Which team finished top of the early 2026–27 Premier League table after the opening round?

Brighton & Hove Albion finished top of the early 2026–27 Premier League table after the opening round.

Brighton led the table after beating Aston Villa 4–0 at home. Their four-goal margin gave them a goal difference of plus four, the best among the opening-round winners. Arsenal and Brentford also won by three goals, but neither matched Brighton’s advantage.

The result was especially striking because Brighton scored all four goals before half-time. Jack Hinshelwood scored twice, while Maxim De Cuyper added a goal and Aston Villa also conceded an own goal. Brighton therefore led not only on points among the winners but also on goal difference.

The early table should not be confused with the final league standings. After only one round, nine teams had three points, while Newcastle United and Liverpool had one point each from their draw. Brighton’s position was a snapshot of Matchweek 1, not a prediction of the eventual champion. The answer is the club’s full name, Brighton & Hove Albion.