Maresca's Late Show as Cherki Transforms Flat City
Enzo Maresca launched Manchester City’s post-Pep Guardiola era with late drama and raw relief, while Andoni Iraola’s first night in charge of Liverpool ended with a rescue act from the penalty spot at St James’ Park.
Two new managers. Two chaotic openings. Only one walked away with three points.
Maresca’s late show as Cherki transforms flat City
At the Etihad, City looked nothing like a side ready to follow a decade of Guardiola dominance. Last weekend’s 3-0 defeat to Arsenal in the Community Shield had already stirred doubts. For long spells against Bournemouth, those questions only grew louder.
Marcus Tavernier silenced the stadium in the first half, punishing City’s slack defending to put Bournemouth in front and leave Maresca staring at a nightmare start.
City’s play was ponderous, short on invention in attack and jittery at the back. The champions of old moved the ball with a cutting edge; this version shuffled it without conviction. The crowd grew restless. The clock kept ticking.
Then Maresca rolled the dice.
On came Rayan Cherki, the French playmaker who instantly changed the temperature of the game. He demanded the ball, drifted into pockets of space, and suddenly City had a spark.
The pressure finally told with six minutes left. From a Cherki delivery, Marc Guehi rose and powered home a header to drag City level. The Etihad, anxious for most of the afternoon, erupted with something closer to relief than celebration.
City weren’t done.
Deep into stoppage time, Cherki again provided the touch of class, sliding the ball into a dangerous area. Josko Gvardiol arrived, calm in the chaos, and stroked in the winner. Maresca punched the air. The new era had its first defining moment.
“The impact was unbelievable, he is that kind of player,” Maresca said of Cherki. He admitted he had hesitated over starting the Frenchman, with several players only just back from holidays. In the end, Cherki proved the perfect weapon from the bench.
Guardiola’s reign at City began with a late home win over Sunderland back in 2016 and ended with 20 trophies, including six Premier League titles. Maresca can only dream of matching that haul, but his own story starts with the same nervous, narrow victory.
City were far from convincing. They were, however, resilient enough to escape. On opening day, that was just about enough.
Szoboszlai saves Iraola as Liverpool ride late drama
If Maresca’s night ended with euphoria, Iraola’s debut as Liverpool boss was more of a wild escape.
Liverpool arrive in this season reshaped and unsettled. Arne Slot has gone. Mohamed Salah has departed to Trabzonspor. Above it all, a new investment era has begun, fronted by a consortium led by Jeff Bezos. Iraola stands at the centre of the upheaval.
The first glimpse of his Liverpool was messy.
Newcastle, under new manager Matthais Jaissle, went straight for the soft spots that hurt Liverpool last season. Defensive frailty. Space in transition. A lack of control when games opened up.
Anthony Elanga struck in the first half to put Newcastle ahead, capitalising on those familiar issues. Liverpool responded after the break, Cody Gakpo drawing them level and briefly swinging the momentum.
But Liverpool never truly settled. Joe Willock, without a Premier League goal since 2024, picked his moment to restore Newcastle’s lead, finishing to make it 2-1 and pushing Iraola to the brink of a debut defeat.
Liverpool refused to fold.
Deep into stoppage time, Victor Munoz went down under a challenge from Lewis Hall. The referee pointed to the spot. Jaissle called it “a very soft penalty”, but the decision stood.
With the last kick of the game, Dominik Szoboszlai stepped up and buried the penalty. 2-2. Iraola escaped.
“It’s the result you want, scoring in the last minute. I value that the players never gave up,” Iraola said. He insisted Liverpool had the better chances and lamented their failure to finish attacks in the first half, pointing to the counter-attack threat that punished them.
Encouraging character. Alarming looseness. Liverpool’s new era is off the mark, but the cracks that undermined last season have not disappeared.
Brighton punish weakened Villa in ruthless rout
On the south coast, there was no late drama. Just a ruthless dismantling.
Brighton tore into an under-strength Aston Villa side, running out 4-0 winners and exposing the scale of the European champions’ summer exodus.
Villa arrived at the Amex stripped of key figures and, crucially, without a recognised striker. Transfer speculation continues to swirl around Ollie Watkins, while reports suggest Emiliano Martinez and Watkins could follow Ezri Konsa, Youri Tielemans, Lucas Digne and Morgan Rogers out of the club.
The uncertainty showed.
Victor Lindelof’s own goal handed Brighton the lead, a calamitous moment that summed up Villa’s disarray. Maxim De Cuyper then pounced from close range to make it 2-0 and leave Unai Emery’s side reeling.
Jack Hinshelwood finished the job with a devastating two-minute burst. His quickfire double ripped away any lingering hope of a Villa response and turned a bad afternoon into a humiliation.
Before half-time, it got worse. Joao Gomes, on his league debut for Villa, was sent off to complete a miserable opening day for the Europa League winners.
Brighton walked off with a statement win. Villa trudged away facing hard questions about a squad being stripped for parts.
Three clubs. Three new realities. One opening weekend already hinting at how unforgiving this season might be.
