Some of the top contenders for the title of the Premier League have already proven themselves during the opening weekend. Here is how Liverpool and Arsenal have started their climb.
Saturday – Liverpool Has the Spotlight
Fulham had very little resistance to offer to Arsenal. Willian’s debut was the perfect opportunity for the former Chelsea player to prove his worth. While his attack was saved, it allowed Alexandre Lacazette to score in the 8th minute of the game. The second goal came from Gabriel in the second half. Arsenal’s captain then finished Fulham off. It was quick and efficient.
Crystal Palace surprised many with their win against Southampton. Zana scored the only goal in the 13th minute during a counter-attack. This made Southampton redouble their efforts. They had the ball for a large portion of the match and attacked relentlessly, but it was in vain.
The match between West Ham and Newcastle went as expected. The Magpies won their tenth away game against West Ham in the Premier League. The Hammers started strong but Callum Wilson and Jeff Hendrick shut them down.
The Main Event
Jürgen Klopp and Marcelo Bielsa clashed on Saturday, as well. The match between Liverpool and Leeds United was anything but boring. The Reds did not pull any punches and went with a strong team combo.
Mohamed Salah scored a hat-trick, with the first goal in the 4th minute. Hélder Costa was quick to retaliate, but the goal was disallowed due to offside. Still, Leeds did not give up easily. Jack Harrison stepped up in the 12th minute. Virgil van Dijk may have been the only other scorer for Liverpool, but he also facilitated the comeback for the Whites. Salah returned to the rescue, making the score 3-2 at the end of the first half.
Costa assisted Mateusz Klich for the third equalization of the match. Neither team gave quarter until Salah unofficially ended the game. The final score was 4-3, which brings Liverpool to 6th place for the three goals received. Still, the Reds are bringing their A-game.
Sunday
The Spurs had a lot of bad luck. Not only did Everton beat them at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium but they also broke their losing streak against the Spurs. This was the first loss for José Mourinho on the opening weekend of a competition like this. Dominic Calvert-Lewin did more than just score a goal. He gave the Toffees a great reason to celebrate.
The score of 3-0 puts Leicester City on even grounds with Arsenal. The Foxes dominated West Brom with a goal by Timothy Castagne and Jamie Vardy. To be fair, the Baggies held their own in the first half. However, for the rest of the match, they had very little control of the ball. The only possible downside for Leicester is a possible injury for Vardy. He collided with West Brom’s goalie, Sam Johnstone. We are yet to see whether his back sustained any long-lasting damage.
