2:58 FREE TO WATCH: Highlights from Chelsea’s win over Brighton in the Premier League.
Following a lavish summer of spending, Chelsea’s season is off to a winning start. Frank Lampard said their 3-1 victory over Brighton on Monday Night Football was the kind of game they would have dropped points in last season. But he hopes they are a new proposition now.
- Brighton 1-3 Chelsea – Match report and highlights
- Analysis: Werner gives Chelsea new dimension
Only two of their five new signings featured, with Thiago Silva, Ben Chilwell and Hakim Ziyech all unavailable due to injury, but supporters will be encouraged by what they saw from Timo Werner, a £45m signing from RB Leipzig and Kai Havertz, who cost £75m from Bayer Leverkusen.
Werner, in particular, impressed. The 24-year-old’s speed and movement caused Brighton problems from start to finish and while he did not score himself, he was instrumental in the opening goal, winning the penalty from which Jorginho put the Blues in front in the first half.
Lampard praised Werner’s “hunger” afterwards and there was praise for Havertz too. He was not as involved as his countryman but did show glimpses of his technical class. “I thought there were moments of quality and calmness,” said Lampard. “We’re going to see a lot more from him.”
It feels like we’re going to see a lot more from this Chelsea side too. Liverpool will go to Stamford Bridge next weekend knowing a stronger Chelsea side than last season awaits them.
Nick Wright
Wolves’ fast start impresses Nev and Carra
2:53 FREE TO WATCH: Highlights from Wolves’ win over Sheffield United in the Premier League.
Before the game, the question was asked on Monday Night Football: Which side, seventh-placed Wolves or ninth-placed Sheffield United, could exceed last season’s performance?
- Sheff Utd 0-2 Wolves – Match report and highlights
Within the first six minutes at Bramall Lane, Wolves showed they have the appetite to do just that as goals from Raul Jimenez and Romain Saiss propelled them to victory against the Blades.
It was a performance that impressed Sky Sports’ Gary Neville: “It was really impressive from Wolves. We asked the question before the game, we both said Wolves. There’s no Europa League, they’ve re-signed the manager and kept the players that they needed to keep. They’ve always been difficult to play against. They are organised and efficient. That’s a really good start for them.”
Jamie Carragher was equally impressed, saying they will have some top four sides looking over their shoulders. “I think Wolves are a real worry for some of the teams, even in the top four,” he said. “We keep talking about Arsenal and Tottenham trying to really push the top four this season, but I think Wolves are right there.”
If they can keep playing to the level they produced at Bramall Lane, they certainly will be there or there about.
Oliver Yew
No need to panic for Blades
Sheffield United were caught cold by Wolves’ fast start and there was no coming back.
The Blades were given a mountain to climb after goals from Raul Jimenez and Romain Saiss inside the first six minutes condemned them to a fourth successive defeat across all competitions – their longest losing streak under current manager Chris Wilder.
However, despite defeat, there is no need to panic for Wilder and his side.
After their ragged start, they grew into the game and in the second half they were a completely different side. There were familiar patterns to their play and they caused Wolves plenty of problems as the game wore on, but a lack of cutting edge in front of goal ultimately cost them.
The spirit was also there from Sheffield United, who plugged away, without reward, right up until the final whistle. If they can replicate that over the course of the season, there will be better days to come at Bramall Lane.
Oliver Yew
Balance at last for Everton’s midfield?
2:55 FREE TO WATCH: Highlights from Everton’s win over Tottenham in the Premier League
Everton backed Carlo Ancelotti in the summer to sign three midfielders. But coming in at just over £60m, the early signs suggest it’s a snip.
“Players that know how to play football don’t need time to adapt,” said Ancelotti after the game.
- Tottenham 0-1 Everton: Match report and highlights
- Tottenham 0-1 Everton: Player ratings
In Everton’s 1-0 win at Spurs, Abdoulaye Doucoure was the solid box-to-box midfielder the Toffees have craved – legs, steel and presence.
Allan was assured on the ball, picking up a much-deserved man-of-the-match award on his Premier League debut, and that base allowed Andre Gomes and third debutant James Rodriguez to shine up the pitch, without worrying too much about defensive duties.
On Sunday, Everton looked as well-drilled in a big away game as they have for years.
In fact, this was their only win against a top-six side in nearly seven years and 40 games. The aim is now to become that top-six side.
