The Premier League returned this weekend with its first matches of the 2024/25 season and there were plenty of great players to kick off the new campaign.
Manchester City got their title defense off to a flying start by meeting Chelsea on Sunday, a day after Arsenal strengthened their credentials with a straight win over Wolves. There were also wins for Manchester United, Liverpool, Newcastle United and Aston Villa, while Tottenham could play a draw at Leicester City on Monday night.
Many of the division’s most visible stars appeared, but who put on the best show in Gameweek 1?
Mohamed Salah and the opening weekends of the Premier League are a match made in heaven. The Egyptian has never been far from the score sheet at the start of the campaign and was on target as Liverpool beat newly promoted Ipswich Town.
The 32-year-old helped Arne Slot’s side finally break the deadlock in the second half, setting up Diogo Jota’s opener before making it 2-0.
He is in the final season of his contract at Anfield but that will not stop Salah from registering another bucket of goals in 2024/25.
Kai Havertz enjoyed the second half of the 2023/24 season and was once again instrumental in Arsenal’s opening win over Wolves.
The German international continued to combine with Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli to poor effect and they fell asleep at the Emirates Stadium by hitting the net in the 25th minute.
The Gunners have been tipped to sign a striker throughout the summer transfer window but Mikel Arteta has no need to change a system that is already firing on all cylinders.
Manchester United striker Joshua Zirkzee has described Kobbie Mainoo as the club’s ‘general’ midfielder on social media and, after his performance against Fulham on Monday night, it’s easy to see why.
The teenager made a game-high five interceptions and won 11 ground duels, also attracting four fouls to help ease the pressure on Old Trafford.
The Red Devils need to show a greater goal threat throughout the season but will always be involved in games if Mainoo continues to play at this level.
Manchester City fans tend to get a little rattled whenever midfielder Rodri is out of action and Sunday’s trip to Stamford Bridge was no different.
However, Pep Guardiola was able to call on Chelsea midfielder Mateo Kovacic, who showed enough defense as he danced his way past the opposition with ease to ensure the English champions did not miss out on their Spanish homeland.
The way the Croatia international breezed past both Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo, two players who cost Chelsea a ridiculous amount of money for their displays, before going in from distance was divine.
It would be a poisoned chalice for a manager to compare a player to Lionel Messi, but when Bukayo Saka gets into full flight and starts to dominate games like he did against Wolves, Mikel Arteta’s words seem justified.
There is no doubt that the Wanderers gave the full-back too much space during the contest but Saka made them pay by setting up Havertz’s goal before scoring a second in the 74th minute.
Arsenal are chasing the Premier League title this season and Saka and his attacking partners will be key to that ambition in 2023/24.
READ THE LATEST FEATURES AND ANALYSIS FROM 90MIN
Source link
