Tottenham’s 0-0 draw with Everton completed a difficult afternoon for some of the division’s biggest clubs. Spurs remain without a league win and have yet to score in the competition this season.
Taken together, the results tell a clear story. Liverpool, Chelsea and Tottenham collected just four points from a possible nine at home. At this stage of the season, that may be nothing more than an early warning, but it is a pattern the big clubs will want to correct quickly.
3. The rest of the league are ready to punish mistakes
One of the biggest themes from Matchday 4 was the growing competitiveness outside the traditional top sides.
Hull City remain unbeaten and sit third with eight points from their opening four games. Their performance at Stamford Bridge showed they are more than capable of causing problems for established Premier League opposition.
Ipswich Town also continued their impressive start with a dramatic 3-2 victory away to Crystal Palace. After Palace were reduced to 10 men following Axel Disasi’s dismissal, Ipswich kept pushing and were rewarded when Zian Flemming scored the winner in the 90th minute.
Nottingham Forest produced another late turnaround, beating Aston Villa 2-1. Liam Delap scored his first goal for Forest before Alysson levelled for Villa. Igor Jesus then struck in the 88th minute to secure all three points.
The result leaves Villa with just one point from their opening four matches, while Forest move on to five.
Bournemouth and Brentford also played out an entertaining 2-2 draw, with Kevin Schade scoring twice for the visitors.
The wider message is becoming difficult to ignore: there are very few straightforward games in the Premier League right now.
The table after Matchday 4
Arsenal lead the way with 12 points from four games, followed by Manchester City on nine with a game in hand. Hull City are third on eight, while Chelsea have seven.
Liverpool, Brentford, Everton and Ipswich are all on six points. Tottenham have managed just two points and sit 17th, while Aston Villa and Fulham have one point apiece.
The Manchester derby on Sunday and Leeds United’s meeting with Newcastle United on Monday will provide another opportunity for the table to shift.
But Saturday’s action already offered three clear conclusions: Arsenal are setting the early pace, the established contenders are showing vulnerabilities, and the rest of the league are more than willing to take advantage.
