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Premier League Review – Matchday 1

Deke Hardman in Editorial, English Premier League 13 Aug 2018

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Last season’s top five were all victorious on matchday one in the Premier League, with Liverpool leading the pack after thumping West Ham United by four goals to nil.

Mo Salah picked up from where he left off last term, opening the scoring on nineteen minutes while goals either side of half time from Sadio Mane put the result beyond doubt.

Daniel Sturridge came on as a late substitute and scored with his first touch to make it four for the hosts, who have scored four in each of their last four games against the Hammers.

Many are tipping Jurgen Klopp’s side to push Manchester City all the way this season and they can be backed at a price of 10/3 to finish in first place.

Winning start

The Champions beat Arsenal by two goals to nil in the final game of the weekend – Raheem Sterling with a stunning opener on fourteen minutes.

Bernardo Silva added a second in the second half to clinch the points for the Citizens and leave new Gunners’ boss Unai Emery pointless, with a trip to Stamford Bridge next up for the Frenchman.

Chelsea eased to a 3-0 win over Huddersfield Town with N’Golo Kante and Pedro scoring either side of a penalty from new signing Jorginho while Tottenham Hotspur beat Newcastle United at St James’s Park by two goals to one.

With Harry Kane continuing his run of not scoring in August it was Jan Vertonghen and Dele Alli with the goals for Spurs, either side on Joselu’s finish for the hosts.

Manchester United survived a late scare to hold on for all three points against Leicester City at Old Trafford on Friday evening with Jamie Vardy’s late goal proving to be nothing more than a consolation for the visitors.

Unlikely hero

A penalty from World Cup winner Paul Pogba opened the scoring on three minutes while Luke Shaw doubled the United’s advantage with his first ever professional goal seven minutes from time.

After a shocking start to last season, Crystal Palace began their campaign with a win, beating newly promoted Fulham by two goals to nil while fellow new boys Cardiff City also lost by that scoreline, Bournemouth the beneficiaries.

There was also a 2-0 win for Watford as they eased past Brighton and Hove Albion with both sides tipped to struggle this term while Saturday’s action concluded at Molinuex where Wolverhampton Wanderers and Everton played out a 2-2 draw.

Dismissed

Phil Jagielka was sent off for the visitors as they led by a goal to nil though Ruben Neves equalised with a stunning free-kick, resulting from that challenge by the veteran Everton defender.

Richarlison got both goals for the Toffees in an impressive debut for the Brazilian while Raul Jiminez scored ten minutes from time to give Nuno Espirito Santo’s men a share of the spoils.

Finally, Southampton and Burnley played out a goalless draw at St Mary’s making it back-to-back clean sheets for Joe Hart in his first two games for the Clarets.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Deke Hardman


Freelance football writer with a love of the game that goes back to the mid nineties when both his beloved Nottingham Forest and England had genuine hope of acheiving some level of success. A regular contributor to both SoccerNews.com and FreeBetting.com, Deke also dabbles in music journalism with his heart and head still stuck in the latter years of the twentieth century.

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