Was Man Utd 4-4 Bournemouth the BEST MATCH of 2025/26 so far?

Despite being less than halfway through the season, we have already been treated to a host of brilliant matches, packed with goals and plenty of drama throughout.

Here we look back at some of the best of 2025/26 so far, starting with Monday night's eight-goal thriller between Manchester United and AFC Bournemouth.

But was it the standout match of the Premier League season so far? You can vote to have YOUR say on which you think is the best.

Watch the best matches of the 2025/26 season so far

Manchester United 4-4 AFC Bournemouth, 15 Dec

One of the most entertaining draws in recent history took place at Old Trafford 10 days before Christmas Day. The match featured eight different goalscorers, two sensational free-kicks and brilliant quickfire goals. Neither team were able to take control of the match, with both sides taking the lead at various points. 

The first half saw three goals scored, with Man Utd going ahead on the stroke of half-time thanks to a Casemiro header. In the opening 45 minutes, United produced the second-highest non-penalty Expected Goal value of 2.49, most shots (17) and joint-most touches in the opposition’s box (30) of any side in the Premier League this season.

An incredible opening 45 minutes was followed by an even better second half that burst into life early on. Evanilson netted 38 after the break, then Marcus Tavernier gave Bournemouth the lead by whipping a free-kick past goalkeeper Senne Lammens. 

To highlight the explosive nature of the second half, Bruno Fernandes stepped up to equalise with a free-kick of his own, Matheus Cunha was on hand to make it 4-3, but the Cherries' rising star Junior Kroupi came on to add another twist to the spectacle. 

Watch: Highlights of Man Utd 4-4 Bournemouth

Leeds United 3-3 Liverpool, 6 Dec

Another late kick-off that brought late drama as there were six goals scored in the second half between Leeds and Liverpool.

After Hugo Ekitike gave Liverpool a two-goal lead, Leeds produced their first comeback of the evening when Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Anton Stach scored twice in the space of two minutes to wipe out the Reds' lead.

Even when Dominik Szoboszlai restored the Reds' advantage in the 80th minute, Daniel Farke's side showed magnificent heart, determination and grit as they refused to throw in the towel.

Midfielder Ao Tanaka sent Elland Road into bedlam when he equalised six minutes into second-half stoppage time, just days after defeating Chelsea 3-1 at home as Leeds produced an incredible draw against the defending champions.

Watch: Highlights of Leeds 3-3 Liverpool

Brighton & Hove Albion 3-4 Aston Villa, 3 Dec

Aston Villa were backed into a corner early in the first half after conceding twice in the opening 29 minutes, but instead of licking their wounds, forward Ollie Watkins stood tall by scoring twice to complete the comeback. 

The match was evenly poised at the break, still, Unai Emery's side entered the second half like a team possessed. It was wave after wave of pressure from the away side, before Amadou Onana and Donyell Malen opened the floodgates by scoring twice from two well crafted set-piece routines. 

Brighton defender Jan Paul van Hecke offered his side a glimpse of hope when he netted late on, however, Villa held firm as victors of the seven-goal thriller.

Watch: Highlights of Brighton 3-4 Villa

Fulham 4-5 Manchester City, 2 Dec

On a night where Erling Haaland made history by becoming the fastest player to score 100 Premier League goals, Fulham's never-say-die attitude made this a dramatic and memorable match. 

Manchester City’s 5-4 defeat of Fulham at Craven Cottage was the 32nd match in Premier League history to see nine or more goals scored, and the first since Tottenham Hotspur 3-6 Liverpool in December 2024.

Man City were leading 3-1 at the end of the first half before increasing their lead by two goals after the break. However, Marco Silva's side turned up the intensity as Alex Iwobi crashed in from distance to make it 5-2. 

It could've been looked at as just another consolation goal, except substitute Samuel Chukwueze had other ideas, scoring twice in six minutes as the Fulham faithful roared their side on in hopes of an equaliser. 

