EPL RoundUp: Big Wins For Manchester City And Liverpool As Manchester United Thrash Chelsea
3 min read
A rejuvenated Manchester United side strolled to a 4-0 victory over Chelsea to open their Premier League campaign with a bang on Sunday, achieving their biggest league win over the Blues for over half a century in the process.
With an average age of less than 25 across the first team, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men made their chances count in an historic triumph.
Marcus Rashford fired his side into the lead against the run of play in the first half, firing past Kepa Arrizabalaga from the penalty spot.
Anthony Martial then doubled the advantage 65 minutes in, before Rashford and debutant Daniel James sealed a convincing win for the hosts as Chelsea’s resistance crumbled in the last half hour of proceedings.
The result sent United flying up the league table on the opening weekend, with a margin of victory not seen for quite some time.
Manchester City, two-times champions kicked off the new season with a defeat of West Ham that barely required a shift out of second gear.
Raheem Sterling made it four goals in a week with a wonderful hat-trick. Riyad Mahrez was involved throughout, passing, moving and dribbling with a familiar elan, and taking a decisive hand in the first four goals. Kevin De Bruyne looked close to his hard-running best in midfield.
Inbetween this, VAR kept up a regular commentary on City’s dominance, disallowing one goal, retaining another and ordering a penalty retake.
Liverpool is now unbeaten in its last 13 games against Norwich City as it started its English Premier League campaign with a dominant 4-1 victory over the newly-promoted side.
Spurs were on course for a surprise defeat at home to newly promoted Villa in the late game on Saturday before scoring three times in the final 17 minutes to win 3-1, Kane grabbing two of the goals.
They were the England captain’s first goals at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Despite failing to sign Argentine forward Paulo Dybala, Spurs have strengthened significantly this summer in an attempt to improve on last season’s fourth-place finish.
But they started in similar fashion to their lacklustre form at the end of the 2018-19 season, when they won just one of their last five domestic games.
Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino was missing several important players because of injury and fitness, including Dele Alli, Son Heung-min, and new additions Ryan Sessegnon and Giovani lo Celso.
The team lacked invention and sharpness before new club record £53.8m signing Tanguy Ndombele cancelled out John McGinn’s opener after Villa failed to clear their lines following Tom Heaton’s save to keep out Davinson Sanchez.
Suddenly, Spurs had confidence and momentum and Kane, who had never scored in August until last season, made sure of the points with a quick-fire double in the final four minutes.
He made it 2-1 after Jack Grealish, a Spurs transfer target 12 months ago, lost possession, and then wrapped it up with a clinical finish which left Villa crestfallen.
It was hardly vintage Spurs but at least they are up and running before next Saturday’s visit to champions Manchester City.
Arsenal kicked off their 2019-20 Premier League campaign with a win on Sunday, beating Newcastle United 1-0 at St James’ Park. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang got the only goal in the second half.
Rainy conditions made life hard on both teams, but the Gunners had the better play throughout the contest and deservedly went ahead just before the hour mark.
Sunday’s game was the first time the Gunners had opened their Premier League season on the road since the 2011-12 season, when they played out a scoreless draw with the Magpies.
The poor weather conditions didn’t help the level of play at St. James’ Park. Arsenal controlled possession early, but chances were rare in the opening stages.
