The hype train that led us to the opening day fixtures of the English Premier League have come to conclusion with the start of this season on August 13. But the games have just begun.
Here, we look at the highlights of the opening week.
The Champions Are Down
Who’d have thought that we would be glued to our Tv screens watching Hull City Vs Leicester FC (LCFC) on the first weekend of the Premiership.
LCFC began their title defense by taking on the Tigers to be humbled 2-1. Ranieri pointed out astutely that the squad looked a little out of it and Hull City, a club in despair with their owners looking to sell, just had nothing to lose. The hunger and drive to get a result was there with this Hull side as they handed LCFC the unwanted honour of being the first Premier League Champions to lose on the opening day of their title defense.
LCFC’s new signings like Ahmed Musa still look like they are finding their place on the pitch. However, the rest of the players still have that blazing counter attacking style from last year as they just couldn’t capitalise on half changes in the final half of the field.
Still, early days.
The Two Manchesters
MoUnited opened their slew of fixtures with a fluid 3-1 win against Bournemouth. The star of the show was undoubtedly Zlatan Ibrahimovic. He showed the knack to adapt to the style of English Football and capped his performance when given enough field space to harvest paddy in by the B’mouth defense. The other positive for Man United was that the fulcrum in the goals by Rooney and Zlatan was Anthony Martial who is blossoming as an attacking lynchpin.
Wayne Rooney too looks sharp and is our predicted ‘Manchester United Player of the Season’.
Meanwhile, Manchester City under Pep Guardiola kicked off their campaign at home against Sunderland and everything looked to be going swimmingly after the penalty strike by Eden Hazard made the score 1-0. Sunderland equalised with 20 minutes remaining on the clock with the perennial English striker Jermaine Defoe starting his goal tally for another season with a smart finish past Caballero. The absence of Kompany, brought to the fore again. But Man City, kept pressing on the opposition and finally scored when Paddy McNair headed the ball into his own net.
The major news out of this match was Pep dropping Joe Hart and murmurs of Pep raiding Barca for their No.1.
Kevin De Bruyne looked solid and is our predicted ‘Man City player of the Season’ but it was Raheem Sterling and the fact that he started under Pep that came as a welcome shock.
He was electric on the ball and diving like a Barca player. He could be ‘Pep Pet Project’.
The London Rivals
There have been some iconic battles between Chelsea and their nemesis West Ham in modern times. Always a fiery affair and with managers like Antonio Conte and Slaven Billic, who wear their hearts on their sleeves, on the sidelines, there would be some slow motion shots of angry men reacting for sure.
Chelsea made a good start as Hazard converted his penalty to give the blues an antsy lead of 1. As the game moved on, West Ham pounced on their given opportunity to level with Collins shooting home. The Chelsea defense, in disarray.
What seemed like an entertaining draw turned into a celebration as Costa left with too much space in the 3rd, took his time and placed the ball past Adrian.
Now this was the 1st game of the season for Chelsea, but the scenes at Stamford Bridge would make you think they’d won the Champions League. There was electricity in the air and it felt like the club and the fans, who were all low on morale given the last term, finally had something to cheer about.
The final exit of Jose Mourinho, ‘The Special One’ (although, I do see him coming back for one final run when he is 65!), the player unrest made all burst into elation, as Costa netted the late winner.
4-3!
Where in the world does a league start with two top clubs kicking off the season, and then giving you a Match of the Season contender? Arsenal and Liverpool left their defenses in the lockers as the match at the Emirates was a goal-gasm of technical and fanatical levels.
And it all started with a missed penalty. Theo took to the spot and shot tame for Mignolet to punch it away. But showed great fortitude to make amends and score minutes later. Arsenal were off and running, but Liverpool kept gunning.
A ‘Goal of the Season Contender’ was the next one. Coutinho, all of 30 yards, out curled in a perfect ball that had one of the best beat in Petr Čech as the half drew to a close, both teams buzzing for more.
And they did, when Liverpool blitzed in 3 in 15 minutes. Great play and individual efforts had Liverpool firmly in control but the Oxlade substitution made an instant impact as he danced through the Reds’ defense and scored magnificently. There was a belief and with Chambers netting in the 75th there was more than a chance. Liverpool were left reeling and back pedaling to bring things back to order and Klopp rightfully pointed out how he and the team didn’t put the game to bed.
The defenses were shambolic throughout and manager Arsène has real ire raining down on him that maybe the Mustafi acquisition might placate.
They need a firm striker too.
Hero of the Week
Take a bow Phillip Coutinho!
Villain of the Week
The entire Arsenal and Liverpool defense combined (not just Moreno)
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