EPL week 1 review
by: thomas maloney
Week 1 of the 2016-2017 EPL season is in the books! With today’s Monday game finished up, all ten fixtures are complete, and we’ve gotten our first look at some of the new teams and players in this season’s Premier League. Without further ado, onto my thoughts and reviews of each of the games played this weekend.
Hull City 2-1 Leicester City
Leicester City started off their defense of last season’s surprise title with a loss away to newly promoted Hull City. Obviously, playing away from home in the EPL is never an easy task no matter whom you play, but it was still a shock to see Leicester start the season off in such a poor way. They outshot Hull, but the stats were mostly even in a game the Foxes were expected to dominate.
In the first half, Leicester looked on the front foot for most of the 45 minutes, but Hull City’s Adama Diomande scored right before halftime with an incredibly acrobatic sideways finish, to change the momentum coming into halftime. Riyad Mahrez opened his season tally just two minutes into the second half with a penalty, but Hull midfielder Robert Snodgrass responded in the 57th minute with a left-footed outside the box shot that found the bottom left corner. Hull would never relinquish that lead.
This was quite a way for Hull City to start off the new EPL campaign, and we’ll see if they can carry this momentum into their game at Swansea next Saturday. For Leicester, they will look to rebound in their home opener against Arsenal.
Burnley 0-1 Swansea City
Another newly promoted team in Burnley saw their first EPL game, but didn’t grab as good of a result due to Leroy Fer’s 82nd-minute strike to give Swansea the three points. Starting off at home against a relatively weaker Premier League side, it was a good chance for Burnley to grab some early season momentum, but they were unable to do so as Swansea controlled the play with 53% possession and three times as many shots on target. Burnley’s last season in the EPL started winless for ten games, so they hope to improve on that this year.
Throughout the game, Swansea goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski was called on to make many crucial saves, including a great shot from Welsh international Sam Vokes. And in the 82nd minute, Jefferson Montero swung in a cross from the left for debutant Fernando Llorente. Although Llorente’s header was saved by Burnley keeper Tom Heaton, it was pushed into the path of another debutant, midfielder Leroy Fer, who tapped it home to seal the win for Swansea.Burnley’s next fixture is also at home, but against a Liverpool side coming off a huge win. Swansea takes on another newly promoted club in Hull City at home next.
Hull City 2-1 Leicester City
Leicester City started off their defense of last season’s surprise title with a loss away to newly promoted Hull City. Obviously, playing away from home in the EPL is never an easy task no matter whom you play, but it was still a shock to see Leicester start the season off in such a poor way. They outshot Hull, but the stats were mostly even in a game the Foxes were expected to dominate.
In the first half, Leicester looked on the front foot for most of the 45 minutes, but Hull City’s Adama Diomande scored right before halftime with an incredibly acrobatic sideways finish, to change the momentum coming into halftime. Riyad Mahrez opened his season tally just two minutes into the second half with a penalty, but Hull midfielder Robert Snodgrass responded in the 57th minute with a left-footed outside the box shot that found the bottom left corner. Hull would never relinquish that lead.
This was quite a way for Hull City to start off the new EPL campaign, and we’ll see if they can carry this momentum into their game at Swansea next Saturday. For Leicester, they will look to rebound in their home opener against Arsenal.
Burnley 0-1 Swansea City
Another newly promoted team in Burnley saw their first EPL game, but didn’t grab as good of a result due to Leroy Fer’s 82nd-minute strike to give Swansea the three points. Starting off at home against a relatively weaker Premier League side, it was a good chance for Burnley to grab some early season momentum, but they were unable to do so as Swansea controlled the play with 53% possession and three times as many shots on target. Burnley’s last season in the EPL started winless for ten games, so they hope to improve on that this year.
Throughout the game, Swansea goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski was called on to make many crucial saves, including a great shot from Welsh international Sam Vokes. And in the 82nd minute, Jefferson Montero swung in a cross from the left for debutant Fernando Llorente. Although Llorente’s header was saved by Burnley keeper Tom Heaton, it was pushed into the path of another debutant, midfielder Leroy Fer, who tapped it home to seal the win for Swansea.Burnley’s next fixture is also at home, but against a Liverpool side coming off a huge win. Swansea takes on another newly promoted club in Hull City at home next.
