The Premier League is again and we have been spoiled to some nice opening weekend fixtures to kick the brand new season off.
Arsenal managed to outlast Crystal Palace within the battle between two groups with the nicest kits, Liverpool have been held by a resilient Fulham and Manchester United’s banter period simply retains on chugging.
This is 90min’s group of the week for gameweek 1.
After a nervy second the place he practically booted a protracted ball off a Crystal Palace physique and into his personal web, Aaron Ramsdale regained his composure and pulled off a string of good saves to maintain the Eagles at bay.
The England worldwide was criticised for his kind down the stretch of final season however was again to his imposing, if not simply wildly distracting, greatest to maintain out Wilfried Zaha and co.
Holding Luis Diaz quiet is not any straightforward feat, however Kenny Tete did his darned greatest in Saturday’s early kick-off.
Liverpool’s Colombian star initially had the higher of his reverse quantity, scoring an beautiful disallowed aim and rattling the crossbar early on. However as the sport continued, Diaz quietened down, whereas Tete in flip ended the competition with an help to his identify.
Thiago Silva seemed a little bit leggy to start with in Chelsea’s win at Everton, however he quickly discovered his groove once more to remind everybody that he’s a timeless defender.
Alongside the debuting – and equally weary – Kalidou Koulibaly, the Blues saved the Toffees at arm’s size and by no means actually appeared to be in any actual hazard.
So far as debuts for centre-backs go, will probably be arduous for anybody to prime William Saliba’s long-awaited Arsenal bow.
The imposing younger defender snuffed out each little little bit of hazard and put in a efficiency that has Gooners dreaming of him changing into the subsequent Virgil van Dijk. Clearly we now have to take their opinions as hyperbole, however you get the concept.
Early within the first half of Spurs’ 4-1 win over Southampton, Antonio Conte screamed at Ryan Sessegnon for not attacking the final line from a cross. 5 minutes later, he adopted his boss’ orders and grabbed their equaliser, his first Premier League aim for the north Londoners.
Sessegnon gave former teammate Kyle Walker-Peters loads of complications and proved he is able to problem Ivan Perisic for a beginning spot this season.
Just a few eyebrows have been raised when it emerged that Fulham have been the Premier League group signing Joao Palhinha from Sporting CP.
The Portugal worldwide has been linked with numerous greater golf equipment throughout Europe however opted to affix the Cottagers. His first process was to battle in opposition to Liverpool’s tireless midfield and it was a duel he usually got here out on prime in.
The unimaginable turnaround story of Joelinton simply retains carrying on.
The Brazilian (who solely price 40 million and the Geordies assume is f****** good, in the event you did not know) is shortly rising as one of many Premier League’s savviest box-to-box midfielders, notably with Bruno Guimaraes enjoying alongside him.
Solely formidable teammates Harry Kane and Son Heung-min have extra Premier League aim contributions than Dejan Kulusevski, who by some means solely scored for the primary time at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday.
The gangly Swede breezed previous Southampton with appreciable ease time and time once more, finally getting his reward with a deserved aim and help.
Simply the 2 objectives for Pascal Gross at Previous Trafford this weekend.
It is exceptional that the midfielder got here near leaving Brighton on a free this summer time, but right here he was, dashing Erik ten Hag’s desires and placing Manchester United to the sword.
Aleksandar Mitrovic’s final season within the Premier League is commonly judged a little bit harshly due to how he was utilized by then-boss Scott Parker.
Gamers who supposedly cannot reduce it on the prime degree do not simply rating 42 objectives in a Championship marketing campaign prefer it’s nothing, and the Serbian striker made certain to silence his doubters in opposition to Liverpool, making each Trent Alexander-Arnold and Van Dijk appear to be they have been those who needs to be enjoying within the second tier.
Manchester Metropolis’s 2-0 win at West Ham was fairly a boring watch, however there have been two standout moments at London Stadium.
The primary got here when Ilkay Gundogan performed what seemed a speculative ball in behind, just for Erling Haaland to shortly change from first to fifth gear and draw a foul from Alphonse Areola, scoring from the ensuing penalty.
After the break, a swift Metropolis counter ended with Haaland operating via on aim once more, this time curling it round Areola to seal a brace on his Premier League debut.
