Well the first weekend of a long Premier League campaign is in the books with all teams having played a game. All except Manchester City and Newcastle who face off later today. So how did the first weekend shape up? Here is my review of the games played this weekend in the Premiership.
So kicking off the new season were Liverpool who hosted Stoke City. The Suarez incident had been the main focus of Liverpool fans all season and for Stoke fans the lack of quality signings was a concern. After last season it was essential that Liverpool got off to a good start. The surprise for me was the fact they let their Number 1 goalkeeper leave on a transfer and brought in Mignolet as a replacement. It has to be said he did start off nervously with a fluffed attempt to clear a cross almost resulting in a goal. Unfortunately for the visitors Robert Huth could only hit the crossbar.
Up the other end, Sturridge and Aspas looked good and new signing Kolo Toure went close. After the initial nervous start Liverpool started to look like the side I remember from a few years ago with McManaman, Fowler and co. With less than ten minutes to the half Daniel Sturridge scored to give Liverpool a lead they would keep until the final whistle. Ironically it was the opposing Manager who had initially sold the winning goal scorer to Chelsea while both at Manchester City.
Liverpool were dominant but couldn’t find that second goal to make them comfortable which almost cost them two points towards the end of the game. Three minutes from time Daniel Agger handled in the area and up stepped Walters to attempt to equalize. The floppy Mignolet of the first half had progressed to an assured number 1 by the end of the second half. Good start for Liverpool and to be honest Stoke can also be pleased a little, pushing Liverpool at Anfield has to be positive.
A new look Norwich were ahead and then behind to a Everton side boasting their new Manager, Roberto Martinez. Probably a result both teams will take for their first game of the new season. Van Wolfswinkle looked lively up front early on but despite some good efforts both teams went in at the half without a goal. The second half started with a goal for City, but it wasn’t Ricky Van! A determined run from Simon Whittiker looked to have been in vein when his initial shot stuck the post and back out. Luck was on his side though as it came straight back into his path and the second time saw the net bulge. However the lead only lasted 10 minutes before Everton youngster Ross Barkley leveled up the game with a superb strike from outside the box. Four minutes later and it was the visitors turn to take the lead. A good save from Ruddy fell kindly to Seamus Coleman who reacted quicker than Garrido and Redmond to tap the ball in.
Twenty minutes after Norwich’s first goal of the game came their second and it was a fantastic header for the Dutch debutant, Ricky Van! Think Ivanovic in the Europa League Final last season. Norwich secured the point late on when Ruddy saved at point blank range to finish the game with what was a fair result.
Fulham traveled to Sunderland and got the 1-0 win. As I said in my preview to this weeks games the volume of players Sunderland have bought over the summer could hinder them and certainly that was the way it looked. A fantastic header from Kasami was the only goal of the game and although the home team looked the better side they just couldn’t make it happen in the final third. The only bit of concern for Fulham was the injury to new keeper Stekelenburg who hurt his shoulder saving from Altidore.
West Brom and Southampton were proving that the Premier League is not just for the youngsters with Nicolas Anelka (34) in the West Brom side and Rickie Lambert (31) in for Southampton. In my preview of this game I couldn’t pick a winner and indeed couldn’t see a goal and I was so close. I was already to go into smug mode when in the 90th minute when Shaw was brought down in the area by Mulumbu and Ricky Lambert converted from the spot. Up until that point it was pretty much a disappointing game, although Southampton certainly glad they walked out of the Midlands with three points.
It is certainly going to be a tough season for Cardiff and they certainly could have had an easier start to the season than away to West Ham, and it didn‘t help that their new big money striker was out through injury. Less than 15 minutes in and the new boys were a goal down. From there it could have been a disaster for the Welsh side as the Hammers rained shots down on the Cardiff goal. As it was though they had to wait until just under 15 minutes from the end to double their lead and seal the win.
Courtesy: BBC
Now where to start with the Arsenal game against Villa. Now to most pundits predicted Arsenal wins and some were bold enough to say that Aston Villa would get a point. Only your truly was bold enough to see Villa would take all the points at the Emirates on Saturday. Villa struggled last season but they survived, and we all know what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger and that was what we saw on Saturday. The Gunners fans were annoyed before a ball was kicked due to the lack on incoming faces at Arsenal but that was alleviated a little after six minutes when Giroud opened the scoring. The Villa defense didn’t deal with the Arsenal break very well and Villa fans must have been concerned it would be a drubbing on the opening day.