Crystal Palace 0-1 West Bromwich Albion
West Brom traveled to Crystal Palace for their season opener and came away with a promising victory to spur some momentum coming into the season. Salomon Rondon looked lively up top, and Crystal Palace, similarly to last season, played with great creativity in midfield but lacked a decent attacking option to finish off anything against West Brom’s active defense.
Rondon’s first excellent chance came in just the eighth minute, when he received a cross from Greg Gardner which he nodded toward the bottom right corner, but Palace goalkeeper Hennessy was able to steer it away. The 52nd minute saw Crystal Palace’s best chance, when Wilfried Zaha went through on goal 1 on 1 and drew a tough save from Ben Foster, but on a good second chance he was again unable to finish. And then in the 74th minute, Rondon made Palace pay for their missed opportunities with a sensational header into the bottom left corner. Hennessy didn’t even move as the ball went well clear of his grasp.
Crystal Palace have a very difficult task at White Hart Lane against Spurs next, while West Brom have their home opener against Everton.
Middlesbrough 1-1 Stoke City
Another newly promoted club in Middlesbrough started off their EPL campaign with a draw at home against Stoke City. Debutant Alvaro Negredo made his presence felt early with a goal, but Xherdan Shaquiri of Stoke City was able to level the game.
The scoring started early, when an 11th minute cross from Albert Adomah found the head of Gaston Ramirez, who lobbed it back toward goal where Alvaro Negredo was waiting to power it home for a debut goal. And in the 36th minute, Ramirez nearly doubled their lead with a cross goal effort that struck the right post on its way out. But in the 67th minute, a largely untested Victor Valdes was beaten by a stunning free kick from Shaquiri that snuck in the bottom corner to Valdes’s left, the side he was covering. That leveled the game for good.
Middlesbrough travel to Sunderland next week, while Stoke City return home for a difficult matchup against Manchester City.
Everton 1-1 Tottenham Hotspur
Everton started the season at home under a new manager in Ronald Koeman’s competitive debut, but had another debutant, goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg, to thank for the positive result against last season’s third place Spurs.
Everton won a free kick in the 5th minute, and Ross Barkley swung a cross into a dangerous area. However, not a single player managed a touch as Barkley’s ball wentunimpeded into the bottom right corner. Everton looked impressive throughout the first half, and almost went up 2-0 in the 45th minute when Gerard Delofeu had a one on one chance saved by Michel Vorm. However, Mauricio Pochettino made some good halftime adjustments and Spurs looked strong in the second half. They drew level in the 59th minute, when Argentine Erik Lamela guided a Kyle Walker cross into the bottom left corner with his head. And although Spurs drew numerous saves from Stekelenburg, they were never able to grab the lead.
Everton goes to West Brom for their next game, while Tottenham goes home to host Crystal Palace
West Brom traveled to Crystal Palace for their season opener and came away with a promising victory to spur some momentum coming into the season. Salomon Rondon looked lively up top, and Crystal Palace, similarly to last season, played with great creativity in midfield but lacked a decent attacking option to finish off anything against West Brom’s active defense.
Rondon’s first excellent chance came in just the eighth minute, when he received a cross from Greg Gardner which he nodded toward the bottom right corner, but Palace goalkeeper Hennessy was able to steer it away. The 52nd minute saw Crystal Palace’s best chance, when Wilfried Zaha went through on goal 1 on 1 and drew a tough save from Ben Foster, but on a good second chance he was again unable to finish. And then in the 74th minute, Rondon made Palace pay for their missed opportunities with a sensational header into the bottom left corner. Hennessy didn’t even move as the ball went well clear of his grasp.
Crystal Palace have a very difficult task at White Hart Lane against Spurs next, while West Brom have their home opener against Everton.
Middlesbrough 1-1 Stoke City
Another newly promoted club in Middlesbrough started off their EPL campaign with a draw at home against Stoke City. Debutant Alvaro Negredo made his presence felt early with a goal, but Xherdan Shaquiri of Stoke City was able to level the game.
The scoring started early, when an 11th minute cross from Albert Adomah found the head of Gaston Ramirez, who lobbed it back toward goal where Alvaro Negredo was waiting to power it home for a debut goal. And in the 36th minute, Ramirez nearly doubled their lead with a cross goal effort that struck the right post on its way out. But in the 67th minute, a largely untested Victor Valdes was beaten by a stunning free kick from Shaquiri that snuck in the bottom corner to Valdes’s left, the side he was covering. That leveled the game for good.
Middlesbrough travel to Sunderland next week, while Stoke City return home for a difficult matchup against Manchester City.
