5 talking points from the Premier League opening weekend

Gameweek 1 kicked off the 2023/24 Premier League season this weekend and with the entire video games within the rearview mirror, listed here are the principle speaking factors.

Onerous to cease Haaland

The opening match on Friday night time noticed Burnley welcome treble-winning Manchester Metropolis to Turf Moor in a recreation that many residence followers weren’t eager for.

That pessimism was duly affirmed because the Cityzens held a two-thirds majority of the possession for the complete 90 minutes, fired eight photographs on-target in direction of James Trafford’s aim, and waltzed to a 3-0 victory.

As anticipated, the principle affect of the Metropolis assault, Erling Haaland, discovered himself on the scoresheet twice throughout the first 45 minutes, and it took him lower than 240 seconds to hit the again of the online.

Final season’s golden boot winner is stage with Newcastle’s Alexander Isak within the race to be this marketing campaign’s main scorer, but when Friday’s match is something to go by, he will probably be robust to cease.

Nobody-season surprise

Newcastle United are prime of the Premier League.

Having secured Champions League soccer final season due to their fourth-placed end, simply 4 factors behind Manchester United, The Magpies continued their speedy development right into a top-of-the-table facet on Saturday due to their 5-1 victory over Aston Villa.

Though a scoreline of that dimension can typically exaggerate how one-sided a match was, Newcastle deserved each aim with 13 photographs heading in the right direction from 17 taken and having loved 53% of the possession.

Eddie Howe’s facet couldn’t have requested for a greater begin to their season with the necessity to combat in 4 competitions this yr, and with a recreation on the Etihad subsequent on their agenda, we might be set for a cracker between two in-form groups.

A expensive late resolution

Within the ultimate recreation of gameweek one between Manchester United and Wolverhampton Wanderers, it was the hosts that floor out a victory beneath the lights at Outdated Trafford.

Coming into the night, it was anticipated that the Crimson Devils would glide previous Wolves in a facile method, nevertheless, that assumption was removed from the reality.

Gary O’Neil’s facet largely out-battled United in key moments of the match, and but, due to the multitude of saves from Andre Onana between the stick and Raphael Varane’s headed aim within the 76th minute, Erik Ten Haag’s males collected the much-needed three factors.

Nonetheless, one second that prompted controversy late into added time was a penalty attraction from the guests after United’s keeper collided with Sasa Kalajdzic in mid-air.

Regardless of VAR looking on the incident, no penalty was awarded and United stored maintain of their lead.

Since then, referee Simon Hooper, VAR Official Michael Salisbury, and VAR assistant Richard West haven’t been chosen to officiate within the subsequent spherical of Premier League fixtures.

Luton already in hassle

Having clawed their means into the top-flight of English soccer after a dramatic Championship play-off ultimate, Luton City will discover the subsequent 9 months of soccer very difficult.

This concept has been broadly reported throughout the footballing neighborhood, and Saturday’s 4-1 defeat by the hands of Brighton & Hove Albion confirmed this.

With the Seagulls with out Moises Caicedo, who’s on the point of finishing a transfer to Chelsea for a British document switch charge, they nonetheless dominated play from the entrance foot with 27 whole photographs, 12 of which have been heading in the right direction.

The hosts additionally managed possession with a 71% majority to go alongside their 91% cross accuracy and 4 objectives.

Admittedly, Brighton have been one of the vital constant groups within the league final season, so this outcome didn’t come as a shock, however the Hatters might solely muster three makes an attempt on aim and by no means seemed like profitable the sport.

A change in luck and character is required to assist Luton flip issues round as a result of, primarily based on their opener, it appears to be like just like the writing might already be on the wall.

Wissa holds Brentford’s hopes

Though they have been held to a draw by Tottenham Hotspur, followers of Brentford ought to be happy with how their facet carried out on the weekend.

Only one level that separated the Lilywhites and the Hornets on the finish of final season, and that evenly matched skill was on show on the Gtech Group Stadium as the sport completed 2-2.

One participant who made it onto the scoresheet for the hosts was Yoane Wissa who joined the membership in 2021 and has 15 objectives for the London-based group.

Alongside teammate Bryan Mbeumo, he linked up nicely with the gamers round him and having began and scored within the opening recreation of the season, his deployment into the beginning XI might be essential to see Brentford their good type from final season.

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