TEAM: MANCHESTER CITY
Following their disappointing performance last season, it seems everyone has forgotten about the former champions who have won six of the last eight league titles.
On the first day of the season, they reminded everyone of their quality with a dominant performance, beating Wolves at Molineux with four unanswered goals. It could have easily been more.
Well done to Sunderland, Tottenham, Notts Forest, Liverpool, Arsenal and Leeds.
GOALKEEPER: DAVID RAYA (Arsenal)
Although he wasn’t overly exerted, a sign of a good keeper is to perform when called upon, no matter how sporadic.
In a game where Arsenal did not perform at their best, he had to make several important saves, including two outstanding stops to deny Man Utd. These actions preserved a clean sheet and earned him the man of the match award.
Shout out to Sunderland’s Roefs, Chelsea’s Sanchez. Palace’s Henderson, Forest’s Sels, Leeds’s Perri. Also, Villa Bizot, who was close to winning this.
DEFENDER: DANIEL BALLARD (Sunderland)
The hero in the playoffs has started where he left off last season with another hero’s performance.
Not content with just keeping the West Ham players at bay with a strong defensive performance, his superb header grabbed the all-important second goal to send his team on the way to a thrilling open day victory.
Well done also to his teammates Hume, Seelt and Alderete. Leeds duo Gudmundsson and Struijk. Villa’s Mings. Brighton’s Van Hecke. Fulham duo Tete & Bassey.
Arsenal duo Calafiori and Saliba. Man City duo Lewis and Stones. Chelsea’s Acheampong, Palace trio Guehi, Lacroix and Richards. Forest duo Murillo & Milenkovic and Man Utd’s De Ligt.
MIDFIELDER: TIJJANI REIJNDERS (Man City)
The Dutchman was voted the best midfielder in Serie A last season, and you can see why. He oozed class throughout at Molineax.,
Took his goal superbly well, first time on his left foot. Then expertly set up Haaland for City’s third. It felt like he had the freedom of Molineax and made it look easy.
Shout out to his teammates Boob, B.Silva & Cherki. Bournemouth’s Semenyo. Sunderland duo Xhaka & Adingra. Tottenham’s Kudus. Forest duo Anderson & Gibbs-White. Leeds’ Stach. Brighton’s O’Riley and Fulham’s J.King.
FORWARD: RICHARLISON (Tottenham)
This was the most difficult decision of the week, as there were three forwards who notched two goals and all deserved to be here.
However, I went with the Spurs man who, on the opening day, has already scored 50% of the league goals he got last season and scored a potential goal of the season.
Well done also to Forest’s Wood. Man City’s Haaland. Liverpool foursome, Ekiteke, Gakpo, Chiesa and Salah. Sunderland duo Mayenda and Isidor. Leeds’s Nmecha and Brentford’s Thiago
MANAGER: REGIS LE BRIS (Sunderland)
It’s not often a newly promoted team destroys an established Premier League team on the first day of the season.
However, Le Bris’ Sunderland were right up for it from the first whistle, on the front foot and steamrolled a lacklustre West Ham. He subbed one goalscorer, Mayender and brought on Isidor, who scored the third for a perfect opening day victory.
Shout out also to Man City’s Guardiola. Tottenham’s Frank. Leeds’ Farke and Arsenal’s Arteta.
UNSUNG HERO: ANTOINE SEMENYO (Bournemouth)
Though it was in a losing effort at Anfield, after enduring some racist abuse from a disgusting individual, he kept his composure and responded in the best possible way.
After going two down in the second half, it was his two goals that dragged his team level, the second a thrilling run and finish from his own box that deserved to get something from the game, but it wasn’t to be.
Well done to Arsenal’s Calafiori. Man City’s Lewis. Tottenham’s Kudus. Liverpool’s Ekitike and Sunderland’s Mayenda.
GAME: LIVERPOOL 4-2 BOURNEMOUTH
Liverpool opened the scoring in the first half when Ekitike took advantage of a fortunate ricochet to coolly slot home (37). It was two early in the second when Ekitike fed Gakpo, who glided past two on the edge of the box to slot inside the far post (49).
Bournemouth pulled a goal back when Brooks crossed for Sememyo to sweep home (64). He then levelled it when he ran from his own box to bamboozle the Liverpool defence to score (76).
Just when you thought Bournemouth were about to earn a point, substitute Chiesa’s instinctive volley put them ahead (88). In stoppage time, Salah’s right-footed effort sealed the points (90+4).
GOAL: RICHARLISON (Tottenham) vs Burnley
Tottenham were bossing the game and looking for more goals. On the right touchline, Porro found Kudus, just outside the left side of the box.
He stood up his maker, then beat him to the touchline and swung over a cross. As the ball came across, it was slightly behind Richarlison, who improvised to execute an impeccable scissor kick volley to slam the ball inside the near post.
FOOL: WEST HAM UNITED
There were several candidates, both individuals and teams. However, I went with the East Londoners, who will be very upset with their opening day performance.
I always say opening day is the most optimistic day of the season; however, to get rolled over by a team that came up via the playoffs is not only embarrassing but unacceptable, and the signs are worrying already. FOOLS!