Everton 1-1 Tottenham Hotspur
Everton started the season at home under a new manager in Ronald Koeman’s competitive debut, but had another debutant, goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg, to thank for the positive result against last season’s third place Spurs.
Everton won a free kick in the 5th minute, and Ross Barkley swung a cross into a dangerous area. However, not a single player managed a touch as Barkley’s ball wentunimpeded into the bottom right corner. Everton looked impressive throughout the first half, and almost went up 2-0 in the 45th minute when Gerard Delofeu had a one on one chance saved by Michel Vorm. However, Mauricio Pochettino made some good halftime adjustments and Spurs looked strong in the second half. They drew level in the 59th minute, when Argentine Erik Lamela guided a Kyle Walker cross into the bottom left corner with his head. And although Spurs drew numerous saves from Stekelenburg, they were never able to grab the lead.
Everton goes to West Brom for their next game, while Tottenham goes home to host Crystal Palace
Southampton 1-1 Watford
Southampton hosted Watford in the opening game of the season, and although Watford started hot with a goal from Etienne Capoue, Southampton’s Nathan Redmond equalised, and the Saints held on for a draw.
Watford opened up the scoring in the ninth minute when Nordin Amrabat found Troy Deeney with a cross. Deeney laid it back into space, and Etienne Capoue struck it top right with a powerful lunging effort. But Southampton would respond in the 58th minute, after a poorly cleared corner by Heurelho Gomes found Nathan Redmond in the box. Redmond found the left side of the goal on his debut and tied up the game. Then in the 76th minute, Southampton’s Shane Long exploded past the defense only to have Ben Watson pull him down from behind. Watson was given a red card, but Watford was never able to take advantage of being a man up, and the game ended in a draw.
Southampton travels to Old Trafford for a very difficult game against Manchester United next, while Watford hosts another difficult team in Chelsea.
Manchester City 2-1 Sunderland
Pep Guardiola, arguably the biggest manager move of the offseason, had his competitive debut with Manchester City at home against a Sunderland team that Man City had beaten all of their previous five attempts. They managed a close but good win with an Aguero goal and an own goal from Paddy McNair to offset a goal from Jermain Defoe.
The game got off to a great start for Guardiola when Raheem Sterling was taken down in the box by Patrick van Aanholt in the 4th minute. Sergio Aguero stepped up to take the penalty, and it looked to be a sure thing from the moment it left his foot as it cruised into the left side of the goal. However, in the 71st minute, midfielder Jack Rodwell slipped a pass into the box for Jermaine Defoe who finished easily into the bottom right past Willie Caballero. But with three minutes remaining in the 90, Jesus Navas put it a low cross that Sunderland goalkeeper Vito Mannone deflected into his own defender Paddy McNair. The ball came of off the former Manchester United defender and flew into his own net, giving Man City the winner.
off, but their next Premier league tie is at Stoke City. Sunderland faces Middlesbrough at home next.
AFC Bournemouth 1-3 Manchester United
After one of the most electrifying summer windows in recent history for a single team, Manchester United (who still might not be done) traveled to Bournemouth for new manager Jose Mourinho’s EPL debut with the Red Devils. And the largely new team managed a 3-1 win with goals from Juan Mata, Wayne Rooney, and Zlatan Ibrahimovic to ease past a goal from Adam Smith.
The onslaught began in the 40th minute, when a long ball from Ander Herrera found only defender Simon Francis. However, a bad back pass from Francis toward keeper Artur Boruc allowed Juan Mata to grab an interception, and although Boruc was able to save the first effort, it took a deflection off Francis back into the path of Mata, who found only the ball and an open Bournemouth net. Then in the 59th minute things really opened up when Antonio Valencia crossed a ball to the foot of Anthony Martial, who bounced it up toward the head of veteran Wayne Rooney who sent it home past Boruc. And things got worse in the 64th minute when Martial laid a ball off to debutant Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who cracked a 30 plus yard shot into the bottom left corner for a three-nil scoreline. Adam Smith was able to get one back for Bournemouth in the 69th minute with a beautiful top-right corner strike, but it did nothing to help the situation as Man United cruised to a win.
Bournemouth have a tough next fixture as they travel to West Ham, while Manchester United will be at home hosting Southampton.
Arsenal 3-4 Liverpool
Liverpool started out Klopp’s first full season as manager with a win in so far the most exciting game of this short season against Arsenal. The Gunners got goals from Theo Walcott, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, and Calum Chambers, but Liverpool managed goals by Adam Lallana and Sadio Mane, as well as a brace from Philippe Coutinho in the 4-3 result.
