The 2019/20 premier league season kicked off this weekend, and it was one heck of a weekend. From VAR controversy, to absolutely diabolical defending, this weekend had it all.

West Ham 0-5 Man City

The champions of England just keep on going. City met with West Ham at the Olympic Stadium, smashing five past the Londoners. City opened the scoring twenty-five minutes in, when a drilled ball across the face of goal was turned in by Brazilian striker Gabriel Jesus. Only 1-0 at the half, with both teams having some decent chances, with both Lukas Fabiasnki and Ederson making some good saves. Five minutes into the second half, England winger Raheem Sterling made it two with a classy chipped finish over the Polish keeper, and just two minutes later, Jesus would make it three, only for it to be ruled out through VAR – just the first of many VAR moments in this opening weekend.

Sterling would add another, before Sergio Aguero would score five minutes from time from the penalty spot, after missing, but being told to retake thanks to our old friend, VAR. Sterling completed his hat-trick just minutes before full time. City debutant Rodri had a solid game, which is what you expect from a player like the Spaniard, who rarely does anything fancy but always does the simple things well. West Ham new boy Sebastian Haller was decent, but didn’t really get the service a big striker needs.

Image credit: Manchester Evening News

Bournemouth 1-1 Sheffield United

The game at the Vitality Stadium was much the opposite, with very few chances for either team. In a game where no team stood out, with possession very even and few shots on target, it was two very different players with the goals. Young center half Chris Mepham put Bournemouth one in front just past the hour mark, before cult hero Billy Sharp put it home from close range after a scramble in the box to get the Blades a point. Disappointing game for the Cherries, and one the Blades will be quite happy about.

Image credit: The Daily Telegraph

Burnley 3-0 Southampton

In a game with only seven shots on goal, Ashley Barnes was clinical, netting two, both assisted by new signing Erik Pieters (one with the help of the wind), before Johann Gudmundsson finished the Saints off fifteen minutes from time. Good performance from Burnley, poor from the Saints – it could be a long road ahead for Southampton.

Crystal Palace 0-0 Everton

A game with few chances, with the only highlight being a Morgan Schneirderlin sending off, which was very justified considering the two late challenges. Boring game, defines the classic idea of a boring 0-0 with very little to talk about for either team. Wilfred Zaha getting a bizarre near-standing ovation by the home supporters was one of the stranger moments of the weekend, especially considering he put in a transfer request just days prior and skipped training.

Image credit: HITC Sports

Watford 0-3 Brighton Hove Albion

Brighton shots on target – 3
Brighton goals – 3
Brighton points – 3.

If you want the definition of smash and grab, this is it. An Aboulaye Doucouré own goal just before the half hour mark got Brighton going, before Romanian striker Florin Andone finished calmly from close range and new signing Neal Maupay rounded Watford keeper Ben Foster to finish off. Great day for the Seagulls, horrible one for those in yellow and black.

Tottenham Hotspur 3-1 Aston Villa

Villa took a shock early through a John McGinn goal, which completed a brilliant counter attack, to the delight of the travelling fans. Tottenham dominated possession and shots, finishing the game with 31 shots. However, it took until the 73rd minute for Spurs to finally score, when record signing Tanguy Ndombele picked out the bottom corner from distance. Spurs got going after this, and when the ball bounced kindly for Harry Kane he smashed it past compatriot Tom Heaton. A classy Kane finish into the bottom corner finished Villa off two minutes from time. Despite the loss Villa can hold their heads high. Spurs have some areas to work on to contend with the top two this year, but overall were impressive.

Leicester City 0-0 Wolverhampton Wanderers

In a game with very few chances, neither Midlands side looked particularly lively, with Wolves coming off the back of a six thousand mile trip to Armenia in the Europa League. Leicester had the best chance of the game in the first half, when the ball was flashed across the face off the goal, but just out of reach of the out stretched leg of Jamie Vardy. Wolves looked to have taken a lead early in the second half through Leander Dendoncker, before the goal was disallowed due to a Willy Boly handball. Leicester’s 15 shots, with only 1 on target shows they need to work on their finishing, and Wolves need to get used to playing Thursday-Sunday.

Newcastle United 0-1 Arsenal

Only four shots on target in the whole game, Arsenal and Gabon striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang got the only goal of the contest, finishing off a brilliant run by young full-back Ainsley Maitland-Niles after Newcastle gifted them the ball with a pass left short. Steve Bruce already looking a predictably bad appointment. Arsenal didn’t play particularly well, but they still found a way to win which is a good sign for the Gunners, on top of a rare away clean sheet. They have the same amount of away clean sheets this season as they did the whole of last.

Image credit: The Independent

Man United 4-0 Chelsea

The opening weekend finished at the Theatre of Dreams, with two of the top six going head to head. It was Frank Lampard’s men who got off to the better start, having a lot of the ball in the opening half, with Tammy Abraham’s powerful drive smashing against the post around the five minute mark. Chelsea kept the pressure on for another ten or so minutes, until United finally broke out, with Kurt Zouma giving away a penalty after some shoddy defending. Marcus Rashford calmly stepped up and beat Spanish goalkeeper Kepa with a brilliant penalty. Chelsea kept United fans on the edge of their seats for the rest of the half, with wing back Emerson smashing one against the bar from close range, that he really should’ve found the back of the net with.

From the start of the second half, United looked more creative, and a brilliant Andreas Pereira cross picked out Anthony Martial who made it two. Right from the kickoff United won it back, a brilliant ball from Paul Pogba released Rashford who calmly slotted it into the bottom corner. Welsh youngster Daniel James would come on and get the dream debut, finishing off another great Pogba assist.

Lampard has got some work to do. Big money signings Harry Maguire and Aaron Wan-Bissaka were both outstanding for the Red Devil’s, with Maguire dominant in the air, as Leicester fans became accustomed to in his time with the Foxes.

Matchday one is in the books people!

Feature Image: credit The People’s Person