The optimism must be tempered – it’s week one, and Spurs were poor – but it’s a big step in the right direction for Everton and Ancelotti.
Gerard Brand
Spurs’ lack of fight alarming
5:08 Tottenham head coach Jose Mourinho wasn’t pleased with his side’s pressing following their defeat at home to Everton
Jose Mourinho was not shy in his criticism of Tottenham’s “lazy” performance on Super Sunday; a lack of pressing was the focus, and the statistics make for grim reading.
For Mourinho, effort and fight is a non-negotiable, but Spurs simply waved the white flag.
- Tottenham: New season, new start, new problems
- Mourinho: Lazy pressing to blame, players not fit
In a game where possession was generally matched – Spurs had 51 per cent, Everton 49 per cent – you would not expect to see Spurs’ duel success rate down at 37 per cent. The hosts won 38, Everton won 63.
The last time their duel success rate plunged that low? October 2018. For a home game, you’d have to go back to March 2013.
Only two Spurs players won over half of their battles – Ben Davies and Toby Alderweireld at 57.1 per cent – while Richarlison (88 per cent) and Abdoulaye Doucoure (83 per cent) were among six Everton players to come out on top more often than not.
In short, Everton battered Tottenham all over the pitch, and for a Mourinho side, that is alarming. Lack of sharpness can be explained, but lack of fight is harder to excuse.
Gerard Brand
Salah’s hat-trick can’t hide Liverpool’s defensive problems
2:59 FREE TO WATCH: Highlights from Liverpool’s win over Leeds
The champions found a way, but only just!
- Liverpool 4-3 Leeds – Match report & highlights
- Liverpool vs Leeds – Player Ratings
- Liverpool fixtures
Ahead of their season-opener against Leeds, Jurgen Klopp promised Liverpool would “attack” their Premier League title defence and they certainly lived up to those words in their 4-3 victory. Mohamed Salah’s hat-trick eventually sealed victory, but it could not disguise the problems Klopp’s side have at the back.
Trent Alexander-Arnold and Joe Gomez were exposed on a number of occasions by Leeds, while the usually reliable Virgil van Dijk produced a costly error as once again the defensive frailties that had crept in towards the end of last season were exposed. Liverpool have now conceded 3+ goals in back-to-back home league games for the first time since September 1982 and Klopp knows his defenders must improve if they are to retain the title.
But will that improvement come from the players already has at his disposal? Or will the German be forced into the transfer market to inject some new blood into his back line?
Liverpool are already a centre-back down after Dejan Lovren’s departure this summer, but Klopp insisted before the game he had enough options at centre-back, even talking up Fabinho in the role. However, Liverpool’s defensive performance in the season opener may have changed his mind.
Oliver Yew
Arteta’s ideas taking shape
2:58 FREE TO WATCH: Highlights from Arsenal’s win over Fulham
Arsenal might be coming into this campaign off the back of their worst Premier League finish in a quarter of a century but that does not accurately reflect the atmosphere surrounding the club. It is not just that Mikel Arteta delivered the FA Cup last month. The more significant reason for optimism is that the Gunners look so much better than before.
- Fulham 0-3 Arsenal – Match report and highlights
- Analysis: How Gabriel shone on his debut
- Arsenal fixtures
Arteta’s team certainly had too much for Fulham at Craven Cottage. Their 3-0 win on Saturday showcased the attacking potency that might be expected of a team that includes Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, scorer of the third goal, and has been bolstered by the acquisition of Willian. The Brazilian was instrumental in all three Arsenal goals.
But what really has supporters excited is that there is a pattern of play now. Arteta has his team organised in a new 3-4-3 formation with new signing Gabriel hugely impressive at the heart of defence. Fulham barely registered a chance after the second minute of the match.
There will be trickier challenges but that is hardly the point. Arsenal have made a mess of such matches in the past. That looks less likely now. Arteta’s ideas appear to be taking shape.
Adam Bate
No fear factor for Leeds
“We are not going to lie down,” Marcelo Bielsa told Sky Sports as the curtain opened on Leeds United’s big night back at the elite of English football after 16 long years.
- Klopp and Souness impressed by Leeds
- Leeds fixtures
It would be easy to summarise the subsequent 4-3 defeat at Liverpool as Leeds’ introduction to the realities of the Premier League. But after such a rousing display from the newly-promoted side, this felt more like the Premier League’s introduction to Bielsa. Three times they fell behind and three times they equalised. Only Mohamed Salah’s hat-trick goal, his second penalty of the match, scored with just minutes remaining, proved too much.