Arsenal started strong in the 29th minute when Alvaro Moreno recklessly took down Theo Walcott in the box, but Simon Mignolet saved the penalty. However, Walcott remedied just two minutes later with a hard struck shot low and into Mignolet’s bottom right corner for the goal. Coutinho got his first right before halftime with an incredible free kick to the top left corner that gave Petr Cech no chance. Then Liverpool took off. In the 49th minute Georginio Wijnaldum spotted Adam Lallana across the box, and he lofted in a cross which Lallana controlled and finished easily. In the 56th minute, Nathaniel Clyne paced his way past a defender and drove in a low cross that only needed a small flick from Coutinho to find its way into the net. And in the 63rd minute, debutant Sadio Mane took off on a beautiful run down the right sideline before cutting into the box and finishing with a powerful left foot into the top left
the goal. Coutinho got his first right before halftime with an incredible free kick to the top left corner that gave Petr Cech no chance. Then Liverpool took off. In the 49th minute Georginio Wijnaldum spotted Adam Lallana across the box, and he lofted in a cross which Lallana controlled and finished easily. In the 56th minute, Nathaniel Clyne paced his way past a defender and drove in a low cross that only needed a small flick from Coutinho to find its way into the net. And in the 63rd minute, debutant Sadio Mane took off on a beautiful run down the right sideline before cutting into the box and finishing with a powerful left foot into the top left another away game against Burnley.
Chelsea 2-1 West Ham United
Two players who were dreadful in last season’s disappointing campaign, Diego Costa and Eden Hazard, both managed to get on the score sheet in the opener as Chelsea took down West Ham 2-1.
The first half saw numerous chances from Chelsea but no goals. Just after the second half began, Cesar Azpilicueta was taken down in the box for a Chelsea penalty, and Eden Hazard finished with a nearly unsavable penalty into the roof of the net to put Chelsea ahead. However, a Payet corner in the 77th minute led to a James Collins header toward goal. Although he didn’t find the goal on the first attempt, Chelsea failed to clear, and Collins managed another shot, powering the ball into the right side of the net to equalize. But in the 89th minute, a long ball from the Chelsea defense was corralled by the head of Michy Batshuayi into the path of Diego Costa, who finished past Adrian from a long ways out into the bottom left corner to secure the win.
Chelsea goes to Watford next week, while West Ham will play at home against Bournemouth in their next EPL fixture, although they have a Europa league playoff at FK Astra Giurgiu in Romania mid week.
Thanks for reading the week 1 wrap up of the EPL. I’ll be back next week to wrap up week 2!
Southampton hosted Watford in the opening game of the season, and although Watford started hot with a goal from Etienne Capoue, Southampton’s Nathan Redmond equalised, and the Saints held on for a draw.
Watford opened up the scoring in the ninth minute when Nordin Amrabat found Troy Deeney with a cross. Deeney laid it back into space, and Etienne Capoue struck it top right with a powerful lunging effort. But Southampton would respond in the 58th minute, after a poorly cleared corner by Heurelho Gomes found Nathan Redmond in the box. Redmond found the left side of the goal on his debut and tied up the game. Then in the 76th minute, Southampton’s Shane Long exploded past the defense only to have Ben Watson pull him down from behind. Watson was given a red card, but Watford was never able to take advantage of being a man up, and the game ended in a draw.
Southampton travels to Old Trafford for a very difficult game against Manchester United next, while Watford hosts another difficult team in Chelsea.
Manchester City 2-1 Sunderland
Pep Guardiola, arguably the biggest manager move of the offseason, had his competitive debut with Manchester City at home against a Sunderland team that Man City had beaten all of their previous five attempts. They managed a close but good win with an Aguero goal and an own goal from Paddy McNair to offset a goal from Jermain Defoe.
The game got off to a great start for Guardiola when Raheem Sterling was taken down in the box by Patrick van Aanholt in the 4th minute. Sergio Aguero stepped up to take the penalty, and it looked to be a sure thing from the moment it left his foot as it cruised into the left side of the goal. However, in the 71st minute, midfielder Jack Rodwell slipped a pass into the box for Jermaine Defoe who finished easily into the bottom right past Willie Caballero. But with three minutes remaining in the 90, Jesus Navas put it a low cross that Sunderland goalkeeper Vito Mannone deflected into his own defender Paddy McNair. The ball came of off the former Manchester United defender and flew into his own net, giving Man City the winner.
off, but their next Premier league tie is at Stoke City. Sunderland faces Middlesbrough at home next.
