While England played their final match of the 2026 World Cup, seven Premier League clubs were in action on Saturday.
Manchester United lost to Wrexham in Helsinki and six teams participated in friendlies in the United Kingdom.
Crystal Palace, Everton and Sunderland each won by four goals, and Newcastle and Nottingham Forest also won easily.
Newcomers Coventry City have also been active as the build-up to the 2026/27 season continues for the 20 top flight sides.
Crystal Palace vs Swindon Town: Franca hat-trick
Brazilian striker Matthews Franca He scored a hat-trick 27 minutes into the second half as Crystal Palace hosted League Two side Swindon Town at the Eagles’ training ground.
Eddie Nketiah scored twice in the first 21 minutes before Swindon – coached by former Palace boss Ian Holloway – hit the post from an Aaron Drennan penalty kick in the 33rd minute thanks to 21-year-old striker Fletcher Holman.
Then Franca (22 years old) stole the show after the break with a powerful shot, a penalty kick, and a solo run.
Crystal Palace starting lineup: Walter Benitez, Caleb Kburha, George King, Oscar Mingueza, Tyreek Mitchell, Taiwo Adaramola, Will Hughes, David Uzoh, Roman Essie, Jessurun Rak Saki, Eddie Nketiah.
Short second half eleven: Remy Matthews, Emov Gemede, Jayde Canfoot, Dean Pinamar, Burna Sosa, Rio Cardens, Justin Deveney, Chic Doucoure, Joel Drakes-Thomas, Brennan Johnson, Matthews Franca
Newcastle vs Darlington: goals from Willock, Osula, Navy
Joe Willock’s Jacob Murphy cross and William Osula’s penalty put Newcastle 2-0 ahead at half-time in a behind-closed-doors encounter with their National League North neighbours.
Magpies head coach Eddie Howe has completely changed his squad in the intervening period, including the introduction of new midfielder Sean Steur.
England youth international Shaun Neave, 19, completed the scoring in the 3-0 win with a low shot.
Newcastle United starting lineup: Nick Pope, Leo Shahar, Alex Murphy, Sven Putman, Lewis Hall, Jacob Ramsey, Joe Willock, Sean Storr, Jacob Murphy, William Osula, Harvey Barnes
Newcastle United lineup in the second half: Eoin Gawain, Mason Miley, Miodrag Bevas, Luke Craggs, Dylan Charlton, Rory Finneran, Anthony Monda, Shaun Neave, Tryvan Sanusi, Park Seung-soo, Vakhtang Salia
Dundee vs Everton: Beto and Barry get a big win
Beto struck during the first half and substitute Thierno Barry doubled Everton’s lead as the Toffees sealed a 4-0 win over Dundee.
Academy midfielder Harvey Foster, 19, and Dwight McNeil followed the lead of David Moyes’ side as part of their week-long training camp in Scotland.
Everton starting lineup: Mark Travers, Merlyn Ruhl, Jake O’Brien, Michael Caine, Adam Azno, Tim Erugbunam, Harrison Armstrong, Tyler Debling, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Tyreek George, Beto
Everton substitutes: Tom King, James Tarkowski, Dwight MacNeil, Thierno Barry, Carlos Alcaraz, William Tammin, George Finney, Brayden Graham, Ellie Campbell, Malik Oliola, Joel Catesby, Harvey Foster.
York City vs Sunderland: Le Vie scores two goals
After early goals from Enzo Le Vie and Chris Rigg, Timur Totirov netted Sunderland’s set at York from 25 yards before Le Vie added another to make it 4-0 at half-time.
Greg Ollie hit back for the League Two side but Tom Proctor headed home for the Black Cats, who won 5-1 but lost Leo Hjelde to injury late on.
Sunderland starting lineup: Melker Elborg, Reyneldo Mandava, Luke Onyen, Nordi Mukele, Trey Hume, Chris Rigg, Alan Brown, Timur Toterov, Enzo Lo Ve, Simon Adingra, Trey Samuel Ogunsoye.
Sunderland second half eleven: Simon Moore, Aggie Allis, Leo Hilde, Ben Kendon, Jensen Sylt, Jensen Jones, Jaydon Jones, Jack Whittaker, Charlie Dinsdale, Tom Proctor, Thomas Scott, Finn Giragosian
Notts County vs Nottingham Forest: Goal by Jesus, Kalimuiendo
Nottingham Forest secured a derby win with a 2-0 win over League One side Notts County in manager Oliver Glasner’s first match.
Morgan Gibbs-White – who scored 15 goals in the Premier League last season – passed Igor Jesus to score the first goal during the first half, with Arnaud Kalimuendo meeting Dylan Pacua’s cross to seal the win after the break.
Nottingham Forest starting lineup: Matz sales; Jair Cunha, Nikola Milinkovic, Morato, Ola Aina, Ryan Yates, Neco Williams, Omari Hutchinson, James McAtee, Morgan Gibbs-White, Igor Jesus.
Forest second half eleven: John Victor, Nicolas Dominguez, Taiwo Awonyi, Arnaud Kalimuendo, Da Silva Moreira, Luca Netz, Zach Abbott Richards, Dylan Pacua, Tyler Bindon, Zach Abbott, Kyle McDonnell.
Forest alternatives: Jimmy Sinclair, Chinaza Nwosu, Jack Thompson
Northampton Town vs Coventry City: goalless draw at Sixfield
Championship winners Coventry He participated in a match with few chances during a 0-0 draw at Sixfields Stadium against Northampton, who were relegated from the third division last season.
Sky Blues coach Frank Lampard made eight changes in the first half, with City claiming a penalty during the second half and 21-year-old Belgian striker Norman Bassett threatening to break the deadlock for the visitors.
Coventry City starting lineup: Ben Wilson, Milan van Ewijk, Bobby Thomas, Callum Perry, Jake Bidwill, Victor Torp, Matt Grimes, Lum Chauna, Josh Eccles, Efron Mason-Clarke, Ellis Sims
Coventry alternatives: Oliver Dauphin, Guy DaSilva, Tatsuhiro Sakamoto, Liam Kitching, Frank Onika, Raphael, Ken Kessler-Hayden, Joel Latibaudère, Jahanoah Marcello, Norman Bassett, Elliot Meredith, Tristen Pattani, Oscar Varney, Kay Andrews
When does the 2026/27 Premier League season start?
The campaign begins on the weekend of Friday, August 21. You can see the full list of English Premier League matches in August and September and the TV broadcast schedule.