It was the verve of the performance, their approach to the challenge before them, that stood out. Not many teams travel to Anfield and go toe-to-toe. Punches were traded. Gaps were left at the back. It was risk-reward football at its finest. They will be box-office this season.
Adam Bate
Vardy’s Golden eye fully functioning
2:53 FREE TO WATCH: Highlights from Leicester’s win over West Brom in the Premier League
Jamie Vardy became the oldest player to win the Premier League Golden Boot after finishing last season with 23 goals and, having signed a new one-year contract extension that ties him to the club until 2023, he showed no signs of rust to open his account at The Hawthorns on Sunday.
- West Brom 0-3 Leicester – Match report and highlights
Vardy had just 15 touches as Leicester secured their first Premier League away win since New Year’s Day against West Brom, but still scored twice from the penalty spot in the 3-0 victory, equalling Ruud van Nistelrooy’s record of most away games vs an opponent in the competition with a 100 per cent scoring record (5/5 at Newcastle).
Special guest Tim Cahill told Sky Sports: “Leicester grew into the game but Vardy was outstanding. If he’s not involved in the play, he’s pinning back the two centre-backs and they were constantly worried about him. He was sharp and on the shoulder all the time and that’s how he won the first penalty.”
Vardy admitted afterwards that he had practised the very same penalty over and over again on the eve of the game, and on this evidence the 33-year-old will be in the running for the Golden Boot once more.
Ben Grounds
Future already looks bright at Newcastle
2:56 FREE TO WATCH: Highlights from Newcastle’s win over West Ham
Two goals from two debutants and three points – opening days don’t come much better than that as far as Newcastle are concerned.
After eight years without a win on the opening day, summer signings Callum Wilson and Jeff Hendrick sealed a thoroughly-deserved victory at West Ham that vindicated all of the pre-season fuss surrounding Steve Bruce’s side.
- West Ham 0-2 Newcastle – Match report and highlights
- Newcastle fixtures
Newcastle have always been secure and steady under Bruce’s watch, but in Wilson, the ever-exciting Allan Saint-Maximin and a revitalised Andy Carroll, they now possess the firepower to match.
The heartache from yet another failed takeover is now a distant memory, and the hope harnessed by a summer of spending looks to have blossomed into the kind of reality Newcastle fans until previously only dared dream of.
Jack Wilkinson
Zaha underlines importance to Palace
3:03 FREE TO WATCH: Highlights from Crystal Palace’s win over Southampton
Wilfried Zaha netted the 50th league goal of his career as Crystal Palace overcame Southampton, but you wonder how many more he will score in the blue and red of his boyhood club. The winger needed 13 games to get off the mark last season, but achieved the feat after only 13 minutes at Selhurst Park and it was enough to give Roy Hodgson’s men a 1-0 win.
- Crystal Palace 1-0 Southampton – Match report and highlights
- Crystal Palace fixtures
Zaha’s influence on Palace since their return to the top flight seven years ago is unrivalled: directly involved in 60 Premier League goals, 28 more than any other player for the club in the competition. But with every addition to that tally during the window, a familiar question will be asked: Is Zaha going to remain at Selhurst Park?
“We certainly hope so,” said Hodgson. “Every transfer window I’ve been involved in, Wilf has made noises that he would perhaps like to play for a club that can offer him Champions League football and maybe a step up in his career because he’s given a large part of his career to us and we’re grateful for it.
“But for that to happen, that club has to come along and pay the market price. Until such a time as that happens I’m happy to continue working with him and I’m expecting him to understand that we can’t let him go until that club comes in and wants to buy him.”
The spotlight has been focused elsewhere during the summer transfer window, and while Hodgson stressed the signing of Ebere Eze was not designed as a replacement for the Ivorian, you do wonder whether the opening weekend of the campaign witnessed the changing of the guard.
Ben Grounds
Moyes has mountain to scale at West Ham
2:26 Graeme Souness criticised Mark Noble’s decision to openly question the decision to sell Grady Diangana, claiming it affected West Ham’s performance against Newcastle
“Didn’t enjoy the performance, didn’t enjoy the game. Those are my thoughts.”