AFC Bournemouth 1-3 Manchester United
After one of the most electrifying summer windows in recent history for a single team, Manchester United (who still might not be done) traveled to Bournemouth for new manager Jose Mourinho’s EPL debut with the Red Devils. And the largely new team managed a 3-1 win with goals from Juan Mata, Wayne Rooney, and Zlatan Ibrahimovic to ease past a goal from Adam Smith.
The onslaught began in the 40th minute, when a long ball from Ander Herrera found only defender Simon Francis. However, a bad back pass from Francis toward keeper Artur Boruc allowed Juan Mata to grab an interception, and although Boruc was able to save the first effort, it took a deflection off Francis back into the path of Mata, who found only the ball and an open Bournemouth net. Then in the 59th minute things really opened up when Antonio Valencia crossed a ball to the foot of Anthony Martial, who bounced it up toward the head of veteran Wayne Rooney who sent it home past Boruc. And things got worse in the 64th minute when Martial laid a ball off to debutant Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who cracked a 30 plus yard shot into the bottom left corner for a three-nil scoreline. Adam Smith was able to get one back for Bournemouth in the 69th minute with a beautiful top-right corner strike, but it did nothing to help the situation as Man United cruised to a win.
Bournemouth have a tough next fixture as they travel to West Ham, while Manchester United will be at home hosting Southampton.
Arsenal 3-4 Liverpool
Liverpool started out Klopp’s first full season as manager with a win in so far the most exciting game of this short season against Arsenal. The Gunners got goals from Theo Walcott, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, and Calum Chambers, but Liverpool managed goals by Adam Lallana and Sadio Mane, as well as a brace from Philippe Coutinho in the 4-3 result.
Arsenal started strong in the 29th minute when Alvaro Moreno recklessly took down Theo Walcott in the box, but Simon Mignolet saved the penalty. However, Walcott remedied just two minutes later with a hard struck shot low and into Mignolet’s bottom right corner for the goal. Coutinho got his first right before halftime with an incredible free kick to the top left corner that gave Petr Cech no chance. Then Liverpool took off. In the 49th minute Georginio Wijnaldum spotted Adam Lallana across the box, and he lofted in a cross which Lallana controlled and finished easily. In the 56th minute, Nathaniel Clyne paced his way past a defender and drove in a low cross that only needed a small flick from Coutinho to find its way into the net. And in the 63rd minute, debutant Sadio Mane took off on a beautiful run down the right sideline before cutting into the box and finishing with a powerful left foot into the top left
the goal. Coutinho got his first right before halftime with an incredible free kick to the top left corner that gave Petr Cech no chance. Then Liverpool took off. In the 49th minute Georginio Wijnaldum spotted Adam Lallana across the box, and he lofted in a cross which Lallana controlled and finished easily. In the 56th minute, Nathaniel Clyne paced his way past a defender and drove in a low cross that only needed a small flick from Coutinho to find its way into the net. And in the 63rd minute, debutant Sadio Mane took off on a beautiful run down the right sideline before cutting into the box and finishing with a powerful left foot into the top left another away game against Burnley.
Chelsea 2-1 West Ham United
Two players who were dreadful in last season’s disappointing campaign, Diego Costa and Eden Hazard, both managed to get on the score sheet in the opener as Chelsea took down West Ham 2-1.
The first half saw numerous chances from Chelsea but no goals. Just after the second half began, Cesar Azpilicueta was taken down in the box for a Chelsea penalty, and Eden Hazard finished with a nearly unsavable penalty into the roof of the net to put Chelsea ahead. However, a Payet corner in the 77th minute led to a James Collins header toward goal. Although he didn’t find the goal on the first attempt, Chelsea failed to clear, and Collins managed another shot, powering the ball into the right side of the net to equalize. But in the 89th minute, a long ball from the Chelsea defense was corralled by the head of Michy Batshuayi into the path of Diego Costa, who finished past Adrian from a long ways out into the bottom left corner to secure the win.
Chelsea goes to Watford next week, while West Ham will play at home against Bournemouth in their next EPL fixture, although they have a Europa league playoff at FK Astra Giurgiu in Romania mid week.
Thanks for reading the week 1 wrap up of the EPL. I’ll be back next week to wrap up week 2!