It was an exciting opening weekend of the new Premier League season that featured 34 goals.
Brentford announced themselves as a top-flight entity with a 2-0 home win over Arsenal on Friday. Manchester United made a statement by mauling traditional rivals Leeds United 5-1 at Old Trafford on Saturday, before Chelsea and Liverpool also displayed their title credentials by beating Crystal Palace and Norwich City respectively.
Watford returned to the Premier League in style with a 3-2 win over Aston Villa. On the other hand, Brighton, Leicester City, and Everton bagged three points in their season openers, while West Ham came from 2-1 down to beat Newcastle United 4-2 at St James’ Park.
Defending champions Manchester City endured a disappointing start to the new campaign, losing 1-0 to Tottenham Hotspur in north London that leaves Pep Guardiola and co. behind in the very early running for the Premier League crown.
Let’s take a look at the Top 5 players from matchday 1 of the Premier League:
Bruno Fernandes
Manchester United’s new season couldn’t have begun in a better way than the 5-1 thrashing of Leeds United in a jam-packed Old Trafford. The architect of the Reds’ big win over their bitter rivals was Bruno Fernandes, who scored an excellent hat-trick to help Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side lay down an early marker.
The Portuguese international, 25, was unstoppable with his pressing, intensity and movement, causing all kinds of trouble to the Leeds backline. He completed his hat-trick in the 60th minute in front of the Stretford End to become the first Manchester United player to achieve the feat on the opening day of a league season since Lou Macari vs Birmingham City in 1977-78.
Paul Pogba
Bruno Fernandes’ partner in crime, Paul Pogba was breathtakingly good with his passing range and running off the ball that had Leeds United completely rattled.
The Frenchman, 28, became only the seventh player to record four assists in a single Premier League game and the first to do it for Manchester United. The link-up between Pogba and Fernandes was sensational, with the former time and again cutting open the Whites defence with his incisive passing.
It was a performance that once again proved why he is one of the best midfielders in the world.
Michail Antonio
West Ham began the new season in some style, winning 4-2 at Newcastle United after finding themselves 2-1 behind in the first half.
It was a complete team effort led by Michail Antonio from the front, although he had a mixed afternoon at St James’ Park. After Pablo Fornals went down to a challenge from Jacob Murphy in the box, Antonio, 31, stepped up to take the spot-kick. He placed a soft penalty to the left of Freddie Woodman and the goalkeeper saved it, only for Tomas Soucek to rifle home the rebound.
However, just three minutes later, the West Ham striker redeemed himself by blasting a fantastic finish past Woodman from 12 yards out in a brilliant counter-attacking move to seal the deal.
Ismaila Sarr
Newly promoted Watford got off to a winning start on the opening day, with a 3-2 victory over against Aston Villa. Ismaila Sarr was arguably the Hornets’ best player on the pitch in the first half at Vicarage Road on Saturday.
The Senegalese international caused a lot of trouble to the Aston Villa defence with his pace, directness and movement, especially on the counter-attack. He created the opening goal, setting up Emmanuel Dennis in the box before the Nigerian turned provider before the break, with Sarr’s deflected strike beating the hapless Emi Martinez.
Japhet Tanganga
A Harry Kane-less Tottenham stunned the reigning Premier League champions Manchester City on the opening day that marked Nuno Espirito Santo’s debut in excellent fashion.
Son Heung-min’s superb goal after the break was the difference between both the sides, and while he hogged the limelight for Tottenham’s victory, Japhet Tanganga put in a Man of the Match display.
The young Tanganga was up against City’s new recruit Jack Grealish and England’s Euro 2020 star Raheem Sterling. But he coped brilliantly well with both tricky customers, barely giving them a sniff. He was strong in the air, aggressive in his approach and tenacious in his tackling before being substituted in the 83rd minute.
