While England played their final match of the World Cup 2026, seven Premier League clubs were in action on Saturday.
Manchester United lost to Wrexham in Helsinki and six teams took part in friendlies in the UK.
Crystal Palace, Everton and Sunderland each won by four goals, with Newcastle and Nottingham Forest also winning comfortably.
Newcomers Coventry City were also in action as the build-up to the 2026/27 season continues for the 20 top-flight teams.
Crystal Palace vs Swindon Town: Franca hat-trick
Brazilian forward Matheus Franca scored a hat-trick inside 27 second-half minutes as Crystal Palace hosted League Two side Swindon Town at the Eagles’ training ground.
Eddie Nketiah scored twice inside the first 21 minutes before Swindon – managed by former Palace boss Ian Holloway – struck a post through Aaron Drinan’s penalty and replied in the 33rd minute courtesy of 21-year-old forward Fletcher Holman.
Franca, 22, then stole the show after the break with a chip, penalty and solo run.
Crystal Palace starting XI: Walter Benitez, Caleb Kporha, George King, Oscar Mingueza, Tyrick Mitchell, Tayo Adaramola, Will Hughes, David Ozoh, Romain Esse, Jesurun Rak-Sakyi, Eddie Nketiah
Palace second-half XI: Remi Matthews, Eyimofe Jemide, Jaydee Canvot, Dean Benamar, Borna Sosa, Rio Cardines, Justin Devenny, Cheick Doucoure, Joel Drakes-Thomas, Brennan Johnson, Matheus Franca
Newcastle vs Darlington: Willock, Osula, Neave goals
Joe Willock’s finish from Jacob Murphy’s cross and William Osula’s penalty put Newcastle 2-0 ahead at half-time in a behind-closed-doors meeting with their National League North neighbours.
Magpies head coach Eddie Howe changed his entire team at the interval, including an introduction for new midfielder Sean Steur.
England youth international Sean Neave, 19, completed the scoring in the 3-0 win with a low strike.
Newcastle United starting XI: Nick Pope, Leo Shahar, Alex Murphy, Sven Botman, Lewis Hall, Jacob Ramsey, Joe Willock, Sean Steur, Jacob Murphy, William Osula, Harvey Barnes
Newcastle United second-half XI: Ewen Jaouen, Mason Miley, Miodrag Pivas, Luke Craggs, Dylan Charlton, Rory Finneran, Anthony Munda, Sean Neave, Trevan Sanusi, Park Seung-soo, Vakhtang Salia
Dundee vs Everton: Beto, Barry bag in big win
Beto struck during the first half and half-time substitute Thierno Barry doubled Everton’s lead as the Toffees secured a 4-0 win at Dundee.
Academy midfielder Harvey Foster, 19, and Dwight McNeil followed suit for David Moyes’ side as part of their week-long training camp in Scotland.
Everton starting XI: Mark Travers, Merlin Röhl, Jake O’Brien, Michael Keane, Adam Aznou, Tim Iroegbunam, Harrison Armstrong, Tyler Dibling, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Tyrique George, Beto
Everton substitutes: Tom King, James Tarkowski, Dwight McNeil, Thierno Barry, Carlos Alcaraz, William Tamen, George Finney, Braiden Graham, Eli Campbell, Malik Olayiwola, Joel Catesby, Harvey Foster
York City vs Sunderland: Le Fee scores twice
After early goals from Enzo Le Fee and Chris Rigg, Timur Tutierov scored the pick of Sunderland’s goals at York by netting from 25 yards before Le Fee added another to make the half-time scoreline 4-0.
Greg Olley replied for the League Two side but Tom Proctor then headed in for the Black Cats, who won 5-1 but lost Leo Hjelde through injury late on.
Sunderland starting XI: Melker Ellborg, Reinildo Mandava, Luke O’Nien, Nordi Mukiele, Trai Hume, Chris Rigg, Alan Browne, Timur Tutierov, Enzo Le Fee, Simon Adingra, Trey Samuel-Ogunsuyi
Sunderland second-half XI: Simon Moore, Aji Alese, Leo Hjelde, Ben Kindon, Jenson Seelt, Jensen Jones, Jaydon Jones, Jack Whittaker, Charlie Dinsdale, Tom Proctor, Thomas Scott, Finn Geragusian
Notts County vs Nottingham Forest: Jesus, Kalimuendo strike
Nottingham Forest claimed a derby win with a 2-0 victory at League One side Notts County in Oliver Glasner’s first match in charge.
Morgan Gibbs-White – scorer of 15 Premier League goals last season – supplied Igor Jesus to hit the opener during the first half, with Arnaud Kalimuendo meeting Dilane Bakwa’s cross to seal victory after the break.
Nottingham Forest starting XI: Matz Sels; Jair Cunha, Nikola Milenkovic, Morato, Ola Aina, Ryan Yates, Neco Williams, Omari Hutchinson, James McAtee, Morgan Gibbs-White, Igor Jesus.
Forest second-half XI: John Victor, Nicolas Domínguez, Taiwo Awoniyi, Arnaud Kalimuendo, Da Silva Moreira, Luca Netz, Zach Abbott Richards, Dilane Bakwa, Tyler Bindon, Zach Abbott, Kyle McDonnell
Forest substitutes: Jimmy Sinclair, Chinaza Nwosu, Jack Thompson
Northampton Town vs Coventry City: Sixfield stalemate
Championship winners Coventry took part in a game of few chances in a 0-0 draw at the Sixfields Stadium against Northampton, who were relegated from the third tier last season.
Sky Blues head coach Frank Lampard made eight changes at half-time, with City appealing for a penalty during the second half and 21-year-old Belgian forward Norman Bassette threatening to break the deadlock for the visitors.
Coventry City starting XI: Ben Wilson, Milan van Ewijk, Bobby Thomas, Callum Perry, Jake Bidwell, Victor Torp, Matt Grimes, Loum Tchaouna, Josh Eccles, Ephron Mason-Clark, Ellis Simms
Coventry substitutes: Oliver Dovin, Jay Dasilva, Tatsuhiro Sakamoto, Liam Kitching, Frank Onyeka, Raphael, Kaine Kesler-Hayden, Joel Latibeaudiere, Jahnoah Markelo, Norman Bassette, Elliot Meredith, Tristen Batanwi, Oscar Varney, Kai Andrews
When does the 2026/27 Premier League season start?
The campaign starts on the weekend of Friday, August 21. You can see the full list of Premier League fixtures in August and September and TV schedule.
