Arsenal vs Coventry City
Referee: Thomas Bramall
Video Assistant Referee: Jarred Gillett
Assistant Referee 1: Gary Beswick
Assistant Referee 2: Matt Wilkes
Fourth Official: Adam Herczeg
Assistant VAR Official: Neil Davies
"It took until the 28th minute for Thomas Bramall to brandish the first yellow card of the season, Coventry City’s Caleb Yirenkyi losing his footing in a shoulder-to-shoulder battle with Myles Lewis-Skelly, before the Coventry player showed signs of frustration and dragged his opponent back.
"It was the correct decision by the referee, who, up until then, had been able to adopt a low-key approach with minimal interference.
"Just seven minutes later, the Sky Blues' Ellis Simms beat Arsenal's Gabriel on the edge of the penalty area, and the Brazilian tugged him back to earn himself a deserved yellow card.
"A very quick review by VAR (Jarred Gillett at Stockley Park) to check for a possible handball determined that there should be no penalty kick, which was another correct decision made on the day by a group of officials who can be very satisfied with their start to the season."
Brentford vs Spurs
Referee: Michael Oliver
Video Assistant Referee: John Brooks
Assistant Referee 1: James Mainwaring
Assistant Referee 2: Blake Antrobus
Fourth Official: Samuel Barrott
Assistant VAR Official: Gary Beswick
"Not too much to report from the game at the Gtech Community Stadium, with referee Michael Oliver high on confidence after his participation at the World Cup.
"There was little for him to do, other than rightly awarding a penalty kick for a pushing offence. He was ideally positioned and, with no hesitation, pointed to the spot.
"A top-class performance."
Hull City vs Manchester United
Referee: Darren England
Video Assistant Referee: Michael Salisbury
Assistant Referee 1: Scott Ledger
Assistant Referee 2: Akil Howson
Fourth Official: Chris Kavanagh
Assistant VAR Official: Paul Howard
"Another game in which the official, on this occasion Darren England, delivered a good performance in a game that was easy to manage, with the players behaving well throughout."
Ipswich Town vs Sunderland
Referee: Farai Hallam
Video Assistant Referee: Nicholas Hopton
Assistant Referee 1: Adrian Holmes
Assistant Referee 2: Simon Long
Fourth Official: Andy Madley
Assistant VAR Official: Wade Smith
"Referee Farai Hallam, who is not long into his Premier League career, again demonstrated that he has a long career ahead of him.
"Very fit and mobile, he took up excellent viewing positions in good proximity to play, and barely put a foot wrong. Definitely one to watch in the future."
Everton vs Crystal Palace
Referee: Paul Tierney
Video Assistant Referee: Timothy Wood
Assistant Referee 1: Richard West
Assistant Referee 2: Mark Stevens
Fourth Official: Josh Smith
Assistant VAR Official: Adam Nunn
"Prime Minister Andy Burnham, a long-standing Everton fan, was in attendance at a game in which Palace were lucky to escape a penalty kick after a foul in the area.
"A correct offside flag saved the Eagles, with the decision-making from both assistants and referee Paul Tierney first-class on the day.
"This was an excellent performance from Tierney, one of the senior EPL referees on the circuit."
Nottingham Forest vs Leeds United
Referee: Robert Jones
Video Assistant Referee: Craig Pawson
Assistant Referee 1: Nick Greenhalgh
Assistant Referee 2: Alistair Nelson
Fourth Official: Gavin Ward
Assistant VAR Official: Ian Hussin
"Ola Aina was shown a yellow card for a reckless challenge in the 18th minute, the Forest player fortunately keeping his leading foot low, and the official therefore correct in producing a yellow.
"Referee Jones delivered a performance with a good standard of decision-making throughout, including being in the right position to detect that reckless challenge.
"Leeds United's Harry Wilson will feel aggrieved that his goal was chalked off, though the offside decision was the correct one."
