Welcome to the first round up of week one of the 2020/21 season, exciting times ahead for whoever you support and despite no fans being allowed into the stadium, the excitement of the return of
football has been building for weeks and now we are under way.
I have been doing a lot of work from home, on zoom, Microsoft Teams links to supporters around the country and I have just competed a zoom interview for a South African launch of the Cadbury ‘Taste The Action’ where Football fans in South Africa can win a trip to the UK to attend a Premier Leagaue game as a VIP guest. The new partnership between Cadbury’s
Chocolate company, and Spurs, Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester United and Manchester City kicks off next week, so look out for the special Cadbury Chocolate bars with all the teams names on the Chocolate bar.
BRIGHTON 1 V 3 CHELSEA
Frank Lampard says his expensively reshaped Chelsea side “have to have intentions to be up there” with champions Liverpool after they began their campaign with victory at Brighton.
Chelsea finished 33 points adrift of the Reds last season and lost both league fixtures against them but have spent around £200m this summer.
Werner was pacy and prominent in the victory, winning a 23rd-minute penalty when he was hauled down by Brighton keeper Mat Ryan, Jorginho scoring the resulting spot-kick.
The new signing had ice strapped to his leg at full-time following the collision to win the penalty but said he would be fit to face Liverpool in Sunday’s game at Stamford Bridge.
Brighton were back on level terms after 54 minutes when Leandro Trossard’s 20-yard shot squirmed past Chelsea keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga.
Chelsea regained their lead two minutes later when Reece James ripped a 25-yard right-foot shot high past Ryan.
Brighton should have equalised when Lewis Dunk somehow headed wide at the far post, paying the price for the miss when Kurt Zouma’s shot was deflected past Ryan by Adam Webster.
Click here for the goals – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WKl8ineApqM
SHEFFIELD UNITED 0 V 2 WOLVES
Raul Jimenez struck in the third minute of the two sides’ Premier League opener before Romain Saiss headed in a second soon after.
The home side looked sluggish and struggled to create many meaningful chances in the first half, with their first shot on target not arriving until seven minutes before the half-time, when Oli McBurnie headed at Rui Patricio.
A half-time team talk by Chris Wilder had the desired impact as United came out flying in the second half, with John Fleck striking the base of the post with a powerful low drive before John Lundstram just failed to get to a teasing Billy Sharp cross.
However, only a superb save by Blades debutant Aaron Ramsdale denied Wolves a third on the break as the 22-year-old pushed a Saiss strike on to the post before Jimenez shot wide from the rebound.
Click here for the highlights – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YoAcazj2HEI
WEST HAM UNITED 0 V 2 NEWCATLE UNITED
Spurs were linked to buying Callum Wilson and it could be the one that got away for Tottenham, after his goal scoring debut for Newcastle, Debutants Callum Wilson and Jeff Hendrick both scored as Newcastle made a winning start to the 2020-21 Premier League season against an uninspiring West Ham.
Wilson, a £20m summer signing from Bournemouth, was a threat throughout as the Magpies won their opening game for the first time since 2012.
Steve Bruce’s side were well worth their victory despite the Hammers twice hitting the crossbar.
Wilson prodded in Hendrick’s flick-on to open the scoring, while the Republic of Ireland midfielder, who joined on a free transfer, sealed victory with a late effort into the top-left corner.
While Pablo Fornals and Angelo Ogbonna both hit crossbar for the hosts, too often their attacks lacked the cutting edge to trouble a resolute Newcastle defence.
And it ensured their miserable recent starts to Premier League campaigns continued, as they became the first club to lose their opening match for the fifth consecutive season.
Click here for the highlights – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2RfDriUcpo
LIVERPOOL 4 V 3 LEEDS UNITED
This was one of the best games I have seen for a long time and what a way to open the season for all football fans, no matter who you support.
Leeds United made a dramatic return to the Premier League after a 16-year absence as they produced a magnificent display only to lose to a late penalty in a thriller against champions Liverpool at Anfield.
Liverpool, back in action after winning their first title in 30 years, led three times but were pegged back on each occasion by Marcelo Bielsa’s fearless side before this superb match was settled by hat-trick hero Mohamed Salah’s spot-kick.
Leeds looked to be leaving Anfield with a fully deserved point only for new £30m striker Rodrigo, on as a substitute, to produce a shocking challenge on Fabinho in the 88th minute, leaving Salah to give Liverpool victory after a serious scare.
Salah made it a nightmare start for last season’s Championship winners when he drilled home a penalty in the fourth minute after his shot was handled by another Leeds new boy, Germany defender Robin Koch.
Leeds produced the perfect response as Jack Harrison drilled a low right-foot shot past Alisson only for poor defending to allow Virgil van Dijk to restore Liverpool’s advantage as he headed in Andy Robertson’s corner.
Van Dijk was badly at fault when he gifted Patrick Bamford Leeds’ second before a searing strike from Salah completed the scoring in a chaotic first half.
In a game which also contained four disallowed goals, Leeds were not to be brushed aside and were level again after 66 minutes when a perfect first touch and volley from Mateusz Klich flashed past Alisson.
Man of the match Salah had the final word, however, after that reckless late challenge from Rodrigo.
Let us hope for more games like this, a wonderful game to watch, even without fans in the stadium.
