10 Premier League points as Arsenal and Liverpool stars break records and Jamie Vardy returns
Mohamed Salah and William Saliba both set records as Liverpool and Arsenal recorded opening weekend wins with Jamie Vardy making his presence known on his return to the Premier League
The Premier League returned with the opening weekend spanning four days as several big hitters staked their claims.
Manchester United's win over Fulham on Friday night, owing to a late winner from Joshua Zirkzee, proved that old habits die hard before Liverpool welcomed Ipswich back to the top flight. Mohamed Salah came up with his customary strike on the opening day as Arne Slot was introduced to the Premier League.
Newcastle and Aston Villa are looking to prove that them breaking into the establishment in the past couple of seasons is not a flash in the pan with both ambitious outfits claiming victory.
Arsenal got their campaign off to the best possible start with a win over Wolves before they saw Manchester City respond 24 hours later in true champion style. Missing some of their key cogs - Rodri among them - they made light work of Chelsea as they embark on their latest bid for glory.
Tottenham concluded the weekend as they were forced to settle for a point at Leicester, when nearly all of their rivals picked up three. Here are the takeaways from the opening weekend.
Zirkzee to the rescue
United left several of their new signings on the bench for their opening clash against Fulham. Zirkzee and Matthijs de Ligt were introduced late on and - with the game meandering towards a goalless draw - the club's new Dutch forward came up with the winning goal.
Despite all the talk of change in Manchester the Red Devils themselves certainly didn't look a new and improved outfit. Fulham had their chances but, in front of the new INEOS hierarchy, it was the win that was most crucial on Friday night and Zirkzee's neat touch from Alejandro Garnacho's cross provided it.
Salah on the money again
When the Egyptian scored for Liverpool in a 3-3 draw with Watford on the opening weekend in 2017 few could've foreseen the goal machine he would become. Even less likely was the prospect of Salah scoring on the opening day almost every time he took to the pitch for the Reds.
He netted their second in the 2-0 success over Ipswich and, in doing so, scored for the opening weekend for the ninth time, setting another Premier League record, with the only time he failed to score in a season opener coming at Chelsea last season when he assisted Luis Diaz and had a goal ruled out for a marginal offside. There has been talk of the frontman leaving sooner rather than later with his contract winding down, but he continues to offer reminders of just how integral he is.
Saliba's historic moment
The Frenchman has transformed the Gunners' back four and his inclusion in the first-team has coincided with their rapid rise under Mikel Arteta. When Saliba plays Arsenal are a notably better team and his absence is often telling. He picked up another clean sheet against Wolves and also a slice of history.
Saliba went into the clash on Saturday having won 49 games as an Arsenal player, with victory seeing him hit half a century of wins quicker than any Gunners player in the Premier League. It was a record previously held by Nacho Monreal, but Saliba has now replaced him on the list.
Age is just a number
Fabian Hürzeler wasn't even born when the Premier League began. Sean Dyche in contrast has proved himself to be a shrewd Premier League operator and had his Everton side playing at home against new look Brighton.
The result therefore, a 3-0 success for the visitors, proved that Hürzeler's infancy will be no hinderance for the Seagulls this term. Brighton looked as good as they did under Roberto De Zerbi, playing with their own new style after a summer in which they may have acquired yet more quality that has gone under the radar - Yankuba Minteh among them.
Newcastle defy the stats
A team who have three efforts on goal beat a team who had 19. That was the story of the day at St James' Park as newly promoted Southampton couldn't find a way past the dogged Newcastle defence, spurred on after they'd seen one of their own sent off.
Tempers flared and Fabian Schar paid the price when he clashed with Ben Brereton Diaz, leading to a straight red. It left the Magpies with an uphill battle as more than an hour of the contest remained but they were clinical in a way the Saints simply weren't. A misplaced pass allowed Alexander Isak to provide the assist for match winner Joelinton.
Forest's bright sparks
Denied by an 86th minute equaliser, but Nottingham Forest were good value for much of their clash with Bournemouth. They looked on course for victory, which would've been the ideal start given some have quietly tipped the City Ground outfit for the drop.
One thing - or two - that will certainly help their cause is the quality of their wingers. Callum Hudson-Odoi and Anthony Elanga - two men once tipped for solid careers at Chelsea and Manchester United respectively - now find themselves rebuilding their careers in Nottingham and are poised to be looked upon to deliver time and time again this term.
Ref blunder costs Palace
Their stunning end to the season has some believing Crystal Palace could upset the European party, but defeat to Brentford on the opening weekend wasn't the ideal start. Less than ideal was the refereeing blunder committed by Sam Barrott - who later owned his mistake.
He blew up before Eberechi Eze's smart free-kick hit the back of the net, meaning VAR couldn't intervene. The foul the ref thinks he saw was certainly debatable and may well have been overturned if those at Stockley Park had a chance to take a look - but we'll never know. Let's hope its not the start of things to come with officials too often a talking point last term.
Onana hands Hammers reminder
The clash at the London Stadium was one team with European ambitions against a team who have fulfilled them. Go back a year or two and Aston Villa will have themselves where West Ham currently are - beginning a journey by landing a quality Spanish manager and backing him in the transfer market.
Villa though proved that they certainly are further along in their own story as they left London with three points - which are likely to age well with West Ham poised to improve as the year goes on. Unai Emery will have been thrilled to see his £50m signing Amadou Onana bag himself a debut goal.
No Rodri, no problem
Much was made of City's record minus their Spanish star last term. In the four matches he was absent they lost three with Pep Guardiola simply having no one capable of filling the void left by the man who many have tipped to win the Ballon d'Or. He only returned to training last week and thus was left out for the win at Chelsea.
A former Blue in Mateo Kovacic stepped in and helped City dominate against the lavishly assembled midfield at Stamford Bridge. The Croatian would score the visitors' second after Erling Haaland began his hopes of a third Golden Boot with yet another strike as the quest for five titles in a row begins.
Vardy is back with a bang
He's been one of the Premier League's most divisive figures for the best part of a decade. The Leicester City frontman engages with fans - for better or worse - like few others and his parting gift to the travelling Tottenham faithful was to deny them three points and remind them of their trophy drought.
Vardy's header cancelled out Pedro Porro's opener before the veteran frontman was withdrawn as he wrestles with an injury issue. Before walking off he pointed to the Premier League badge on his shirt, citing his own success in 2016, before reminding Tottenham they are yet to match his feat.
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