The fifth round of the English Premier League, season 2025/26 provided action packed with drama, from early red cards and late goals, to surprise setbacks for some big sides and hard-fought wins that could shape momentum going forward.
At the end of it all, Liverpool extended their lead at the top to five points already with just a few weeks into the season. Will they walk to the title again? Here is a review of the weekend's action across all ten matches played.
Arsenal 1–1 Manchester City
The biggest game of the weekend lived up to the hype with late drama. Manchester City struck first when Erling Haaland finished calmly to put City ahead in the 9th minute. For much of the match, it looked like Pep Guardiola’s men would walk away with all three points. But Arsenal, backed by a roaring home crowd, kept pushing. Their patience paid off in stoppage time when Gabriel Martinelli, scored a clever goal to level the score. The draw showed once again Arsenal’s fighting spirit and reminded City that it's not over until it's over.
Aston Villa 1–1 Sunderland
Aston Villa’s crisis deepened despite finally ending their scoring drought. Matty Cash broke the deadlock to hand Unai Emery’s men their first goal this season and an early lead. With Sunderland reduced to ten men, it seemed Villa’s first win was certain. Instead, Wilson Isidor struck back for Sunderland, leaving Villa fans frustrated once again. The draw keeps Villa winless, and questions are now growing about whether Unai Emery can steady the ship.
Brighton 2–2 Tottenham
On the South Coast, Brighton and Tottenham shared an entertaining 2-2 draw. Brighton’s attacking play saw them take the lead twice with strikes from Yankuba Minteh and Yasin Ayari, but Spurs showed determination to fight back on both occasions with goals from Richarlison and an own goal from Van Hecke. Thomas Frank praised his team’s effort but admitted that defensive lapses are becoming a problem.
Wolves 1–3 Leeds United
At Molineux, Leeds finally found their spark in front of goal. They pressed high, moved the ball quickly, and took their chances, running out winners against Wolves with goals from Calvert-Lewin, Anton Stach and Noah Okafor. The victory ended Leeds’ scoring drought and gave their supporters something to cheer about. Wolves, however, were poor at the back and left the pitch to boos from unhappy fans. For Leeds, the result could be the lift they needed to turn their season around.
Crystal Palace 2–1 West Ham
Crystal Palace added more misery to West Ham’s poor run with a win at Selhurst Park. Palace looked sharper and more organised, with Jean-Philippe Mateta and Tyrick Mitchell striking at key moments to secure all the three points. West Ham, by contrast, lacked rhythm and looked short of confidence with Jarrod Bowen scoring their sole goal at the 49th minute. Their struggles are becoming a growing concern, while Palace’s steady progress continues to impress.
Burnley 1–1 Nottingham Forest
Burnley and Nottingham Forest could not be separated at Turf Moor, as the game ended in a 1-1 draw. Burnley dominated possession but failed to make it count, while Forest are still searching for their first win under new management. Both sides walked away disappointed, knowing it was a chance missed to climb the table.
Liverpool 2–1 Everton
Liverpool kept their perfect start going with a tight win in the Merseyside derby. They struck early thanks to a goal from Ryan Gravenberch, followed by Hugo Ekitike doubling their lead before halftime. Everton pulled one back in the second half through Idrissa Gueye, but the home side held on despite late pressure. The win showed Liverpool’s ability to stay calm under pressure. Everton, though, can take heart from their fightback, even if it wasn’t enough.
Fulham 3–1 Brentford
Fulham had a strong day at home, beating Brentford 3–1. They played with confidence and took their chances with strikes from Alex Iwobi, Harry Wilson and an own goal from Ethan Pinnock. The result gives Fulham momentum, especially in front of their own crowd. Brentford, despite effort, couldn’t match the intensity or sharpness required to keep up.
Manchester United 2–1 Chelsea
Manchester United secured a 2–1 win over Chelsea in a tense clash at Old Trafford. The drama began early as Chelsea's goalkeeper Robert Sánchez was sent off in the 5th minute, handing United the advantage. Bruno Fernandes marked his 100th goal for the club before Casemiro doubled the lead with a header. Just before halftime, Casemiro was also dismissed, leaving both teams with ten men. Chelsea pushed in the second half and Trevoh Chalobah pulled one back, but United stayed solid to claim a vital win that lifts some pressure off Ruben Amorim, while Chelsea were left frustrated once again.
Newcastle 0-0 Bournemouth
Newcastle were held to a 0–0 draw with Bournemouth in a quiet game with very few clear chances. Eddie Howe’s side kept another clean sheet but again struggled to trouble the opposition, while Bournemouth defended tightly and nearly nicked it late. Howe was left frustrated after seeing Nick Woltemade denied what he called a clear penalty and Nick Pope made a couple of important saves to preserve the point.
