For many football fans,August couldn’t come soon enough.Its not even three months since the last ball was kicked in Premiership.It’s been even lesser if you consider both the Europa and Champions league Trophy final was contested by premiership teams.With off season trophies that included Copa America and African League of Nations being played,many players would still be recovering.
Yet with transfer deadline all wrapped before the opening kickoffs for the second season in a row and fantasy drafts all set,it’s ideal for the football to get going.
Last year’s crunch finish had led to a renewed interest again.Liverpool buoyed by their champions trophy win kicked off proceedings on Friday night with a thumping win against newcomers Norwich. Divock Origi, Mohammad Salah and last season’s league player of the season Virgil van Dijk killed off the game inside 42 minutes ensuring a 4-0 Reds’ lead.Their squad is solid,especially that in form quartet of forwards and undoubtedly will giving the champions,Manchester City a good run .
Manchester City on the other hand had been building in their strengths and are looking for the three peat.West Ham seemed like pebbles in their path as they began Saturday lunch time with a boosting win.VAR or not,they crushed the opposition again 5-0.Raheem Sterling started where he left off last season in a game which Sergio Aguero started on the bench.
Champions league runners up, Tottenham Hotspur had the teatime kick off against the newly promoted Aston Villa who took the lead against the Champions league runners up inside ten minutes.Tyrone Mings assisted on a John McGinn strike to stun the home crowd at Spurs’ new stadium.The visitors gave Spurs a good outing securing the lead for over an hour till but succumbing to debutant Tanguy Ndombele’s and late Harry Kane goals losing 3-1.
Ole Gunnar Solksjaer’s Manchester United didn’t have much of transfer frenzy off season.Having a dismal end of season run that landed them in sixth, they had the prized tie of the round hosting Chelsea.The ones that they did manage to sign had a stellar debut.Aaron Won Bissaka played well with Daniel James scoring on debut their fourth in a 4-0 demolition.Marcus Rashford scored twice.Frank Lampard the newly appointed coach of the Blues had it tough going in his first Premiership game as a coach.
Europa League runners up,Arsenal gingerly started their campaign up north. Their defence came through managed to keep a clean sheet thanks to Bernd Leno.The Gunners got the points with the help of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyeng’s second half finish.Steve Bruce marked his Newcastle managerial debut with a loss.
Elsewhere,Burnley with Ashley Barnes brace against Southampton won 3-0. There were goal less draws for Leicester against Wolves and Everton against Crystal Palace whilst newly promoted Sheffield United who gave seven premiership debuts salvaged an 88th minute draw at Bournemouth via Billy Sharp. That wasn’t a surprise considering the Blades have beaten the cherries in last seven out of eight clashes.
Amongst other premiership players marking their debut and scoring is Neal Maupay. The Frenchman,obtained from Brentford,started his five year contract coming in as second half substitute, scored the third of Brighton’s goals in a thumping away start at Watford.Can’t ask for a brighter start for the sea gulls.
It was a scattered start in terms of kick off times but there certainly were plenty of goals to savour in the opening weekend.Titles aren’t decided in August but the thrills and spills have to start somewhere as teams will soon start to wipe away that rust and oil up their tanks.After all even with the February break, it will be a pretty long season heading up to the Euros next year.Bring it On !
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