The Premier League returned last week. And with it returned those blistering goals, mind boggling saves, the roller coaster of emotions and a whole host of stories to chew over for the rest of the week. While some debutantes caught our eyes, made the back pages for their absence. Sports is always a teacher and even more a gossip-maker.
Here are 10 things we learned from the first gameweek of the Premier League.
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#1 Joe Hart might be on his way out of Manchester City
Pep Guardiola’s first season in charge of Manchester City got off to a winning start even though it was not thrilling. A late own goal from Sunderland debutant Paddy McNair sealed all three points for the Blues, giving them a 2-1 victory in their season opener.
However, the teamsheet made more noise than the final scoreline. The first big move that Guardiola made since taking over the helm at The Etihad took everyone by shock as the Spaniard called up Willy Caballero which meant Joe Hart had to take a seat on the bench.
In the post match conference, Guardiola seemed nonplussed about the situation and hoped that Hart would fight for his place between the sticks. However, with Claudio Bravo reportedly on the verge of joining Guardiola’s revolution at the blue half of Manchester, Hart might have to seek a way out if is to play any regular minutes.
With Everton sniffing around and having a load of cash to splash, the England international might have played his last game in the blue of Manchester City.
#2 Sadio Mane is here to stay
From the moment Liverpool broke the bank to get the services of Sadio Mane, the judgment brigade has been out to make sense of the move. Whilst some believe the £34 million spent by Jurgen Klopp to land the former Southampton man on Merseyside is worth it, others were not so impressed with the move.
The fleet-footed winger has certainly drawn admirers for his pacy attacking play, but many suggested that he has been too inconsistent to warrant such a huge transfer fee. However, the Senegalese took on all comers on his Liverpool debut against Arsenal and shut up any naysayers as he produced a debut to remember.
Not only did he produce a blistering goal, the Liverpool seemed to feed off of his exuberance and energy. If the opening weekend is anything to go by, Mane’s arrival at Liverpool might just take a notch further up, adding a new dimension to the Liverpool attack.
#3 Leicester might be in for a rude awakening
The first biggest surprise of the Premier League season was delivered in the very first match. Hull City marked their return to the Premier League with a win over the defending champions, Leicester City and returned the romanticism of football, but this time at the expense of Leicester.
Leicester took the Premier League by storm last season, racing off to win the title in a manner unforeseen. It was called as one of the biggest miracles in sports history. But that is all in the past now. This is a new campaign, and just like the last one, we might be in for another surprise and if the Foxes are not careful, it might come at their expense.
Claudio Ranieri’s men have a big target on their back now and things will have to change now. With people now giving respect to them, they will have to find new ways to score goals and not only depend on their blistering counter attacks with opponents now willing to sit back.
#4 Arsenal need to buckle up and fast
Arsenal for the third season running had a horror start at home. This time around it was Liverpool who came to The Emirates and blew the Gunners away and at a point of time it looked like was going to be a rout with Jurgen Klopp’s men winning 4-1 at one point of time.
Whilst Arsenal did pull back to regain some credibility, you can feel the ground slipping away underneath Arsene Wenger’s feet and it’s not even the second gameweek of the season. Although the Gunners were missing their spine with the trio of Olivier Giroud, Laurent Koscielny and Mesut Ozil, this just goes to show how thin the Arsenal squad is at the moment.
There have again been calls for the head of Arsene Wenger. While that is not likely to happen, something needs to change at the Arsenal headquarters. The Gunners need to invest in the transfer market and bring in reinforcements if have any ambition of challenging for the title.
#5 Eden Hazard is back
If anybody had doubts over the Belgian dynamo, they shouldn’t have anymore. Hazard had to endure his worst league season last time around as the last Premier League campaign saw him struggle to find his form and confidence.
However, if Monday night was any indication, the diminutive Belgian was back to his free flowing best. Hazard in full flow on the footballing field is a thing of beauty and for opposition, a menace they would rather not deal with.
In Chelsea’s season opener against West Ham, the nimble footed winger threatened time and again from the left, waltzing through the Hammers’ defence at times. The 25-year-old ended the game with a 100% success rate on 6 of his take-ons and a goal from the penalty spot to help Antonio Conte grab all three points on his managerial debut for Chelsea.
#6 Jermain Defoe’s still got it
There are strikers and then there are natural goalscorers. And not many know the path to the back of the net as well as Jermain Defoe in the Premier League. Even at the age of 33, the England international is a handful with his nifty movement and immaculate finishing skills and Sunderland are lucky to have such a player.
The Black Cats faithful were again witnesses to Defoe’s predatory instincts in front of goal as he dragged the Wearsiders back into the game with his goal. In doing so, he became only the 8th player in Premier League history to score in 16 different seasons.
If David Moyes and Sunderland are to make good of this season, they need goals and they should be thankful that they have the services of Jermain Defoe.
#7 West Ham’s season might end before it even begins
An injury crisis to begin the season, Dmitri Payet looking a bit uninterested and a strikeforce that includes Carroll and Valencia. Things aren’t looking too great for the Hammers as of now. However, Bilic is a shrewd operator, known to get the best out of a limited team. He has to ensure that West Ham are pumped up for the next game.
In a hyper-competitive Premier League, a bad start may be the difference between qualifying for the Europa League and finishing above Bournemouth and Burnley.
Two to three bodies need to be brought in and it may be time to look at another option in midfield as Noble should not be playing in the center of the park for a club with European ambitions.
#8 Zlatan is the swag that Manchester United needed
Zlatan Ibrahimovic announced his debut in the Premier League with a stunning goal and a comfortable 3-1 win over Bournemouth. In the last three years, Manchester United have not failed to win the title but have also failed to instil the fear factor amongst their opponents going into a game against them.
However, this summer has been a summer of change; a summer of laying down the marker at Old Trafford. Whilst it began with announcing the arrival of Jose Mourinho to the Theatre of Dreams, the real statement of intention was made when they were able to lure Zlatan Ibrahimovic to the club.
The Swede not only brings in a real goalscoring threat up front but also the mentality of a winner and the swag of a champion. And that positive attitude seems to have rubbed off on others. At Turf Moor on Sunday, Manchester United at no moment looked like second favourites. They mean business from the outset and that is good news foe Manchester United fans.
#9 Juan Mata might end up playing a full season under Jose Mourinho
Jose Mourinho’s arrival at Old Trafford earlier this summer immediately brought Juan Mata to the spotlight. It was under Mourinho that Mata’s career at Stamford Bridge came to an end as the ‘Special one’ shifted him out of London for being unable to buy into his system and demands. And for most of the summer, the transfer rumour mill has been abuzz linking Mata with all clubs possible.
However, Mata seems to have found a new lease on life under Mourinho. And after his performance on the opening day, it seems highly unlikely that the Spaniard will be shifted out of Old Trafford.
#10 Burnley are the early favourites for the drop
There is no other way of saying this. Minus the energy of Gray, this is a Championship squad through and through. There isn’t a game changer in there. For all their energy and hustle, how confident would the fans be of Mee, Vokes, Heaton, Flanagan, Arfield, Boyd and Barnes helping the club stay up? New recruits are desperately required before the transfer window slams shut.
The question is how attractive are Burnley in the first place? Who can they turn to? Recent rumours have linked the club to a host of Championship players. More of the same then? As you were in the Championship seems to be the motto around these parts. Not a great motto when you are playing in one of the most competitive leagues in the world
