After an interesting first week of the English Premier League, week two has some engrossing encounters on tap. It also brings the first official Friday Night Football match. Manchester United hosts Southampton, in what should bring the return of the Prodigal Son back to Old Trafford, as Paul Pogba looks set to solidify the United midfield. There is also...
After an interesting first week of the English Premier League, week two has some engrossing encounters on tap.
It also brings the first official Friday Night Football match. Manchester United hosts Southampton, in what should bring the return of the Prodigal Son back to Old Trafford, as Paul Pogba looks set to solidify the United midfield.
There is also an early crisis game with last year's top two, as Leicester City entertains Arsenal. If the Foxes can get a win, the Arsenal Fan TV channel will make for the most entertaining viewing of the weekend.
With an international break for the start of World Cup qualifying after next weekend's contests, it is crucial to get the 2016-2017 season started well. Seven teams won on opening weekend (Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea, Hull City, Manchester City, Swansea City, West Bromwich Albion) and will look to stay hot. An early season hole is something that can be overcome, but you only have to look at what happened to Chelsea last year to see what can happen if a team buries itself before the holidays.
***
While Philippe Coutinho had a stunning free kick in Liverpool's 4-3 win over Arsenal, the goal of the weekend came from Hull City's shock win over defending champion Leicester City.
Right before the break, Abel Hernandez and Adama Diomande went for a simultaneous bicycle kick, and it found the back of the net. Diomande was credited with the stunning goal, which gave Hull the 1-0 lead. The Tigers held on to win 2-1, and the team in turmoil was given some relief, and a huge three points.
English Premier League is back better than ever for 2016 - 2017
***
Each week, I will have a look at the top/bottom three performances of the week in the EPL. It can be a team or individual. Lets take a look at week one.
Top three
1. Jose's attack- The new-look Manchester United had to travel to Bournemouth, a place where LVG lost 2-1 last season during an injury crisis that showed just how far away the Red Devils really were from competing.
That is no longer the case. Jose Mourinho has the weapons in his attack to fire United to the top of the table. Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored a stunner on his EPL debut, in a 3-1 United win, a week after getting the winner in the Community Shield. If the big Swede can continue to score goals, with Pogba coming into the team, and Anthony Martial (two assists against Bournemouth) growing into his role as one of the top attackers in the world, this team will be tough to beat.
Lets see if they can keep it going Friday against Southampton.
2. Coutinho's coming out party- If the Liverpool attack can play like it did against Arsenal each week, this is another team that will be very dangerous all year.
Coutinho continues to impress in his tryout for Barcelona (I jest; well, maybe I don't.) The problem with this team will not be in the offensive end of the pitch. After taking a 4-1 lead over a dire Gunners side, Liverpool almost capitulated, holding on for a 4-3 win. But an away win opening weekend at the Emirates is impressive.
3. Hull City gets a massive win- The Tigers are still a mess. Steve Bruce quit right before the season, leaving Mike Phelan in charge for now, and the fans are protesting against the ownership. Hull isn't spending money, and that left it with just 13 healthy senior players Saturday. But the Tigers impressively beat Leicester, and have a game with Swansea this weekend. If Hull can get anything from that match, maybe Assem Allam will spend some of that PS150 million in television money each club gets from the new contract the EPL signed.
Bottom three
1. Arsene FC- It is SHOCKING that Arsenal is in another injury crisis caused by Arsene Wenger, and the Gunners board, not spending money on players. In other news, football pitches are green.
Arsenal fans should be used to this by now, but it seems each season brings new hope that their beloved club will spend some of its vast riches. With both Manchester clubs, and Liverpool, buying players from all over the world, it is the Gunners that have fallen down the EPL pecking order. The defense is a disaster. They started a 20-year-old Rob Holding at center back, who made the jump from EFL Championship club Bolton.
With the injury crisis deepening (Alex Iwobi is out for a month), this club can not afford to fall too far behind the pack early. This may finally be the year that the Gunners fall out of the top four.
2. The plight of Joe Hart- City's former number one is on the block, with a rumored loan move to Everton in the works. It is an amazing fall from grace for Hart, who Pep Guardiola has said is just not good enough for his revolution. Yaya Toure is on the way out as well, for the second time under Guardiola (Barcelona.)
City travel to Stoke City Saturday, in an early test for the new-look Citizens, after a mid-week stroll in Champions League qualifying. Sergio Aguero shook off two missed penalties to score a hat trick in the 5-0 win. But the best thing (unless you are a City fan) about the night was the twitter account of @FCSteaua during the match.
3. Anthony Taylor bottles it- Taylor did not have the best of matches, as he took charge of the Chelsea West Ham contest.
Diego Costa, who got a yellow card in the first half for dissent, should have been sent off for a second half lunging challenge on Hammers keeper Adrian. Of course, after his stay, Costa scored the winner right at the death. It didn't help the N'Golo Kante could have easily seen a red as well on his debut. West Ham was left fuming after the match, and now have to regroup in the last match of the weekend, as the Hammers open in their new Olympic Stadium.
***
EPL Week Two Picks (All times Eastern, home team listed first)
Friday, 19 August
3 p.m.
Manchester United 2-0 Southampton
Saturday, 20 August
7:30 a.m.
Stoke City 2-3 Manchester City
10 a.m.
Swansea City 1-0 Hull City
Tottenham 2-0 Crystal Palace
Burnley 0-2 Liverpool
Watford 0-1 Chelsea
West Bromwich Albion 1-1 Everton
12:30 p.m.
Leicester City 1-0 Arsenal
Sunday, 21 August
8:30 a.m.
Sunderland 0-0 Middlesborough
11 a.m.
West Ham United 2-0 Bournemouth
Contact Sean Miller at seanmillertrentontimes@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter @TheProdigalSean