The Premier League has officially returned. After the usual summer break, the new 2018/19 season kicked off on Friday and continued until Sunday.
The English top-flight did not wait to excite the fans, with the opening round handing top-quality entertainment to football lovers. All but one of top six clubs won, with Arsenal losing to Man City, while Wolves earned a thrilling 2-2 draw with Everton on their return.
Here are the best stats from round one of the Premier League.
1. Man City sweeps aside Arsenal to end awful Premier League streak
Man City began their title defense with a clash with Arsenal in Unai Emery's Premier League debut. The reigning champion showed their dominance once more, marching to a comfortable 2-0 win at the Emirates.
But Sunday's victory did more than earn three points. It put an end to an awful winless streak that had befallen defending Premier League champions.
In the last three years, none of the title holders managed to win their opening game, with Chelsea, Leicester, and Chelsea again failing to win. Fortunately, that run came to an end.
2. Liverpool joins the 500 wins club with their 4-0 West Ham victory
500 - Liverpool registered their 500th Premier League win, becoming just the fourth side to hit that milestone (Man Utd 630, Arsenal 544 and Chelsea 538). Titans. pic.twitter.com/uoTsoVWYQX
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) August 12, 2018
3. Richarlison enjoys an excellent debut
Remember when Everton signed Richarlison for $53m and everyone laughed? Well, the Brazilian scored a brilliant brace in his debut to show he might be worth it.
Richarlison's Everton debut by numbers vs. Wolves:
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) August 11, 2018
53 touches
4 aerial duels won
3 tackles won
3 fouls won
2 shots
2 goals
Reunited and it feels so good. pic.twitter.com/1haGpyKFTB
4. But Everton set an unwanted record
In that same game, Phil Jagielka was sent off, meaning the Toffees set this unwanted feat:
90 - Everton have received more red cards than any other team in Premier League history. Mist.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) August 11, 2018
5. Sarri's first game in England was memorable
3 - Chelsea's 3-0 win was the largest margin of victory in their first Premier League game under a new manager since 2008, when Luiz Felipe Scolari oversaw a 4-0 win against Portsmouth. Introduction. pic.twitter.com/vF0vjSGD3w
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) August 11, 2018
6. Zaha one goal away from Crystal Palace history
Wilfried Zaha has become @CPFC's joint record scorer in the @premierleague with 23 goals
— Sky Sports Statto (@SkySportsStatto) August 11, 2018
23 Wilfried Zaha
23 Chris Armstrong
21 Andrew Johnson pic.twitter.com/QX3LGdTEw7
Things will only get more interesting in the upcoming round. The Gunners will travel to Chelsea next weekend with the aim of avoiding a second consecutive defeat in only Unai Emery's second English top-flight game. Elsewhere, Liverpool and Man United will face tricky tests away to Crystal Palace and Brighton, respectively.
How will the table look like after round two? Here's how everything stands after the opening round.
| Pos. | Team | MP | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | P | Form | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arsenal | 34 | 24 | 5 | 5 | 82 | 26 | +56 | 77 | WWLWW | |
| 2 | Liverpool | 33 | 22 | 8 | 3 | 75 | 32 | +43 | 74 | WLDWW | |
| 3 | Manchester City | 32 | 22 | 7 | 3 | 76 | 32 | +44 | 73 | WWWDD | |
| 4 | Aston Villa | 34 | 20 | 6 | 8 | 71 | 50 | +21 | 66 | WWDLW | |
| 5 | Tottenham Hotspur | 32 | 18 | 6 | 8 | 65 | 49 | +16 | 60 | LWDWL | |
| 6 | Newcastle United | 32 | 15 | 5 | 12 | 69 | 52 | +17 | 50 | WWDWL | |
| 7 | Manchester United | 32 | 15 | 5 | 12 | 47 | 48 | -1 | 50 | DDLDW | |
| 8 | West Ham United | 34 | 13 | 9 | 12 | 54 | 63 | -9 | 48 | LLWDL | |
| 9 | Chelsea | 32 | 13 | 8 | 11 | 61 | 57 | +4 | 47 | LWDWD | |
| 10 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 32 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 52 | 50 | +2 | 44 | DLDLW | |
| 11 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 33 | 12 | 7 | 14 | 46 | 53 | -7 | 43 | LDLDL | |
| 12 | Fulham | 34 | 12 | 6 | 16 | 50 | 54 | -4 | 42 | LWLLD | |
| 13 | AFC Bournemouth | 33 | 11 | 9 | 13 | 48 | 60 | -12 | 42 | LDLWW | |
| 14 | Crystal Palace | 33 | 9 | 9 | 15 | 42 | 56 | -14 | 36 | WWLLD | |
| 15 | Brentford | 34 | 9 | 8 | 17 | 52 | 59 | -7 | 35 | WWDDD | |
| 16 | Everton | 33 | 10 | 8 | 15 | 34 | 48 | -14 | 30 | WLWDL | |
| 17 | Nottingham Forest | 34 | 7 | 9 | 18 | 42 | 60 | -18 | 26 | LDLWD | |
| 18 | Luton Town | 34 | 6 | 7 | 21 | 47 | 75 | -28 | 25 | LLWLL | |
| 19 | Burnley | 34 | 5 | 8 | 21 | 37 | 69 | -32 | 23 | WDLDD | |
| 20 | Sheffield United | 33 | 3 | 7 | 23 | 31 | 88 | -57 | 16 | LLDLD |
