The Premier League season is over and running – and Liverpool’s title defense began with a thrill 4-3 wins Promoted against Leeds United.
Leicester enjoyed a 3-0 win Newcastle caught their eye during West Brom’s promotions West Ham lost 2-0 When the Crystal Palace Bought Southampton 1-0.
Finally, Chelsea Beat Brighton 3-1 He is a wolf Won 2-0 Sheffield United in Monday’s games.
Take a look at my weekly team – and then try making your own at the foot of this piece.
Goalkeeper – Vicente Guetta (Crystal Palace)
Guita: One save from Che Adams and another from Danny Ins made Crystal Palace’s first win in nine league games. Wilfried Jaha can score the only goal against Southampton – but Vicente Guetta won the match.
I have seen Guetta play something very shaky towards the end of last season. And once the palace is mathematically secured, Jahar’s exhibits sink. Luckily, both men were in a very different mood against Southampton.
If Palace is to avoid another .fight, Guita needs to be at his best – and Jaha needs to score even more goals to justify the price.
Did you know Vicente Guetta made five saves with his clean sheet against Southampton. He has only saved once more (eight against Brighton in February) while keeping clean sheets for the castle.
Defenders – Timothy Casagen (Leicester), Gabriel (Arsenal), Roman Sass (Wolves), Tariq Lampe (Brighton)
Chestnuts: Leicester were 3-0 up at The Hawthorns and they rarely broke a sweat. West Brom spent a lot of energy capturing the visitors, it was only a matter of time before cracks appeared in their defenses.
This is Timothy Castagen who made this progress – and the defender came up in the Albion box in the open game, with Brendon Rogers telling everyone as much as he can about the way his team wants to play.
This is always a very good sign if players other than the striker want to score.
Did you know Timothy Castagen became the fifth Belgian in his Premier League debut after Lim Nilis, Thomas Vermeulen, Christian Benteke and Leandro Trussard.
Gabriel: I thought Arsenal’s first-half performance at Fulham was impressive, especially the contribution of Kieran Tierney. But it was Gabriel who caught my eye.
The 22-year-old Brazilian was looking back commanding and was comfortable on the ball. Arsenal seem to have benefited from the addition of Gabriel and Willian to the set-up – and they will suddenly see a team with options.
Fulham, already seemingly hesitant and lacking in quality, especially in the last third if they can’t fit Alexander Mitrovic and score a goal, I think the writing could already be on the wall.
Did you know As well as being the 10th Arsenal player to make his Premier League debut, Gabriel also has at least 24 more passes (114 attempts) than any other player in the game.
Sis: It was a great performance for Wolverine – and especially Roman Says – at Sheffield United on Monday.
The Moroccan defender earned a great header and took another flash by beating Aaron Ramsdale with the post. He then joined in an isolated attack and forced the Sheffield United keeper to hit a great shot towards the post – before the Blades at the other end missed the line to deny a specific goal.
Wolf Defender had a great game.
Did you know Goalscorer Swiss Brackmall has recorded a combined team’s maximum of 45 passes in a bid to win at Lane, with 89% (40) completed.
In the lamp: It was a comfortable win for Chelsea until the end of Monday – although there was one thing when I thought they were working hard on it at Brighton.
I think Brighton will be fighting for another season but they have a bright spark in their ranks and his name is Tariq Lampe y in what made his Premier League debut against Arsenal last December I saw him come on as a sub for Chelsea and he is outstanding. However, to get game time, he decided to move on from Stamford Bridge.
I have no doubt that he made the right decision. And if he continues to play against Chelsea, he won’t be in Brighton for long.
Did you know Lampetti assisted on Tursard’s goal and started a joint-game-high five dribbles.
Midfield – Jeff Hendrick (Newcastle), James Rodriguez (Everton), Willian (Arsenal)
Hendrik: In West Ham, Newcastle had several impressive performances by newcomers. The pick of the bunch was Jeff Hendrick.
As well as being smart with the ball, Hendrik keeps a sharp eye on goals. He set up Penn Wilson’s first finish before hitting a great strike from Lucas Fabianski’s past to keep the game going beyond the Hammers.
