The new Premier League season’s Matchday 2 is yet to be completed with West Ham hosting Leicester City at the London Stadium tonight. However, for title challengers like Liverpool, Manchester City and Chelsea, it turned out to be a great weekend for their fans.
Liverpool kicked off the weekend with a comfortable 2-0 win over Burnley at Anfield, thereby, maintaining their 100 per cent start to the season. Aston Villa defeated Newcastle United 2-0 at Villa Park to condemn Steve Bruce’s side to back-to-back defeats. A London derby between Brentford and Crystal Palace ended in a 0-0 stalemate, while Leeds United and Everton played out an entertaining 2-2 draw at Elland Road.
Following the opening weekend defeat to Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester City responded in a stunning manner at the Etihad Stadium by thrashing newly-promoted Norwich City 5-0. Brighton continued their impressive start to the new season with a 2-0 success over newbies Watford.
Tottenham boss Nuno Espirito Santo returned to Molineux for the first time after leaving Wolves at the end of last season and haunted his former employers, with Dele Alli’s spot-kick in the first half proving the difference on Sunday, which also witnessed Manchester United being held to a frustrating 1-1 draw by Southampton at St Mary’s Stadium.
Elsewhere, Chelsea displayed their title credentials by comfortably beating Arsenal 2-0 at the Emirates Stadium, with Romelu Lukaku scoring on his Blues’ return.
Let’s take a look at the Top 5 players from Matchday 2 of the Premier League
Sadio Mane
Liverpool welcomed their fans back to Anfield by clinching back-to-back victories in the new Premier League season, with Sadio Mane playing a big role in the victory over Burnley.
Diogo Jota opened the scoring for the Reds and Jurgen Klopp thought his team had doubled the lead towards the end of the first half, only for Mohamed Salah’s effort to be ruled out for offside by VAR. The points were ultimately made safe by Sadio Mane in the second half.
The Senegalese winger smashed home a Trent Alexander-Arnold’s tee up past Nick Pope, finishing off a captivating team move that was started right from the back in typical fashion by Virgil van Dijk.
Gabriel Jesus
Gabriel Jesus didn’t score in Manchester City’s 5-0 rout of Norwich City in Matchday 2 but he was heavily involved throughout the game.
The Brazilian seemed to relish his new role off the right flank and his pace, delivery and movement created three of City’s five goals. His low cross across the face of the goal gave record signing Jack Grealish his first goal before guiding Kyle Walker’s through ball into the path of Raheem Sterling for the Englishman to score the Sky Blues’ fourth.
It was a top display from Jesus and only that truly signifies his importance to Pep Guardiola’s side.
Yves Bissouma
Brighton cruised to a second successive victory in the new Premier League campaign with a 2-0 success over Watford in Matchday 2.
Yves Bissouma was one of the standout players for the Seagulls, helping his team dominate possession and territory with his passing skills and game reading. He pounced upon a stray pass from William Troost-Ekong to Tom Cleverley and teed up Neal Maupay, who scored Brighton’s second in the first half.
The Malian international was literally unplayable in the middle of the park against Watford, underlining his sheer importance to Graham Potter’s side.
Reece James
Playing at right wing-back, Reece James registered a goal and an assist in Chelsea’s victory over Arsenal. He demonstrated his attacking quality and defensive nous at the Emirates Stadium, bombing up and down throughout the game.
The England international tested the Arsenal backline with well-timed runs and crosses down the right flank. James’ adventurous runs and movement allowed him to assist Romelu Lukaku and get a goal himself.
Undoubtedly, the young defender repaid Thomas Tuchel’s faith in him with a Man of the Match performance against Chelsea’s London rivals.
Romelu Lukaku
Thomas Tuchel started Romelu Lukaku—his record signing—against Arsenal and the big Belgian put in a near-perfect performance on his return as the Blues’ leading man.
The Belgian scored a simple tap-in from a Reece James pass to silence the Emirates Stadium within 15 minutes of the game. The 28-year-old was brilliant to watch on the eye, terrorising the Arsenal backline with his hold-up play throughout the game.
Heavily involved as he linked menacingly with Mount and Havertz up front, Lukaku tried picking up threatening positions between the lines and created problems for the hosts with his pace and power. On his return to English football, he truly couldn’t have hoped for a better start.
