Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s superb second-half header proved the difference as Everton claimed a 1-0 victory at Tottenham Hotspur.
Richarlison missed Everton’s best chance of the first half when he fired wide from a tight angle while Jordan Pickford saved from Spurs midfielder Dele Alli and debutant Matt Doherty at the other end.
The decisive moment came in the 55th minute, with Calvert-Lewin powerfully meeting Lucas Digne’s free-kick.
Richarlison twice shot wide and Hugo Lloris denied Calvert-Lewin a second as the Toffees looked to double their advantage.
But a single goal was enough to secure Everton’s first league win over Spurs since December 2012 and inflict head coach Spurs Jose Mourinho’s first ever opening-day defeat at the 19th time of asking.
Aleksandar Mitrovic (in white), David Raya (Brentford Goalkeeper) and Rico Henry (in blue)
Brentford and Fulham will go head-to-head for a place in the 2020/21 Premier League when they face each other in the Championship playoff final at 19:45 BST and 21:45 East African Time on Tuesday.
After losing the first leg of their semi-final 1-0 to Swansea City, Brentford triumphed 3-1 in the second leg to set up a Wembley Stadium meeting with Fulham, who overcame Cardiff City 3-2 on aggregate.
The two west-London clubs will aim to join Championship winners Leeds United and runners-up West Bromwich Albion as the other promoted sides.
NEW GROUND FOR BRENTFORD
Promotion would make Brentford the 50th club to feature in the Premier League, and it would end their 73-year absence from the top level of English football.
They would be the first new team in the competition since Brighton & Hove Albion and Huddersfield Town debuted in 2017/18, while they would also bring a new ground to the Premier League, the Brentford Community Stadium, having played their final match at Griffin Park.
The Bees’ head coach is Thomas Frank, who has been in the role since October 2018 when Dean Smith moved to Aston Villa.
BOUNCING STRAIGHT BACK?
Fulham will hope to make it a first-time return to the Premier League, having been relegated in 2018/19 after just one campaign back in the competition.
They first won promotion to the Premier League in 2000/01 and spent 13 consecutive seasons at the highest level, finishing in the top 10 four times prior to their first relegation in 2013/14.
Fulham head coach Scott Parker, who made 368 appearances in the Premier League as a player, took charge at Craven Cottage in February 2019.
Eddie Howe holding the Barclays Manager of the Month award
Eddie Howe has left his position as AFC Bournemouth manager by mutual consent, the club have confirmed.
Howe managed the Cherries for the duration of their five-year stay in the Premier League, which came to an end with relegation on the final day of the 2019/20 campaign last month.
The 42-year-old took charge of more than 450 matches in two spells over more than 10 years, climbing from League Two to the top flight for the first time in their history.
He also surpassed 300 appearances as a player at Vitality Stadium.
“Having spent a total of 25 years with the club as both a player and a manager this decision – made together with the club – is one of the hardest I’ve ever had to make,” Howe told the club’s official website.
“However, although the affection and love I have for this football club will always remain, we collectively feel that now is the right time for the club to go in a new direction.
“Bournemouth will always be in my heart, but I firmly believe that now is the right time for the club to have a change.”
Arsenal Captain Pierre-EmerickAubameyanglifting the FA CUP with his teammates
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang struck twice as Arsenal beat Chelsea 2-1 to win the FA Cup on Saturday, which also earned them a UEFA Europa League place for 2020/21.
Christian Pulisic had put Chelsea in front in the fifth minute, but Aubameyang levelled from the penalty spot near the end of the first half before sublimely lifting in the winner with 23 minutes to go.
It means that Arsenal, who finished eighth in the Premier League, go straight into the UEFA Europa League group stage for 2020/21.
As a result, Tottenham Hotpsur, who ended 2019/20 in sixth position, enter the competition in the second qualifying round, while seventh-placed Wolverhampton Wanderers miss out.
But Wolves could yet go one better and qualify for next season’s UEFA Champions League group stage if they win the 2019/20 UEFA Europa League, and in the process make it eight Premier League clubs in Europe in 2020/21. They are currently in the Round of 16.
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