Click here for the highlights, you must watch this ! – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8WBfyjt7rP8
CRYSTAL PALACE 1 V 0 SOUTHAMPTON
Crystal Palace made a winning start to the 2020-21 Premier League season as a volley by Wilfried Zaha proved enough to sink Southampton.
The Ivory Coast forward, who has repeatedly been linked with a move away from Selhurst Park, was unmarked when he produced a clinical finish from Andros Townsend’s impressive cross.
Nathan Redmond wasted a great chance following a slick Southampton move, while Palace keeper Vicente Guaita produced an excellent save to keep out a volley by Che Adams.
Guaita then produced a reflex save to deny Danny Ings a last-gasp equaliser.
Ex Spurs fall back and now Saints defender Kyle Walker-Peters had a red card downgraded to a yellow in the second half after referee Jonathan Moss reviewed his foul on Tyrick Mitchell on the pitch-side monitor.
Moss had already shown the former Tottenham player a red card before leaving the pitch to review the challenge on the screen.
Officials have been told to use pitch-side monitors more often this season for subjective decisions – such as goals, red cards and penalties – rather than rely on the video assistant referee.
Click here for the highlights – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPYzne1OcEs
FULHAM 0 V 3 ARSENAL
My Arsenal friends gave me a bit of ribbing, about this first day victory for the Gunners, one thing is crucial for Arsenal and that is that they must keep aubamayang, his link up play with Lacazette worked well and will give many teams problems.
I of course being a Spurs fan, hopes he leaves 🙂
Debutants Gabriel and Willian impressed as Arsenal blew away promoted Fulham in the opening game of the Premier League season.
Former Chelsea winger Willian had a hand in all three goals and Gabriel, a £23m signing from Lille scored in his first game in English football.
Arsenal were highly impressive, while Fulham caused themselves too many problems at the back.
Alexandre Lacazette scored the opener from close range after Willian’s effort was saved.
Centre-back Gabriel then scored from Willian’s corner with his shoulder. Willian, who also hit a post from a free-kick, picked out Pierre-Emerick Aubamayeng with a perfect cross-field ball and the captain curled home Arsenal’s third.
Arteta admitted he was surprised at how well Gabriel played on his first game since March when Ligue 1 was curtailed.
“He hadn’t played any football for six months so to come and play a game in the Premier League after training with the team for three or four days is a big task,” he told BBC Sport.
“The boy showed a lot of character and what he can do. He can still improve a lot but he had a really good game.
“Willian knows the league, the country and is very settled here so I knew his performance would settle straight away.”
Rhis could be a long season for the FGulham faithful.
Click here for the highlights – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ebrz6ZKSHAI
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 0 V 1 EVERTON
This was not the start we wanted, it was a lack lustre peformance from Spujrs and they will heve to piclk up their level of performance for theiur next game against Southampton.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s brilliant header ensured new-look Everton made a flying start to the Premier League season with victory at Tottenham.
Calvert-Lewin gave Hugo Lloris no chance after getting between Toby Alderweireld and Eric Dier to connect with Lucas Digne’s in-swinging free-kick to earn the Toffees a first win over Spurs since 2012.
In a high-octane encounter, Jordan Pickford produced two excellent saves to keep out Dele Alli and Matt Doherty, who was making his debut after signing from Wolves.
But with new signing James Rodriguez in excellent form, Everton fully deserved their win after a hard-working performance.
Everton should have taken the lead in the early stages but Richarlison lost his footing after rounding Spurs keeper Lloris.
Click here for the highlights – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nz2MxR4lifk
WEST BROMICH ALBION 0 V 3 LEICESTER CITY
Jamie Vardy scored a second-half penalty double as Leicester condemned West Brom to a disappointing return to the Premier League.
After goalkeeper Sam Johnstone twice came to the home side’s rescue with saves to deny Harvey Barnes in the first half, new signing Timothy Castagne broke the deadlock when he nodded home a far-post cross from fellow Belgian Dennis Praet nine minutes after the restart.
Vardy, last season’s Premier League top scorer, then got up to score from the spot after being dragged back by Kyle Bartley as he chased into the box to support a move that saw Johnstone deny former Baggies loanee Barnes for a third time.
The 33-year-old repeated the feat 10 minutes later after Dara O’Shea tripped James Justin.
As playmaker James Maddison made a second-half appearance off the bench after recovering from a hip operation that crucially caused him to miss the end of the season, it was a good day for manager Brendan Rodgers and his team, who were winning this particular fixture for the fifth time in a row.
For West Brom, it was a brutal reminder of the task they face merely trying to stay in the top flight.
All three promoted teams lost on the opening weekend and like Fulham, who were beaten by a similar scoreline against Arsenal on Saturday there are early question marks over whether they have the quality to survive ??
Click here for the highlights – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFW06uHkXkw
Please see following my Premier League Predictions for Week 2 :-
Everton 2 v 1 West Bromwich Albion
Leeds United 3 v 1 Fulham
Manchester United3 v 1Crystal Palace
Arsenal 3 v 0 West Ham United
Southampton1 v 2 Tottenham Hotspur
Newcastle United3 V 1 Brighton & Hove Albion
Chelsea 1 V 2 Liverpool
Leicester City 3 V 1 Burnley
Aston Villa 2 V 1 Sheffield United
Wolverhampton Wanderers 1 V 3 Manchester City
Have a good week
Gary
eLan Ambassador