Hey there, football lovers! Are you still buzzing from the latest round of Premier League action? Well, if you thought last weekend was wild, you were absolutely right! Matchweek 8 results for the Premier League 2025/2026 season brought us jaw-dropping goals, incredible comebacks, and some truly superstar performances. It’s time to talk about the players who lit up the stadiums and are now in the running for the coveted Player of the Matchweek award!
This isn't just about who scored the most goals; it's about who made the biggest impact, who changed the game, and who left us all saying, "Wow!" If you're new to English football, or if you just want to catch up in easy-to-understand English, you’ve come to the right place. Let's dive into the football highlights Matchweek 8 and see who the Premier League top performers were!
Vote for Chelsea’s Best Premier League Assist – Cast Your Choice Now!
Matchweek 8: The Games and the Heroes!
Eight exciting matches gave us eight chances for players to shine. Here’s a quick recap of each game and the key players who made a difference:
Manchester City 3 - 1 Everton- Standout Player: Erling Haaland (Manchester City)
- Recap: The champions continued their winning ways. While Everton fought hard, Haaland was just too much. He scored two goals, showing his incredible finishing power and helping City secure a vital win. His hunger for goals is unmatched!
Chelsea 2 - 2 Nottingham Forest
- Standout Players: Reece James & Pedro Neto (Chelsea)
- Recap: A thrilling draw at Stamford Bridge! Forest pushed Chelsea hard. Reece James was fantastic, scoring a beautiful goal and setting up another, showing why he’s one of the best attacking defenders. New signing Pedro Neto also shone brightly, scoring and assisting, proving he's quickly becoming a key player for Chelsea.
AFC Bournemouth 3 - 3 Crystal Palace
Standout Players: Junior Kroupi (AFC Bournemouth) & Jean-Philippe Mateta (Crystal Palace)
Recap: What a rollercoaster! Palace went 2-0 up, then Bournemouth fought back, and then Palace took the lead again before Bournemouth snatched a late equalizer.
- Youngster Junior Kroupi made his full debut for Bournemouth and scored an amazing two goals, showing incredible talent and fearlessness.
- But the real hero for Palace was Jean-Philippe Mateta, who scored a sensational hat-trick! Three goals from one player in one game – that’s pure magic and exactly why he’s a top nominee!
Manchester United 2 - 1 Liverpool
- Standout Player: Harry Maguire (Manchester United)
- Recap: The biggest derby of the weekend, and it delivered! In a tense and tight battle, United grabbed a famous victory. The hero? Harry Maguire! Not only did he help keep Liverpool’s dangerous attack quiet, but he also scored the dramatic winning goal in the final minutes. A huge moment for him and the club!
Sunderland 2 - 0 Wolves
- Standout Player: Nordi Mukiele (Sunderland)
- Recap: Sunderland secured a comfortable home win. Nordi Mukiele was a rock at the back and also got on the scoresheet with a goal. A dominant performance that showed his strength in defense and attack.
Fulham 0 - 1 Arsenal
- Standout Player: Bukayo Saka (Arsenal)
- Recap: A tough London derby, but Arsenal found a way to win. While the score was close, Bukayo Saka was everywhere! He constantly caused problems for Fulham’s defense, created chances, and was always involved in Arsenal’s best attacking moves. A tireless and inspiring performance.
Brighton & Hove Albion 1 - 0 Brentford
- Standout Player: Pascal Groß (Brighton)
- Recap: A hard-fought game where Brighton managed to get the only goal. Groß controlled the midfield and created the winner, showing his importance to the team.
West Ham United 2 - 0 Aston Villa
- Standout Player: Jarrod Bowen (West Ham)
- Recap: West Ham got a solid victory at home. Jarrod Bowen was lively, scoring one goal and proving to be a constant threat with his pace and finishing.
The Stars and Their Stats: Why They're Nominated!
The Player of the Matchweek 8 shortlist is packed with talent, and it’s easy to see why. Let's look at some key stats for our top contenders:
Slot vs Amorim: Tactical Battle That Defined the Derby
- Jean-Philippe Mateta (Crystal Palace): 3 Goals – A hat-trick is the ultimate individual performance in football! He almost single-handedly rescued a point for his team.
- Erling Haaland (Manchester City): 2 Goals – Another day, another brace for the goal machine. His consistency is incredible.
- Junior Kroupi (AFC Bournemouth): 2 Goals – A young player making a massive impact on his full debut. This is a sign of a future star!
- Reece James (Chelsea): 1 Goal, 1 Assist – Showing his attacking flair from defense, he was a creative force for Chelsea.
- Pedro Neto (Chelsea): 1 Goal, 1 Assist – Another fantastic all-round performance, combining scoring with setting up teammates.
- Harry Maguire (Manchester United): 1 Goal – Not just any goal, but a late winner against fierce rivals Liverpool! His defensive effort was also crucial.
- Nordi Mukiele (Sunderland): 1 Goal, Strong Defensive Performance – A great example of a defender contributing at both ends of the pitch.
- Bukayo Saka (Arsenal): High Chance Creation, Dribbles, Duels Won – While he didn't get a goal or assist this week, his constant threat and work rate were undeniable, driving Arsenal forward.
Have Your Say! Fan Voting Premier League!
This is where YOU come in! The Premier League loves to hear from its fans, and that's why they open up the voting for Player of the Matchweek. You get to decide who won Player of the Week EPL!
To cast your vote, you usually need to visit the official Premier League website or use their official app. Look for the "Vote for Player of the Matchweek" section. It's super easy to do!
Voting usually closes a few days after the matches, so make sure you get your choice in quickly!
Your Turn! Who Was Your Star?
What a weekend of football! From Mateta's hat-trick to Maguire's heroics, there were so many incredible moments.
Liverpool 1-2 Man United: Maguire’s Last-Minute Winner Stuns Anfield
So, who gets your vote for Player of the Matchweek 8? Was it the goal-scoring machine Erling Haaland? The defensive hero Harry Maguire? Or the young talent Junior Kroupi?
Tell me in the comments below who you think deserves the award and why! I love hearing your opinions and predictions! And don't forget to check back next week for all the Matchweek 9 highlights and analysis for the Premier League 2025/2026 season. The excitement never stops!