Premier League
Talking points from the opening weekend of the 2022-23 Premier League season
Here are five key talking points from the weekend’s English Premier League games:
New season, same story for United
Was it really such a surprise that the Manchester United of this season performed just like the team that struggled so much under Ralf Rangnick and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer last term?
The 2-1 home defeat by Brighton and Hove Albion on Sunday (Aug 7) still registers as an upset but, given Graham Potter’s side came ninth last term and continue to produce an enterprising, collective style of football, it was hardly a shock.
In the close season, United needed more work and a bigger turnover of players than any of the five teams that finished above them last term yet they have done less significant recruitment than any of them.
Erik ten Hag began his first game in charge with the central midfield pairing of Scott McTominay and Fred, which has never looked capable of being top class.
With Cristiano Ronaldo’s future uncertain and Anthony Martial injured, ten Hag had to play without a recognised centre-forward and, despite long-standing concerns over the right-back position, Diogo Dalot was given another chance to convince.
United’s approach to recruitment has been panned by critics over recent years and the past few months have only served to show that little has changed.
City show no trouble ‘adapting’ to Haaland
One of the questions raised during the close-season transfer activities was could champions Manchester City adapt to playing with a classic ‘No. 9’ in Norwegian Erling Haaland?
After their new signing from Borussia Dortmund scored twice on his Premier League debut in a 2-0 win at West Ham United, the answer is blatantly clear: City not only adapted but clearly now have an additional weapon in their arsenal.
Haaland is a traditional striker in the sense that he is tall and powerful in the air but, as he showed with his superb finish for the second goal, he has pace and excellent technique too.
His ratio of a goal-a-game in the Bundesliga may be a tough challenge to maintain in England but who would really bet against him maintaining that prolific rate?
Nunez ready to evolve into Liverpool’s attacking threat
Perhaps the only silver lining for Liverpool as they limped to a 2-2 draw at Fulham on Saturday was the performance of Uruguayan striker Darwin Nunez, who provided a creative spark from the bench – scoring one goal and creating another.
The introduction of the 23-year-old caused chaos in the Fulham defence as he combined well with Mohamed Salah after a toothless first half from last season’s runners-up.
If Nunez can continue to deliver on the promise he showed on Saturday, Sadio Mane’s move to Bayern Munich will soon be forgotten, as will this stuttering start to the season at Craven Cottage.
Villa have work to do after disappointing show
Aston Villa manager Steven Gerrard was left frustrated by their performance at Bournemouth after the Birmingham club dominated possession but lacked quality in the final third, suffering a 2-0 defeat.
Villa’s expensively assembled team looked sluggish throughout, registering only two shots on target from their total of 15.
Playmaker Philippe Coutinho could do very little, while striker Danny Ings also failed to make an impact.
“We didn’t look like creating, which is on me and on us and it’s a big area that we need to improve upon,” Gerrard said.
“When I watch it back, I’ll see a lot of possession, a lot of control and us moving up the pitch into the right areas but that last pass, that last cross and the inventive spark was miles off.”
Comeback kings Brentford show heart again
Only Liverpool (20) earned more points than Brentford (15) from losing positions last season as the Bees had a happy knack of turning games on their head.
They did it again on Sunday as they rallied from two goals down to draw 2-2 at Leicester City, the first time the Foxes have given up a two-goal home advantage in the Premier League since 2003.
But while Brentford manager Thomas Frank may look at that as a positive, he will be worried by the fact that his side gave up the first goal on 25 occasions last season, and did so again at the King Power Stadium.
It is one thing to show heart and desire to snatch points from losing positions, but they would not be in the position to have to do so if they made a better start to games.
-Reuters
Premier League
Manchester United tighten hold on third in the Premier League with win over Aston Villa
Manchester United’s Matheus Cunha buried a second‑half strike off a pinpoint through ball from Bruno Fernandes for a club-record 16th Premier League assist in a season to lift the hosts to a 3-1 victory over Aston Villa on Sunday.
Casemiro and substitute Benjamin Sesko scored United’s other goals in a result that tightened United’s grip on third place in the standings on 54 points after 30 games, while fourth-placed Villa have 51 points.
United, who were playing their first game in 11 days, were keen for a victory after interim boss Michael Carrick’s seven-game unbeaten run ended in a 2-1 loss to 10-man Newcastle United on March 4.
