TEAM: BRIGHTON
Naturally, on the first day of the season, there were several very good performances and some unexpected ones.
The most unexpected was arguably Brighton’s, who, even with Man Utd’s recent issues, was still not expected to go to Old Trafford and turn them over with such confidence, but they played them off the park with two very well worked goals.
Well done also to Man City, Arsenal, Newcastle, Leeds and Chelsea. Also, Tottenham and Bournemouth were both close to winning this.
GOALKEEPER: ILLAN MESLIER (Leeds)
This was a very tough one for the first day of the season. There were not any real outstanding keeper performances, so I had to go more with stats.
Going by shots to saves ratio and quality of saves, I gave it to the Leeds keeper whose performance went a long way to help his team get three points on the first day of the season. Shout out also to Chelsea’s Mendy and Brighton’s Sanchez.
DEFENDER: WILLIAM SALIBA (Arsenal)
The Arsenal fans were questioning why he was out on loan all last season, and you can see why. As debuts go, it was an impressive one.
He looked comfortable and composed in the intense atmosphere of Selhurst Park and most importantly, his decision-making was top-class which helped his team to an opening day win and a clean sheet.
Well done also to his teammates Gabriel and Zinchenko. Brighton’s Dunk. Man City’s Cancelo. Leeds’ Kristensen. Palace’s Anderson.Spurs’s Dier. Chelsea’s Koulibaly, Bournemouth duo Kelly, as well as Lerma, who along with Newcastle’s Schar were both close to winning this.
MIDFIELDER: PASCAL GROSS (Brighton)
As always with this category, there was a fair few candidates, but the Brighton man whose two goals toppled United at Old Trafford wins it.
Both goals showed his eye to sniff out a chance, being in the right place at the right time and his awareness. His link up play during the game was also excellent.
Shout out also to his teammates Caicedo and Trossard. Chelsea duo Kante & Jorginho. Leicester trio Castagne, Dewsbury-Hall & Maddison. Man City’s De Bruyne. Bournemouth duo Pearson & Tavernier. Leeds’ Aaronson. Southampton’s Ward-Prowse. Newcastle duo Guimaraes & Joelinton also Spurs duo Sessegnon and Kulusevski.
FORWARD: ERLING HAALAND (Man City)
I am sure this will be one of many, but it was not a surprise he got off the mark on his debut. His pace and power won the penalty that he took himself and scored to open his account.
Then in the second half, he sealed the points with a lovely run and clinic finish and maybe with his intelligence and running off the ball would have had a hat-trick if he stayed on the pitch.
Well done also to Liverpool duo Nunez & Salah. Fulham’s Mitrovic. Brentford duo Toney & Da Silva. Arsenal trio Saka, Martinelli and Jesus. Bournemouth’s Moore. Leeds’ Rodrigo, Wolves’ Podence, Newcastle’s Wilson and Brighton’s Welbeck.
MANAGER: GRAHAM POTTER (Brighton)
I have to say, again, even with Man Utd’s issues, Brighton really impressed with the way they went about their business and played football throughout.
Brighton now has a clear way of playing, and no matter who they are playing against, they are going to play their football which is admirable of the manager.
I am glad they got their rewards on the opening day of the season with a first-ever win at Old Trafford. Shout out also to Bournemouth’s Parker and Tottenham’s Conte.
UNSUNG HERO: ALEXSANDAR MITROVIC (Fulham)
Obviously, not exactly unsung. It was hard to split him and the Man City striker as both won penalties and scored them, as well as another goal.
But as Fulham didn’t win the game, the city man, maybe harshly, just edged him. That said, he was arguably the more impressive performance against the likes of Van Dijk where he was a handful all game with his running on and off the ball, physicality, intelligence and all-around work rate.
Great performance. Well done also to Spurs’ Kulusevski and Leeds’ Aaronson who was close to winning this.
GAME: FULHAM 2-2 LIVERPOOL
In a pulsating first game of the season where the woodwork was hit four times, Fulham took the lead when Liverpool was still claiming a foul on Henderson.
Fulham didn’t stop to see they played on down the right when Kebano played Tete in down the right and his lovely far post cross was powered in by Mitrovic (32). In the second half, Liverpool equalised when Elliot played Salah in on the inside right channel, his right-footed cross was flicked in by substitute Nunez for a debut goal (64).
Less than 10 minutes later, Matip’s poor pass was picked up by Soloman who played it forward to Mitrovic, and he tricked Van Dijk into fouling him in the box, which he took himself to make it 2-1 (72).
Liverpool equalised when Alexander-Arnold played a chipped ball into the box which flicked off a defender’s head to Nunez who could only control for Salah to side foot home (80).
GOAL1: FABIAN SCHAR (Newcastle) v Notts Forest
As Newcastle pilled on the pressure, they once again put the ball into the box, which was headed out by a Forest defender. The ball then came to Schar some 30 yards out.
He then quickly drove forward with the ball, to just outside the right corner of the box, then unleashed a powerful, unstoppable effort that flew in the near post, just clipping the inside of the near post.
Well done also to goals from Brighton’s Gross and Leicester’s Dewsbury-Hall.
FOOL: MANCHESTER UNITED FC
They were the fools of the season last season with their worst Premier League finish in their history.
New season, new manager, not many, but a few new players, however, the same old issues for United.
They started well, but Brighton’s football outshone them in their back yard and United got what they deserved for what it seemed their lack of intensity, work rate, desire and above all, quality. FOOLS!
