The opening weekend of the 2025/26 Premier League season is complete, ending with Leeds’ 1-0 win over Everton on Monday Night Football.
It was a mixed weekend for Eddie Howe’s Newcastle, as we performed well but left wondering if we dropped two points after controlling much of the game in a 0-0 draw at Aston Villa.
Elsewhere, Sunderland saw off West Ham 3-0 to kick off their return to the top flight in style, while Arsenal, Man City and Liverpool all opened the campaign with wins.
But who impressed Alan Shearer over the first gameweek of the season? One Mag features in his team of the week, which features three Mackems, on ex-Mag and a trio of former Toon targets.
Dan Burn has made Alan Shearer’s Premier League team of the week after his commanding display at Villa Park.
The big man from Blyth got the nod ahead of Sven Botman and looked every bit an England international, dominating Ollie Watkins, winning his duels and staying alert throughout; both on and off the ball.
Commenting on his selection, Shearer said: “Solid as a rock in defence. He won every challenge and every header to frustrate Villa.”
Fabian Schar and Sandro Tonali were also standouts, but we agree with big Al, giving Burn our highest rating in our player ratings piece.
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Shearer put rivalries aside and picked three Sunderland stars in his XI, naming centre-back Dan Ballard, midfielder Habib Diarra and Mackems boss Regis Le Bris after their 3-0 win on Saturday over Graham Potter’s Hammers.
Chris Wood also made the XI after he followed a prolific 2024/25 with two goals in Nottingham Forest’s 3-1 win over Brentford on Sunday, which featured another stellar display from Geordie sensation Elliot Anderson, who is unlucky to miss out.
Three other former targets feature in Shearer’s star 11, with Marc Guehi (clean sheet at Chelsea), Antoine Semenyo (two goals at Liverpool) and Mohamed Kudus (two assists against Burnley) also selected.