David Moyes didn’t mince his words after West Ham’s opening-day defeat to Newcastle. It was a performance that would have brought the Hammers back down to earth, had they not already been on the ground after a pre-season of unrest.
- West Ham 0-2 Newcastle – Match report and highlights
- Souness fumes: Noble let West Ham down
- West Ham fixtures
The fallout from the sale of promising youngster Grady Diangana to West Brom, coupled with lack of incoming transfers, threatened to unravel any plans Moyes had been able to formulate in the six short weeks before the start of this season and the end of last, and that’s exactly how it proved.
As Newcastle’s new signings fired them to victory on the opening day for the first time since 2012, the Hammers were left to mull over a fourth straight first-day defeat without scoring a goal.
West Ham’s board came under fire from captain Mark Noble and a small group of fans ahead of kick-off. If performances continue in this vain, Moyes will soon be in the firing line, if he isn’t already.
Jack Wilkinson
Fulham’s rude awakening
Fulham will have more winnable games this season, but on first look, they’ll need a degree of good fortune to survive come May.
Arsenal came assured, disciplined and energetic, winning in every area of the pitch as Scott Parker got that expected dose of reality on day one. Was it a case of Arsenal too good, or Fulham poor? It was both.
- Fulham 0-3 Arsenal – Match report and highlights
- Fulham fixtures
There are reasons to be encouraged; Arsenal’s opener came against the run of play, and there is obvious quality in Parker’s side, but they were slow in transition and struggled to get numbers in the box when their wide men had opportunities to deliver. Of Fulham’s 11 crosses, only three reached their target.
Defensively, they stood off Arsenal too often – there won’t be a more straightforward debut than Willian’s this season – but none of this will be news to Parker, who knows how difficult this season will be.
Unlike in 2018, Fulham have kept the majority of their promotion side, with only one change to the starting line-up from the Play-Off final win over Brentford. More sustainable? Perhaps, but there’s no safe formula for survival.
Gerard Brand
West Brom must shake off early naivety
All three promoted clubs (Leeds, West Brom and Fulham) have lost their opening match of a Premier League campaign for the first time since 2013/14, when Crystal Palace, Hull and Cardiff did so.
- West Brom fixtures
For West Brom, it was a similar tale to Fulham’s defeat at home to Arsenal; a positive start was eventually undone as Leicester’s superior quality told.
For the opening 30 minutes, Slaven Bilic was encouraged by his team’s ability to nullify Leicester’s front-line, while Matheus Pereira was finding pockets of space. But, like Leeds, his side made their task of taking anything from the game infinitely more difficult by conceding two penalties.
Remarkably, in 380 Premier League games last term, there was just one occasion of a player scoring two penalties in a single match (Troy Deeney vs Newcastle). It has happened twice already so far this season with Mohamed Salah scoring two spot-kicks in Liverpool’s chaotic 4-3 win over fellow new boys Leeds.
Kyle Bartley and Dara O’Shea were both forced into panicked fouls inside the area and Bilic will now be under no illusions as to the task he faces in keeping West Brom up, if he was not already.
Ben Grounds
Saints slow out of the blocks again
It was a frustrating afternoon for Southampton in SE25 as despite enjoying 70 per cent possession, the visitors were consigned to another defeat on the opening day.
The Saints have won just one of their last 14 Premier League season openers – failing to win any of the last seven such games (losing three) – and Ralph Hasenhuttl admitted afterwards their latest disappointment came as a result of lacking a “clinical” edge.
- Crystal Palace 1-0 Southampton – Match report and highlights
- Southampton fixtures
“We created enough chances but sometimes the finishing wasn’t good enough,” the Southampton boss said. “We had to spin the wheel a little quicker and have a little bit more pressure. We know Palace do well to break your rhythm and can be very passive. It’s nothing new but we didn’t have the best tools.”
Southampton have the worst win percentage on matchday one in the competition, winning just two out of 22, and Hasenhuttl revealed he will use Wednesday’s Carabao Cup game with Brentford as an opportunity to build match fitness after an unusually short pre-season ahead of facing Tottenham next weekend.
On Saturday, Stuart Armstrong’s ingenuity was missed, and the Saints boss says will continue to actively seek reinforcements in the final few weeks of the window.
He added: “We know there are definitely a few positions where we have to look for alternatives and it would be good to get players in who can play in more positions but there are limits.”
Ben Grounds
Sourse: skysports.com