With 22 points from a possible 27 under Carrick’s leadership, Sunday’s win will invariably lead to more questions about his chances of becoming United’s permanent manager.
“It was a slightly different game today going into it being so close in the league and making the small jump we could if we won, off the back of a defeat,” Carrick said. “It was a small test and we haven’t really had that.
“The boys dealt with it really well, had a really good week and applied themselves well. Everything is so so encouraging. We’ve got a lot to play for.”
The game looked headed for a draw before Cunha scored from the left side of the box in the 71st minute, with Fernandes recording his 100th assist for the club across all competitions.
With eight games left, Fernandes is also four shy of matching the Premier League record for assists in one season of 20 held by Thierry Henry (2002-03) and Kevin de Bruyne (2019-20).
“He’s had so many big moments, to score a goal, to make a pass,” Carrick said of Fernandes. “Training or games, he’s always there. Really good with the corner. The pass to Matheus was fantastic to cap off a good performance all around.”
Sesko put the game out of reach 10 minutes later with a blistering shot from the centre of the box.
Casemiro put United ahead in the 53rd minute with a glancing header from a Fernandes corner.
Ross Barkley levelled in the 64th with a shot from the middle of the area. After a lengthy VAR check to determine whether the ball glanced off an offside Amadou Onana, the goal stood.
A better second half salvaged a decent game after a dreary first 45 minutes plagued by errant passes and slipping players.
United did have some decent first-half chances including a header from Amad Diallo that goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez stretched backwards to keep out of the net. Diogo Dalot had a terrific chance inside the box that he launched over the bar.
Leny Yoro’s block spoiled one of Villa’s best chances and led to a long-range shot from Fernandes at the other end that he sent just wide of the post.
Villa have not won a league game since February 11, and an animated manager Unai Emery spent much of the afternoon stomping his feet and waving his arms in frustration.
“How we are progressing after we did fantastic months in October, November, December, the last two months we are struggling,” Emery said. “It’s Manchester United here at home, and they are now in good moment. And of course, they played a very intelligent match.
“I think we can get better. The result at the end was a bad result for us. We must accept it and try to analyse now to get better for the next challenge.”
-Reuters
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England and Manchester United defender Harry Maguire has been handed a 15-month suspended prison sentence by a Greek court over a 2020 incident in Mykonos, Sky Sports reported on Wednesday.
In 2020, Maguire was found guilty of repeated bodily harm, attempted bribery and violence against public employees after his arrest in a brawl in which two police officers were assaulted.
Maguire, who was detained for two days following the incident and denied any wrongdoing, was handed a suspended prison sentence of 21 months and 10 days but was granted a full retrial after appealing against Greek court convictions on multiple charges.
In accordance with the Greek judicial process, the filing nullified Maguire’s conviction before a full retrial in a more senior court. His retrial was postponed many times.
Maguire faced allegations of non-serious assault, resisting arrest and attempted bribery. The 32-year-old was convicted on all three counts but will face no prison time. His legal team will appeal against the guilty verdict, Sky Sports reported.
Maguire’s brother Joe and friend Christopher Sharman were also found guilty of offences related to the incident and received suspended prison sentences in 2020. They also denied any wrongdoing.
-Reuters
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Arsenal maintained control of the Premier League title race as they chiselled out a nervy 2-1 win over London rivals Chelsea to open up a five-point lead at the top of the table on Sunday.
Jurrien Timber’s 66th-minute header from a Declan Rice corner ensured Arsenal took three precious points, but it was a nervy afternoon in north London.
Mikel Arteta’s side moved to 64 points from 29 games, with Manchester City, who have played a game fewer, on 59.
Arsenal’s Jurrien Timber celebrates scoring their second goal with Gabriel Magalhaes REUTERS/Jaimi Joy
Defender William Saliba had given Arsenal the lead in the 21st minute from a trademark corner routine.
But it had looked as though an own goal by Piero Hincapie just before halftime would prove costly for the hosts until Timber came to their rescue.
Chelsea, whose six-match unbeaten league sequence under new manager Liam Rosenior was halted, ended the match with 10 men after Pedro Neto was sent off for a second yellow card.
-Reuters
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