Everton 0-3 Brighton
Fabian Hurzeler got off to the perfect start as Brighton and Hove Albion Manager with a 3-0 thrashing over Everton! Joao Pedro came close as he hit the post before Brighton did have the lead in the 25th minute through Kaoru Mitoma. In the Second Half, Everton had a penalty overruled by VAR (which was probably the right decision) before a terrible bit of defensive play from the hosts allowed Danny Welbeck to double Brighton’s lead. Things then got worse for Everton as Ashley Young stupidly decided to get himself sent off before Simon Adingra finished well to wrap up the victory for the visitors! In the end, this was a terrible start to the season for Everton! The Toffees end the weekend bottom of the league, and they will have to be much better at Tottenham next time out! As for Brighton and Hove Albion, Fabian Hurzeler couldn’t have asked for a better start! The Seagulls are officially top of the league and they face Manchester United next weekend.
West Ham 1-2 Aston Villa
Aston Villa pulled out a great performance to beat Julen Lopetegui in his first game in charge of West Ham United! After less than 4 minutes, Aston Villa had the lead as Amadou Onana headed home to score on debut! Great header from Onana, but poor defending by West Ham! Alphonse Areola was then forced to make a decent save to deny Morgan Rogers before Leon Bailey saw his effort hit the post and go out! John McGinn was the next name to come close for the visitors before West Ham were awarded a penalty after an incident between Tomas Soucek and Matty Cash. There’s no way that this is a penalty, and the reasoning that VAR gave for not overturning it is absolutely appalling! Anyway, Lucas Paqueta stepped up and scored to make it 1-1 after 37! In the Second Half, Rogers had a great chance which he just couldn’t get a clean connection on before Jhon Duran finished well to restore Villa’s lead with just 10 minutes to go! And then, in the 96th minute, Tomas Soucek had a glorious chance which he somehow put over (from about 2 yards out). In the end, it’s not the start that West Ham United had planned! The Hammers sit 14th in the table and they go to Crystal Palace next time out. As for Aston Villa, this was a great start for them! Villa end Gameweek 1 5th in the league and their next game is a big one at home to Arsenal!
Brentford 2-1 Crystal Palace
Brentford edged past London Rivals Crystal Palace to start their season on a positive note! Eberechi Eze came super close to putting Crystal Palace in front with a free-kick before Eze did score from a free-kick, but the referee blew for a foul early. I don’t get this, the incident had literally no impact on Eze’s effort! In the 29th minute, it was Brentford who found the lead as Bryan Mbeumo got his tally for the season underway! In the 56th minute, it was 1-all as Ethan Pinnock managed to turn the ball into the back of his own net! However, in the 76th minute, a poor bit of Goalkeeping by Dean Henderson allowed Yoane Wissa to tap home from close range to restore Brentford’s advantage. Eberechi Eze then had a chance late on, but Mark Flekken was able to pull out a great save to keep the ball from going in. Overall, this is a positive start for Brentford! The Bees find themselves 6th in the league and their next game is a tough test away at Liverpool. As for Crystal Palace, they’ll feel hard done by here. The Eagles are now 13th in the table and they host West Ham next time out.
Chelsea 0-2 Manchester City
Manchester City kick-started their latest Title defense with a good win at Chelsea. After just 18 minutes, Manchester City had the lead as who else than Erling Haaland fired in their first goal of the league campaign! This is actually a superb finish by Haaland! Kevin De Bruyne then had a decent chance which he couldn’t guide on target before Enzo Fernandez was asking for a penalty. I can see why he wanted it, but I can also see why it wasn’t given. Robert Sanchez then made a good save to deny Jeremy Doku before he made another good save in the Second Half to keep Erling Haaland’s strike from going in. Nicolas Jackson then had a great chance which he struck straight at Ederson before a poor bit of play from Sanchez led to Mateo Kovacic scoring a superb strike to seal all 3 points for Man City! In the end, this wasn’t a great start for Chelsea under Enzo Maresca. The Blues end the weekend 17th in the table and they take on Servette midweek before they go to Wolves on Sunday. As for Manchester City, this is a strong start from them! City are now 4th in the league and they host Ipswich next time out!
Ipswich 0-2 Liverpool
Liverpool started their new journey under Arne Slot with an away win at newly-Promoted Ipswich Town! Jacob Greaves had a good chance to score which he struck straight at Alisson before Omari Hutchinson found himself in on goal, but the Liverpool Goalie was able to pull out the comfortable save. In the Second Half, Luis Diaz had a great opportunity which he could only put over the bar before Diogo Jota had a great chance which he somehow put wide! However, less than 2 minutes later and Liverpool did have the lead thanks to Diogo Jota! The defending here from Ipswich is honestly so poor! Just 5 minutes later and it was 2-0 to the visitors as Mohamed Salah got his typical opening day goal! In the end, it’s not the result they would’ve wanted, but Ipswich Town can be pleased with the effort they put in. The Tractor Boys find themselves 18th in the table and their next game is a big test away at Manchester City! As for Liverpool, this was a positive start to life under Arne Slot, particually in the Second Half! The Reds end the weekend inside the Top 3 and they host Brentford next time out!
