LONDON: Manchester United loved a dream begin to the Premier League season as Bruno Fernandes scored a hat-trick in a 5-1 thrashing of Leeds United in entrance of 73,000 at Outdated Trafford, whereas Chelsea swept apart Crystal Palace 3-Zero on Saturday.
Over 300,000 followers are anticipated to attend the opening weekend of the season with full crowds restored following the easing of coronavirus restrictions.
United had been impressed by a raucous environment as Fernandes and Paul Pogba mixed to blow away Marcelo Bielsa’s males.
Fernandes walked away with the match ball, however Pogba was simply as spectacular because the Frenchman produced 4 assists for the Portuguese’s first two objectives and second-half strikes from Mason Greenwood and Fred.
Luke Ayling’s beautiful strike early within the second-half briefly introduced Leeds stage, nevertheless it was one other Outdated Trafford journey to neglect for them after additionally being thrashed 6-2 final season.
After seeing United show their title credentials, European champions Chelsea dispatched Palace in Patrick Vieira’s first match in control of the Eagles with ease to make their very own case.
Marcos Alonso’s free-kick and Christian Pulisic’s scuffed end gave Thomas Tuchel’s males a commanding 2-Zero lead earlier than half-time.
Centre-back Trevoh Chalobah then marked his Premier League debut with a long-range strike to spherical off the scoring.
Elsewhere, Rafael Benitez went an extended technique to quieting his doubters at Everton because the Toffees got here from behind to beat Southampton 3-1.
Adam Armstrong’s opener on his debut for the Saints noticed Benitez’s males booed off at half-time at Goodison Park with lots of the residence followers nonetheless sad on the appointment of the previous Liverpool supervisor.
However the temper was lifted straight after half-time by Richarlison’s equaliser earlier than Abdoulaye Doucoure and Dominic Calvert-Lewin ensured Benitez received off to a profitable begin.
Leicester Metropolis additionally secured all three factors as Jamie Vardy’s deft flick proved the distinction in a 1-Zero win over Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Life for Aston Villa with out Jack Grealish received off to a horrible begin as Watford celebrated their return to the highest flight with a 3-2 win at Vicarage Highway.
Targets from Emmanuel Dennis, Ismaila Sarr and Cucho Hernandez had the Hornets cruising in direction of victory.
John McGinn pulled a objective again and Danny Ings netted from the penalty spot on his debut, nevertheless it was too little, too late for Villa.
Brighton bounced again from conceding inside two minutes at Burnley to win 2-1 at Turf Moor due to second-half objectives from Neal Maupay and Alexis MacAllister.
Gunners surprised
In the meantime, the season received off to a flying begin on Friday as Brentford marked their first recreation within the prime flight for 74 years and their first in entrance of followers at their new stadium with an emotional 2-Zero victory over a ragged Arsenal.
Sergi Canos carved his title into the west London membership’s Corridor of Fame when he lower inside Calum Chambers and drilled a low shot contained in the close to put up of Bernd Leno after 22 minutes to spark an explosion of pleasure from the followers who’ve waited so lengthy to take their place within the new 17,500-capacity residence.
It was the least Brentford deserved as, revelling of their probability to tackle the massive boys, they took the sport to an Arsenal staff who appeared disjointed and toothless within the absence of ‘unwell’ strike duo Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette.
Some hesitant Arsenal defending after an extended throw within the 73rd minute allowed Christian Norgaard to go residence the second and Brentford, the staff who suffered an agonising 9 playoff failures earlier than lastly succeeding final season, had been in dream land.
Revealed in Daybreak, August 15th , 2021
