How the Premier League table stands after the first round of matches

Forum 7 years ago

How the Premier League table stands after the first round of matches

Chelsea who are yet to kick a ball under new manager, Antonio Conte will play their first game of the season this evening August 15th but will need to win by a big margin to displace
Manchester United at the top of the table.

The Red Devils beat Bournemouth 1-3 away from home to top the table on goal difference. Juan Mata got the opening goal of the game in the 40th minute with a simple tap-in and Rooney doubled in the 59th with a header.


Zlatan Ibrahimovic saved the best for the last when he lashed in a terrific 25 yard screamer in the 64th minute to ensure that Smith's 69th minute goal was little more than a consolation and Jose Mourinho opened his Manchester United account with a win.

Elsewhere, Pep Guardiola's Manchester City reign got off to a nervy start with the Citizens needing a penalty and an own goal in the dying minutes of the game to secure all three points.

The players looked out of place from the blast of whistle and a draw would have been a fairer result for hard working Sunderland.

Aguero opened the scoring from 12 yards in the 4th minute after Raheem Sterling was brought down in the box but they were pegged back in the 71st minute when Defoe slotted home to level things. It looked like Sunderland were going to hang on and claim a point but fate played a cruel one on them when Paddy McNair turned the balk into his own goal in the 87th minute.

City should have made it three in extra time but Kelechi Iheanacho opted to go for goal himself rather than set up a better-positioned player much to the visible irritation of Pep Guardiola.

It's early days yet but Arsenal and Liverpool served what may prove to be game of the season with the Reds grabbing all three points in a pulsating seven-goal thriller.

Theo Walcott fluffed his lines from the spot as Simon Mignolet saved his penalty in the 30th minute but made amends moments later when he slid one in to make it 1-0 in the 31st minute after being set up by Alex Iwobi. Phillipe Coutinho however set the stage for the magic to come when he whipped in a terrific free kick in the very last second of the first half to ensure both teams went in for the break all square.

At the restart, Adam Lallana gave Liverpool the lead in the 49th minute from inside the box and Coutinho grabbed his second of the game in the 56th minute to double the lead. Summer signing,
Sado Mane produced the goal of the game with a remarkable solo run in the 63rd minute that is a sure contender for goal of the week. Arsenal weren't quite finished and responded quickly through Oxlade Chamberlain who struck yet another fine goal to make it 4-2.

Calum Chambers sparked hopes of a comeback with his 75th minute glancing header but Liverpool held on to claim all three points.

Leicester city got their title defence off to a lame start with a shock loss to newly-promoted and less fancied Hull City.

The Premier League champions who didn't lose a game last season until well into their title winning campaign lost their first game of the season away to newly-promoted Hull City.

The home side took the lead when Adama Diamonde struck in the dying minutes of the first half only for them to be pegged back
immediately after the restart when Riyad Mahrez tucked away a 47th minute penalty after Tom Huddlestone brought down Ahmed Musa.

Hull had the last word however when Robert Snodgrass struck in the 57th minute to bag all three points.

Leicester's Jamie Vardy who scored 24 Premier League goals last season, miscued badly when Ahmed Musa set him up twice.

Fans of the defending champions will hope this is not a sign of things to come. They face an uphill task in their next game when they welcome Arsenal in their first home game of the seasonnext Saturday.

What's your rating?
0
{{ratingsCount}} Votes


Related forums
The Coffee Table Digital Release Date Set for Super Dark Comedy
Forum | 6 days ago

The Coffee Table Digital Release Date Set for Super Dark Comedy

Premier League suits my style more than Serie A – Lookman
Forum | 1 week ago

Premier League suits my style more than Serie A – Lookman

UCL: Kylian Mbappe equals Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s Champions League record
Forum | 1 week ago

UCL: Kylian Mbappe equals Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s Champions League record

EPL: Frank Onyeka relishes first Premier League goal for Brentford
Forum | 1 week ago

EPL: Frank Onyeka relishes first Premier League goal for Brentford