The first matchday of the 2021-22 Premier League season had a few surprising results, alongside a few dominant performances as well. The upset of Matchday 1 was of a Harry Kane-less Tottenham’s narrow 1-0 win against defending champions Manchester City, while Arsenal lost to newcomers Brentford. Watford, another one of the new boys in the league, also won, defeating Aston Villa 3-2 at home.
Chelsea, Manchester United, and Liverpool, though, cruised to comfortable victories on the opening weekend. Ahead of Matchday 2 of the season, let’s take a look at five players to watch out for:
Romelu Lukaku
Romelu Lukaku has returned to Chelsea after a gap of 7 years during which he has moulded himself into one of the deadliest strikers in world football.
The Belgian forward has begun to train with his new club following isolation protocols. The 28-year-old has confirmed that he will be available for this weekend’s game against Arsenal and that he is ready to even start the game.
Lukaku doesn’t have a fantastic record against the Gunners, scoring thrice and assisting thrice in 17 appearances against them. His last goal against Arsenal came in 2017, when he was at Everton. Lukaku, though, has become a far better player since then and he will be confident of starting his second spell with Chelsea by getting his name on the scoresheet.
Kevin de Bruyne
Manchester City midfielder Kevin de Bruyne was a late substitute in his side’s defeat to Spurs. City clearly missed the Belgian, whose passing and crossing was sorely missed by them. The defending champions have an easier game in Matchday 2 as they face newcomers Norwich City at home.
De Bruyne is recovering from an injury but with an entire week of training under his belt, he should be fit and raring to go against Norwich City. The midfielder has an excellent record against the Canaries, scoring twice and assisting twice in three Premier League games.
Bruno Fernandes
Bruno Fernandes kicked off the Premier League in the best possible fashion as he scored a hat-trick against Leeds United. He struck up a deadly partnership with fellow midfielder Paul Pogba against the Whites and he will hope to replicate the same against Southampton this weekend.
Fernandes will have fond memories of playing Southampton as he was part of the side that scored nine past them last season. The Portuguese attacking midfielder assisted twice and scored once in the 9-0 mauling and also scored in United’s 3-2 win against the Saints at the St. Mary’s last season.
Mohamed Salah
Like Fernandes, Mohamed Salah too had a fantastic start to the 2021-22 season. The Liverpool winger was involved in all three goals for his side against Norwich City. He set up the Reds’ first two goals and scored one himself, to round off a convincing display.
Liverpool have another fixture they will be expected to win this season when they face Burnley at home on Saturday in Matchday 2. Salah will be up against the Burnley left-back Charlie Taylor, who could be a weak link in The Clarets’ defence.
Son Heung-min
Tottenham forward Son Heung-min seems to have risen to the occasion and taken over from Harry Kane as the leader of the attack. The South Korean scored a fantastic goal against Manchester City which assured his side of the win last weekend.
It will be a homecoming of sorts for Spurs manager Nuno Espirito Santo, when his new side face off against Wolves, on Sunday. Son used his pace and dribbling to cause a lot of trouble to the City defence and he will be expected to do it once again when the North London club square off against Wolves at the Molineux in Matchday 2.