Arsenal 2-0 Wolves
Arsenal started their season with a cruising victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers. After 25 minutes, it was Arsenal who took the lead as Kai Havertz headed home after a nice cross in from Bukayo Saka. What I will say about this goal is Jose Sa was absolutely nowhere! Jorgen Strand Larsen then thought he’d equalised on his Wolves debut, but David Raya somehow denied him with a terrific save! In the Second Half, Thomas Partey had a good chance which he put wide before Matheus Cunha had a good chance which he poorly struck straight at Raya! And then, in the 74th minute, Arsenal’s victory was secured as Bukayo Saka smashed the ball into the back of the net! Overall, Arsenal did exactly what they needed to do here! The Gunners end the weekend 2nd in the league and their next game is an exciting one away at Aston Villa! As for Wolverhampton Wanderers, they won’t be too disappointed about this result. Wolves do find themselves inside the Relegation Zone (in 19th) and they host Chelsea next time out.
Leicester 1-1 Tottenham
There was nothing to separate Leicester City and Tottenham Hotspur in the first Monday Night Football of the season! Wilfred Ndidi pulled out a great goal-line clearance to deny Rodrigo Bentancur from giving Tottenham the lead before Dominic Solanke had a great chance which he poorly headed straight at Mads Hermansen. In the 29th minute, though, Tottenham were able to take the lead through a nice headed finish by Pedro Porro! 12 minutes into the Second Half, though, and it was 1-all as Jamie Vardy headed home from close range! Vardy then had a great chance to give Leicester the lead, but his effort was saved by Guglielmo Vicario before Vicario made another decent save to keep Ndidi from scoring. In the end, it’s a positive point on their return to the Premier League for Leicester City. The Foxes end Gameweek 1 inside the Top 10 and they take on Fulham in their next game. As for Tottenham Hotspur, this isn’t the start they would’ve wanted. Spurs find themselves in 12th and they host Everton next time out.
Nottingham Forest 1-1 Bournemouth
A late AFC Bournemouth goal denied Nottingham Forest a positive win. After 23 minutes, it was Nottingham Forest who took the lead as Chris Wood took advantage of a mistake by Neto to give his side the lead. Dango Ouattara then thought he’d equalised for Bournemouth just 9 minutes later, but his goal was ruled out for an offside during the build-up. In the Second Half, Neco Williams should’ve been sent off for a second Yellow card, but the referee felt he got the ball before Neto made a good save to parry out Willy Boly’s header! And then, after a mix-up at the back, Antoine Semenyo took advantage to fire home from close range to rescue a point for the visitors! In the end, Nottingham Forest will be disappointed to have let their lead slip. Forest end the weekend in 11th, and they go to Southampton next time out. As for AFC Bournemouth, this was an okay way to start the season. The Cherries do find themselves inside the Top 10 (in 9th) and their next game sees them host Newcastle.
Manchester United 1-0 Fulham
A late debut goal was enough for Manchester United to start the league season off with a win! Andre Onana pulled out a decent save to keep Kenny Tete’s effort out before Bruno Fernandes had a great chance which he struck straight at Bernd Leno. Fernandes then had another good chance which was again saved well by Leno before finally, in the 87th minute, Manchester United had the lead as Joshua Zirkzee netted on debut! After a terrible mistake by Calvin Bassey, United were in on goal, but Alejandro Garnacho decided to do something worse instead! Overall, it’s a win for Manchester United, but it wasn’t a great performance. United end Gameweek 1 7th in the league and their next game is away at Brighton. As for Fulham, they’ll be kicking themselves for losing this game. The Cottagers are now 15th in the table and they host Leicester next time out.
Newcastle 1-0 Southampton
Despite being dominated, it was Newcastle United who managed to edge past Southampton! After a bit of stupidity, Newcastle were down to 10-men as Fabian Schar got himself sent off for banging heads with Ben Brereton Diaz. Brereton Diaz then had a great opportunity which he poorly missed before a terrible mistake by Goalkeeper Alex McCarthy resulted in Joelinton giving Newcastle the lead right on Halftime! In the Second Half, Lewis Hall pulled out an amazing goal-line clearance before Ben Brereton Diaz missed another golden chance! Southampton then created a bunch of good chances, but they just couldn’t find the back of the net! Overall, Newcastle United can be pleased with this result all things considered! The Magpies end the weekend 8th in the league and they go to Bournemouth next time out. As for Southampton, they’ll be gutted to have lost this game. The Saints are now 16th in the table and their next game is already a big one at home to Nottingham Forest.
Premier League Table at the End of Gameweek 1
Brighton: 3pts (+3)
Arsenal: 3pts (+2)
Liverpool: 3pts (+2)
Manchester City: 3pts (+2)
Aston Villa: 3pts (+1)
Brentford: 3pts (+1)
Manchester United: 3pts (+1)
Newcastle: 3pts (+1)
Bournemouth: 1pt (0)
Leicester: 1pt (0)
Nottingham Forest: 1pt (0)
Tottenham: 1pt (0)
Crystal Palace: 0pts (-1)
West Ham: 0pts (-1)
Fulham: 0pts (-1)
Southampton: 0pts (-1)
Chelsea: 0pts (-2)
Ipswich: 0pts (-2)
Wolves: 0pts (-2)
Everton: 0pts (-3)
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