The Premier League new season has finally arrived and delivered fans with some fantastic action, paving the way for next nine months of intense EPL football. With new managerial selections alongside an abundance of new faces and the introduction of the new Hawk-Eye goal-line technology, 2013-14 may prove to be one of the most significant seasons in the English game.
David Moyes began on the successful route with a blinding performance over a flightless Swansea City, with two goals from striking duo Robin van Persie and Danny Welbeck either side of the half in a terrific 4-1 mauling of their opposition. An imposing start for the former Everton manager silenced many critics with Moyes receiving much criticism for his comments on a tricky fixture list at the start of the season.
United’s London rivals Arsenal suffered deep humiliation with a 3-1 drubbing at home to Paul Lambert’s Aston Villa. A clinical display from Christian Benteke and co punished the Gunners poor defending and proved early on that Arsenal have failed to add to quality to their side this summer. There were other away victories on day one with three points awarded to both Fulham and Southampton at the expense of Paulo Di Canio’s Sunderland and Steve Clarke’s poor West Brom. Goals from Pajtim Kasami on fifty-two minutes secured the points for Fulham at the Stadium of Light whilst Rickie Lambert topped off a splendid week by following up his goal for England in midweek with a dramatic penalty spot-kick in the last minute of the game at the Hawthorns.
Elsewhere, the early kick-off between Liverpool and Stoke City saw the home side grab the winner with a precision strike from Daniel Sturridge eight minutes before the break. An exciting game saw new goal-keeper Simon Mignolet pull of a fine double save from the penalty spot late in the game. West Ham United gave a professional performance over newly-promoted Cardiff City with a comfortable 2-0 win whilst a pulsating test between Norwich City and Everton at Carrow Road ended 2-2.
In a wonderful weekend of football across the UK, it's time to analyse the five best goals from all of the action:
5) Antonio Luna secures the points for Villa Vs Arsenal
Aston Villa’s clinical victory at the Emirates was finished off in style with a goal from new defender Antonio Luna five minutes from time.
The former Sevilla left-back latched onto a wonderful through ball from Andreas Weimann in a quick breakaway, opening up the Arsenal defence before Luna took the goal keeper the wrong way to finish in the bottom right-hand corner of the goal, in off the post.
The 22-year-old’s low strike saw the Arsenal defence greeted with a ring of boos from the home crowd due to the back-line failing to respond to Luna’s positioning which was key to the Spaniard’s route towards goal. An exceptional counter-attacking goal, hardly a left-back’s finish.
4) Daniel Sturridge’s winning goal Vs Stoke City
Daniel Sturridge scored the only goal of the game, drilling a low shot into the bottom corner past a despairing Begovic in the Stoke goal.
The Red’s domination proved to be key in their ball control and Sturridge’s 20-yard hit sealed the cherry on the cake for Brendan Rodgers side. The striker demonstrated to youngsters how to get over the ball and hit it first time with an instinctive whip through the legs of Robert Huth before zipping past the goal-keeper.
With star centre-forward Luis Suarez suspended for the first seven games of Liverpool’s campaign, goals like this from Sturridge could prove to be vital should the Reds start well this season.
3) Ross Barkley’s thumping strike Vs Norwich City
Liverpool’s Merseyside foes secured a deserved point away at Norwich in a pulsating fixture at Carrow Road. Everton’s Ross Barkley scored with an emphatic bullet in the first half in the highlight moment of the game.
The 19-year-old composed himself in terrific fashion to unleash an unstoppable drive across John Ruddy’s goal, leaving the former Chelsea target with little hoping of reaching the ball despite being at full stretch.
Barkley was fed the ball following a delightful run from Irish right back Seamus Coleman in from the flank, beating three defenders before Barkley cleared himself with enough space before hitting the red button.
The sparkling youngster’s venomous strike earned him the crown of man-of-the-match.
2) Danny Welbeck’s majestic chip beyond the keeper Vs Swansea City
United put a cap on their first three points with a sublime dink over the keeper from the much improved Danny Welbeck.
Substitute Wayne Rooney slipped the ball through a gap in the defence before Welbeck delightfully chipped the ball over the keeper, leaving Vorm standing and clutching at the clouds.
The goal was made extra special with Welbeck’s magnificent sense of movement, dancing around Swans defender Chico Flores before moving onside, giving Rooney the option to puncture the ball through the defensive hole.
1) Robin van Persie’s second at the Liberty Stadium Vs Swansea City
RVP does it again with a goal of improvisation, experience and utter class.
Another snap- pass by Wayne Rooney allowed van Persie the time to run at Ashley Williams before hitting a long range effort into the roof of the net on his left peg. The shot was hit with pace and tenacity and accompanied with a rocketing grin from last season’s golden boot winner, signalling his satisfaction with his blockbuster strike.
His first goal broke an unearthly first half-an-hour, but his second provided us with a glimpse of the side’s quality, breaking Michael Laudrup’s flock of Swans down throughout periods of the game.
More to come from Matchday 2…
With RVP already firing from all cylinders, alongside a further two weeks of the transfer window to goal, this transitional Premier League season may prove to be the most exciting in the league’s history.
Matchday 2 kicks off on August 24th with fixtures including Arsenal’s trip to Martin Jol’s Fulham, Everton take on West Brom, Hull host Norwich in their first home game in the top flight since promotion. Troubled Newcastle find themselves up against West Ham, Southampton invite Sunderland to the south coast, Stoke battle Crystal Palace and Liverpool take a coach trip to Aston Villa.
On August 25, Championship winners Cardiff take on the vastly appreciated Manchester City and Spurs open their doors to Swansea in what promises to be a highly intense and creative game.
The next day will see the first heavyweight fixture take place as Jose Mourinho visits Old Trafford with Chelsea in David Moyes’ first big test as Red Devils boss.
