Premier League is back: what we learned from the opening weekend

1. Erling Haaland scores goals…

Looking at his club and international career goal stats – for Bryne, Molde, Red Bull Salzburg, Borussia Dortmund and Norway – Erling Haaland has pretty much enjoyed a stellar record everywhere he’s been. Now at Manchester City, the Norwegian striker opened his Premier League account with a double in the 2-0 win at West Ham.

In the Community Shield defeat against Liverpool last week, Haaland delivered a “low-key performance” as City were beaten 3-1, said Phil McNulty on the BBC. This may have left City’s rivals clutching “desperately at a collection of straws” that he may not bring goals to Pep Guardiola’s team. However, against the Hammers he gave an “all-round display” as the champions made “the smoothest of starts to their title defence”.

The striker “brought a new dimension” to the City team, said Miguel Delaney in The Independent. His “early impact” looks “ominous” for the rest of the Premier League.

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Results

• Crystal Palace 0 Arsenal 2
• Fulham 2 Liverpool 2
• AFC Bournemouth 2 Aston Villa 0
• Leeds United 2 Wolverhampton Wanderers 1
• Newcastle United 2 Nottingham Forest 0
• Tottenham Hotspur 4 Southampton 1
• Everton 0 Chelsea 1
• Leicester City 2 Brentford 2
• Manchester United 1 Brighton & Hove Albion 2
• West Ham United 0 Manchester City 2

2. Same old United

A new manager, a fresh start, but the “same old problems” for Manchester United, said The Telegraph. On the opening day at Old Trafford, Pascal Gross scored twice as Brighton condemned Erik ten Hag to a 2-1 defeat in his first competitive match as United boss. Graham Potter’s side “deservedly” took the points – it was “no shock” and certainly no “smash and grab”.

On Sky Sports former United captain Roy Keane said that Brighton should be given credit before criticising the Red Devils. “That’s what probably hurts the most for United today,” said Dom Farrell on SportingNews.com. “It’s all so familiar.”

3. Brentford are the ‘comeback kings’

Brentford have a “happy knack of turning games on their head”, said Reuters. Last season only Liverpool (20) earned more points than Brentford (15) from losing positions. And yesterday “they did it again” – coming back from two goals down to draw 2-2 at Leicester City. It was the “first time the Foxes have given up a two-goal home advantage in the Premier League since 2003”.

4. Spurs make a ‘statement’

Tottenham’s “impressive comeback” against Southampton was “an indication of the progress made over the summer”, said The Guardian. Making a statement in their opening fixture, Antonio Conte’s squad “now has the depth to compete on all fronts”.

Goals from Ryan Sessegnon, Eric Dier, Dejan Kulusevski and an own goal from Mohammed Salisu saw Spurs start the season with a “stunning 4-1 drubbing” of the Saints, said SportsKeeda. Playing “beautiful attacking football”, it could be “a sign of things to come in the months ahead”.

5. Reds performance like ‘a defeat’

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp said his team’s performance in the 2-2 draw at Fulham felt like a defeat. Aleksandar Mitrovic scored both goals for the hosts as Liverpool’s Darwin Nunez opened his Premier League account and Mohamed Salah spared the Reds’ “embarrassment”, said Sky Sports. Speaking after the match, Klopp admitted the best aspect of the game was the result. “We got a point from a really bad game,” he said. “The result was fine, I don’t think we deserved more than that. The performance can be massively improved.”