Manchester City vs Bournemouth
Referee: Jarred Gillett
Video Assistant Referee: Paul Howard
Assistant Referee 1: Neil Davies
Assistant Referee 2: Steven Meredith
Fourth Official: Robert Jones
Assistant VAR Official: Blake Antrobus
"Evanilson really should have received a yellow card for charging his opponent in the back, referee Gillett taking a lenient approach, which he didn't do when the number nine made a reckless challenge in first-half stoppage time.
"Phil Foden's yellow card in the 78th minute was also the correct decision from the official, as was the one handed to Antonio Silva for dissent.
"Josko Gvardiol's goal looked to have been ruled out by the assistant's flag, but a VAR check and the semi-automated system clearly showed that the Croatian was onside and the goal stood.
"Referee Gillett judged his involvement in the game well. He adopted a low-key approach, showing a willingness to communicate with players and, rather than brandish cards to assert his authority, he showed a degree of tolerance.
"A good start to the season for him."
Brighton vs Aston Villa
Referee: Peter Bankes
Video Assistant Referee: Matt Donohue
Assistant Referee 1: Ian Hussin
Assistant Referee 2: Wade Smith
Fourth Official: Michael Salisbury
Assistant VAR Official: Craig Taylor
"Peter Bankes certainly had his work cut out in the early stages of this game, correctly showing three yellow cards between the ninth and 11th minutes for Brighton's Pascal Gross and Yasin Ayari, along with Aston Villa's Joao Gomes.
"Villa's John McGinn was the next to go in the book just after the half hour, in what was a feisty encounter, and this was followed by a red card for Gomes for violent conduct, after he kicked out with a high boot to the chest area of his opponent.
"The second half was much less intense both from a playing and officiating perspective, with a 95th-minute yellow for Matty Cash (reckless challenge), the only time referee Bankes had to reach for a card after the break.
"The official kept a firm grip on proceedings, and that approach, particularly in the first half, ensured that he was always in control of this one."
Newcastle United vs Liverpool
Referee: Stuart Attwell
Video Assistant Referee: James Bell
Assistant Referee 1: Constantine Hatzidakis
Assistant Referee 2: Lee Betts
Fourth Official: Tony Harrington
Assistant VAR Official: Edward Smart
"Wow, what an atmosphere at St. James' Park. The pre-match recognition of the late Kevin Keegan by the supporters of both teams was terrific. I add my condolences for a player I officiated on many occasions, with our paths also crossing when he went into management. A legend.
"The first yellow card of the match didn't arrive until the 25th minute, Newcastle's Yoane Wissa penalised for a pull-back that stopped a promising attack. The correct decision by referee Attwell.
"Prior to half-time, and largely as a result of showing that first yellow, the official was left with little choice other than to card Milos Kerkez and Lewis Miley for reckless challenges, and Jeremy Frimpong for a clear holding offence (unsporting behaviour).
"After the break, Attwell continued to officiate really well, though a yellow card for Jacob Ramsey in the 65th minute, in the context of this match and the laws of the game, was harsh, and the incident could've been managed verbally.
"A 79th-minute yellow card for Jacob Murphy and an 89th-minute advantage played were both terrific decisions, whilst the bookings for both Virgil van Dijk and Lukas Hornicek were also correct."
How were the new laws interpreted on opening weekend?
"The opening games of the new season of the English Premier League got off to a good start.
"The new laws introduced to assist the positive flow of the game have worked extremely well, and it is hoped that referees will continue to ensure that they remain that way throughout the season.
"When the substitution boards were raised, we witnessed the swift exchange of players.
"Throw-ins and goal kicks with the five-second countdown applied have resulted in a positive response from the player in possession of the ball.
"Failure to meet the five-second throw-in timing will result in the throw-in being awarded to the opposition, and where the goal kick exceeds the five-second countdown by the referee, it will result in the award of a corner kick to the opposition.
"Over the weekend, I haven't witnessed the goalkeepers go down feigning injury to allow for a communication of a change of tactics by the offending team, and that can only be a positive."
Jason Pettigrove has been the features writer for Flashscore since 2025, utilising Opta data to form the basis of his articles. He has previously worked for high profile football clubs, news and media outlets, both in print and digital, and can usually be found watching FC Barcelona when time permits. You can read more of his pieces here.