Indeed, at the death, Fulham came close but were denied a dramatic comeback when Josko Gvardiol hooked Josh King’s goalbound effort off the line. 

Watch: Highlights of Fulham 4-5 Man City

Man City 3-2 Leeds, 29 Nov

Two goals down at the Etihad Stadium and looking for a result is already a tough task for any team in the Premier League, let alone promoted side Leeds.

A quickfire double from Phil Foden and Gvardiol set up what looked to be a routine win for Pep Guardiola's side. However, Calvert-Lewin's half-time introduction changed the game as Leeds pulled one goal back. Shortly after, former City player Lukas Nmecha followed up his missed penalty to level the score on what looked to be a magical away day. 

But Leeds were eventually left heartbroken as Foden's strike whistled past goalkeeper Lucas Perri in the first minute of second-half stoppage time to seal Man City's win. 

Crystal Palace 3-3 AFC Bournemouth, 18 Oct

It was the game that had everything: A teenager announcing himself on the Premier League stage with two goals, VAR drama, a disallowed goal, a penalty, an equaliser in the seventh minute of stoppage time and a glaring miss by Crystal Palace’s hat-trick hero, Jean-Philippe Mateta, two minutes later.

Fitting then that this most pulsating of games finally ended honours even between the teams who have so far proved to be the season’s surprise packages, and whose managers have drawn plenty of admiring glances.

Bournemouth had raced into a 2-0 half-time lead thanks to a brace from 19-year-old Eli Kroupi, who was starting his first Premier League match.

But Palace are unbeaten at Selhurst Park since April and they came storming back thanks to two goals in five minutes from Mateta.

Ryan Christie thought he had won it for Andoni Iraola’s side when he swept in Bournemouth’s third on 89 minutes before Mateta sealed his hat-trick deep into stoppage time.

The drama wasn’t over, though, as Mateta missed the simplest of chances two minutes later after Daniel Munoz had raced down the right and teed him up perfectly.

Crystal Palace 2-1 Liverpool, 27 Sep

Selhurst Park was again the setting for the visit of the Premier League champions and the Eagles soared into a ninth-minute lead when Ismaila Sarr scored from close range.

Ryan Gravenberch was prevented from equalising when his fierce low shot was brilliantly tipped on to a post by Dean Henderson.

The pendulum then swung back the other way and Adam Wharton teed up Mateta, who curled a shot against the angle of post and crossbar for Oliver Glasner’s side.

Federico Chiesa bundled in what looked to be a precious equaliser three minutes from the end of normal time for Arne Slot’s men after Alisson had made a string of saves to keep Liverpool in touch.

Then, in the seventh minute of stoppage time, Eddie Nketiah smashed in a dramatic winner at the far post for Palace, after the ball eventually dropped to him from Jefferson Lerma’s long throw.

To make the tension even more unbearable, Palace were forced to endure a lengthy VAR check before Nketiah was eventually adjudged to have been onside.

Newcastle 1-2 Arsenal, 28 Sep

St James’ Park was this time the scene of late drama as Gabriel pounced in the sixth minute of second half stoppage-time to give Arsenal all three points.

The scene was set for a tetchy encounter when Nick Pope was initially deemed to have brought down Viktor Gyokeres for a penalty, before Jarred Gillett consulted the pitchside monitor and announced to the stadium that that Pope "played the ball and that there was no foul".

Newcastle United then led before half-time when Nick Woltemade powerfully headed in Sandro Tonali’s cross, to make Mikel Arteta’s blood pressure rise still further.

Mikel Merino equalised brilliantly six minutes from time as his header flicked in off the far post following Declan Rice’s swirling delivery.

But Gabriel then performed the sweetest of encores as the set-piece specialists claimed victory when the Brazilian defender headed in Martin Odegaard’s corner to stun the home crowd.