A great run by Agbonglahor on twenty minutes saw the Englishman brought down by Szczesny. The referee, quite rightly, allowed a few seconds to see if there was an advantage but when the ball hit the side netting a penalty was awarded. Arsenal felt hard done by with the decision but in my mind they should have been counting their blessings their keeper was still on the pitch. With the Villa mans pace it could be argued it was a goal scoring opportunity and therefore straight red. As it was a yellow was produced and Benteke stepped up, and scored from the rebound of the initially saved penalty.
Second half and another penalty for Villa saw Benteke get his second goal. Villa ha dthe lead and it was very much deserved. Szczesny’s clown act at the end of the first half combined with Fabian Delph’s strike of the post early in the second meant Villa were finding confidence, and Arsenal were rattled. It was a slightly debatable penalty as this time I feel the Arsenal player did contact the ball before the player. However the balls direction didn’t change and so you can understand at the fast pace of the game why it was felt he had taken the player and penalty given.
What will make it harder for Arsenal fans is not just the penalty but the fact a yellow card was given. Later in the game Koscielny lunged at Wiemann and that was the second yellow and off. Villa could have defended deep and held onto the win, and in parts they did, but they also kept their eyes on an attacking chance. That came five minutes from time when Villa broke from an Arsenal corner and was finished brilliantly by Luna. The fans anger turned quite clearly from the referee and toward the Arsenal bench.
The last game of the Saturday came at Liberty Stadium and a very good result for David Moyes and Manchester United against Swansea. I was one of the guys that thought United would struggle in this game and heap pressure onto Moyes, but I was wrong. For the record I still think they will struggle and finish fourth this season but credit where credit is due, this was a great opening statement, although they did have to wait until after the half hour mark before opening the scoring.
Van Persie and Welbeck reiterated the Rooney as back up stance of David Moyes with a goal each two minutes apart and give the Champions a comfortable half time chat. Before the goals Swansea were dominant having the ball in the net only for it to be ruled offside and then moments later the United defense looked all at sea with De Gea saving the day. From that United went a goal up after a great scooped pass from Giggs fell to RVP who had to contort himself to volley the ball past Vorm. The second goal was just a tap in for Welbeck after Swansea went to sleep.
Just after an hour Rooney came on and ten minutes later laid the ball of to RVP who scored his second and United’s third. Swansea pulled one back as Bony scored his first Premiership goal but too little too late. Rooney then supplied Welbeck who scored the fourth and United got the convincing win. Interestingly though Rooney didn’t join in with either goal celebration so how much longer he will be there is still not any clearer.
Two games on Sunday saw a Bale-less Tottenham take on Crystal Palace and a Soldado penalty separate the two London sides. Ian Holloway had every right to feel angry with more than a few decisions went against his side. They should feel happy that they ran Tottenham so tight but it still leaves a bad taste in the mouth when decisions like this happen to change the game. I am sure Holloway will get a fine for his post match comments, and it will be the first of many this season. He says what he thinks and although I personally would have given the penalty myself I still like the guy and cannot wait to hear the gems he comes up with throughout the season.
Finally the Special One, now the Happy One returned to the Stamford Bridge dugout to face Steve Bruce’s Hull City side. After 25 minutes Chelsea were 2-0 up and it was just a case of whether they would be in the mood to add more. Clearly they were not in that mood and that would be how it stayed.
Worth to point out though that Lampard missed a penalty in the opening five minutes, which we have seen many times before while wearing the England whites but not that often in the Chelsea blue. Oscar scored the opening goal when played on side by Davis before slotting calmly past McGregor. Lampard made amends for his penalty miss with a fantastic free kick from way outside the area. Lampard finding the top right hand corner and beating the keeper after the Hull wall disintegrated.
With two teams still to play already some big questions have been raised about certain teams and what their seasons will hold for them. One thing is for sure, I for one will be there every step of the way.