Last season, Steve Bruce was the most unpopular man in the Northeast. Now considered a highly credible director, he has built a team worthy in this area.
Meanwhile, West Ham continue to make headlines for all the wrong reasons.
Did you know Jeff Hendrick both scored and assisted against West Ham – the first time he had done so in his 123rd appearance in the Premier League.
Rodriguez: When I heard that Carlo Angeloti had attracted James Rodriguez to Goodison Park, it was clear that Everton’s medieval days were over.
The Columbia international felt extremely comfortable in a new-looking midfield that surpassed the Spurs.
Along with Rodriguez, Alan and Abdul Duku, the Toffies seem to be very capable of finishing at least the top-six.
In contrast, Tottenham’s signs seem less inspiring. Anxious time for the Spurs.
Did you know James Rodriguez became the first player in the Premier League to make at least five chances from Alexis Sanchez for Arsenal in August 2014.
Willian: Regular readers will know what I think of Willian as a player. I said last season that Chelsea can’t beat him. All the teams allowed him to go to rivals Arsenal in London, insanity and in the final analysis they had to pay a very high price.
In contrast to those who were out of their depth for Fulham, Willian made a debut which was certainly a painful watch for his former manager Frank Lampard. The Brazilian was looking for his bearings with just a free-kick that left Fulham defender Marek Rodak behind and hit the post. He left Craven Cottage with two assists and a 3-0 win under his belt.
What has Chelsea done?
Did you know Two parlors became the first players to make their Premier League debut for Arsenal in August 1999 against Ray Parlor’s Liverpool.
Forwards – Mohamed Salah (Liverpool), Dominic Calvert-Levin (Everton), Pierre-American Aubamiang (Arsenal)
Wrong: What a way to re-introduce yourself to the Premier League after 16 years. Like Leeds United on Saturday I never saw Liverpool go from two to two to two to get out of the championship. It was at Anfield and not on Elland Road. I thought Leeds was great. Now the question is: can they turn this kind of performance into points? One more inspirational performance from Mohamed Salah is needed to free the title holders from trouble.
If other teams like Leeds can take the games to Liverpool, we are in for a hell of a season.
Did you know Mohamed Salah scored his 50th, 51st and 52nd home Premier League goals against Leeds. He reached 50 home goals in 633 appearances – only Alan Shearer (47 apps) did so quickly.
Calvert-Lewin: Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s title at Tottenham was worth winning any match. In fact it was so good that any other consideration to include Jamie Verdi or Penn Wilson in my team of the week suddenly went out of the question.
Under Carlo Anslotti, this guy is getting better with each game. This could be a set season for young Evertonians. He has all the ingredients to create a top-class striker. If he can stay fit, which means always taking care of himself, he can be whatever he wants.
Did you know Everton’s top scorer in the Premier League under Dominic Calvert-Levin Carlo Analosti.
Aubameng: I have a lot of respect for Scotty Parker but what does Fulham expect to do with a little money from their manager? Nothing can be made of genuine goalscorers?
5 minutes later Fulham sat at home 3-0 to Arsenal, there was only one deadly shot of the goal at home. Meanwhile, Alexandre Lacazette and the show’s star Pierre-American Aubamayang showed Fulham’s strikers what the predatory trend really is.
Aubamayang’s goal was in a different class. Come to think of it, Arsenal were too.
Did you know Pierre-American Aubamiang is the first player to score on the day of the first match of the Premier League season for Arsenal after Robert Pires in 2003-04 and 2004-05.
Crooks of Matter
It seems that the senses have finally taken precedence. The decision to dismiss John Moss’s Southampton defender Kyle Walker-Peters after consulting with video evidence at Crystal Palace on Saturday is, in my opinion, a big step forward. In the end it looks like the referees have the courage to take back control of the game and not instruct Stoke to park.
Regular readers will find out how frustrated I am with the position that so many referees showed last season, who felt they had made another decision and refused to take matters into their own hands. There were times when they let the game go in chaos.
If an officer suspects, seeking support for video evidence is a strength, not a weakness. Of course, referees will make mistakes – but they must make their own mistakes.
The referee is in charge of the game and his decision is always final. Nothing, nothing, should ever interfere with that golden rule.
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