Newcastle 2-3 Liverpool, 25 Aug

Like Selhurst Park, St James’ Park has seen plenty of entertainment so far this season, and it began long before kick-off in this fixture, with Liverpool then in the midst of a protracted pursuit of Newcastle’s star striker Alexander Isak.

Eddie Howe’s side endured late heartbreak in this one too, with the then 16-year-old Rio Ngumoha (now 17) eventually scoring the winner in the 10th minute of second-half stoppage time.

Slot will have been furious to see his players let slip a two-goal lead given to them by Gravenberch and Hugo Ekitike, especially as Newcastle had been reduced to 10 men when Anthony Gordon was sent off in first-half stoppage time.

The atmosphere was electric as Howe’s side stormed back in the second half, restoring parity through Bruno Guimaraes and William Osula, who equalised in the 88th minute.

But there was a cruel sting in the tail when Dominik Szoboszlai’s brilliant dummy saw the ball arrive with Ngumoha at the far post, and he made no mistake.

Chelsea 2-1 Liverpool, 4 Oct

Enzo Maresca couldn’t contain his excitement after seeing 18-year-old winger Estevao Willian come off the bench and seal a crucial victory against the Premier League champions at Stamford Bridge.

Maresca was sent off and later fined for his overexuberant celebrations after Estevao struck the winning goal in the fifth minute of second-half stoppage time for the home side.

The night began with an unstoppable shot into the top corner by Moises Caicedo, a lead which Chelsea held until deep into the second half.

It was cancelled out when Cody Gakpo scored from close range after Isak had helped on Szoboszlai’s cross.

The game pivoted on the second-half substitution of Estevao, who soon set up a great chance which Enzo Fernandez failed to convert at the far post.

But there was to be one last chance for Chelsea, and Estevao took it when he stole in at the far post to convert Marc Cucurella’s low cross and condemn Liverpool to a third straight defeat.

Man Utd 3-2 Burnley, 30 Aug

Under pressure Man Utd head coach Ruben Amorim breathed a huge sigh of relief, but was unable to watch as his captain, Fernandes, scored a penalty in the seventh minute of second-half stoppage time to edge the Red Devils to victory against Burnley at Old Trafford.   

United led in the 27th minute when Casemiro’s header cannoned against the crossbar and in off Burnley’s Josh Cullen.

The Clarets equalised 10 minutes after half-time when Lyle Foster acrobatically turned in Jacob Bruun Larsen’s cross before Bryan Mbuemo became the first United player to score in the league this season as he restored their lead two minutes later.

Burnley equalised for a second time when Kyle Walker’s long throw caused panic among the United defence, who hesitated to allow Jaidon Anthony to score at the far post.

But Anthony’s afternoon turned into a miserable one as he grabbed Amad’s shirt when the United winger raced into the right-hand side of the penalty area.

Although referee Sam Barrott initially waved away the penalty claims, a VAR review eventually led to a spot-kick being awarded.

Despite missing at Fulham six days earlier, Fernandes took a deep breath and kept his cool, finding the bottom corner.

Sunderland 2-1 Brentford, 30 Aug

Sunderland continued their impressive start to life back in the Premier League with a tense victory over Brentford, thanks to Wilson Isidor’s winner in the sixth minute of second-half stoppage time.

The Stadium of Light was euphoric when Robin Roefs saved Kevin Schade’s tame penalty just before the hour mark.

But 13 minutes from time it looked like it would be Keith Andrews’ side who would come away with a victory as Igor Thiago headed past Roefs from Frank Onyeka’s cross.

But five minutes later, Anthony Taylor awarded Sunderland a penalty after Rico Henry was adjudged to have pulled Habib Diarra to the ground at a corner.

Enzo Le Fee succeeded where Schade had failed and Regis Le Bris’ side were level.

Former Roma midfielder Le Fee then had a hand in the Black Cats’ dramatic winner, finding Granit Xhaka, whose cross was emphatically headed in at the near post by Isidor.