Premier League: 10 talking points from the opening weekend’s action

New arrivals part of United’s solid start

It was very much a case of job done for Manchester United on Friday night as they edged past Fulham. United did not secure the convincing win that many desired but three points is a good base from which to start the campaign. Erik ten Hag will be further boosted by the performances of his three debutants. Noussair Mazraoui was the only one to start, playing at right-back where he provided energy and looked composed on the ball. Matthijs de Ligt came on with Jonny Evans as the defence was reshuffled late on to help preserve United’s clean sheet, with Fulham stretching their tired hosts. De Ligt worked diligently but was upstaged by his compatriot, Joshua Zirkzee, who provided the 87th-minute winner with a cunning finish as United finally got the better of Bernd Leno. Each recruit offered an indication of what they will bring to United and, like the team, the new arrivals have something to build on. Will Unwin

• Match report: Manchester United 1-0 Fulham

Raya shows worth with wonder save

While there were no new names in Arsenal’s lineup that beat Wolves, the XI did contain one important summer recruit. After impressing on loan from Brentford, David Raya has made his move across London permanent and played a vital role in a victory that could otherwise have been far less comfortable. The hosts were 1-0 up when the Wolves striker Jørgen Strand Larsen headed at goal, only for the Spaniard to throw out his right hand and somehow palm the ball away. “I don’t know how Raya saves it,” said the Wolves manager, Gary O’Neil. “When it hits [Strand Larsen’s] head that close to the goal, and such good contact, you’re just waiting for the net. Big goalkeepers at big sides that are chasing titles sometimes come up with magic moments that can change games, and that was a big one from David Raya.” Despite being a bystander for most of the match, Raya may have earned his team two points with one pivotal intervention. Ben Bloom

• Match report: Arsenal 2-0 Wolves

No Rodri no problem for slick City

The run dated back to February 2022. The previous four times Manchester City had played a Premier League away game without Rodri, they had lost. But rivals beware; even that smallest of glitches in the winning machine may just have been eradicated. In Mateo Kovacic, City not only had a goal threat against Chelsea, with the Croat putting the game to bed in the 84th minute with an emphatic strike, they had a genuine Rodri alternative too. “I played some kind of his role,” said Kovacic on stepping into the Spaniard’s shoes. “But we are always missing Rodri because he is, if not the best player, one of the best in the world.” City will face sterner tests than a piecemeal Chelsea side still coming to terms with Enzo Maresca’s style, but the fact that Pep Guardiola is still coming up with solutions after eight years and six Premier League titles should be of great concern to their rivals. Dominic Booth

• Match report: Chelsea 0-2 Man City

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Durán hammer blow adds transfer twist

As Jhon Durán skipped out of the London Stadium and on to the team bus, singing along to his headphones, it was clear the social media storm from the summer was forgotten. When the Colombia striker entered the narrative as a substitute on the hour, he might well have been booed by Villa fans. Last month, Durán filmed himself striking West Ham’s “crossed irons” gesture before the two clubs had reached an agreement over his transfer. In accordance with one of those gloriously recurring football pantomime scripts, Durán was bound to end this fixture as the hero, and sure enough, he scored the winning goal 11 minutes from time. Now it seems Unai Emery wants to keep Durán, and teammates believe he will stay. “He’s fully committed to his task,” his fellow scorer Amadou Onana confirmed. “This season he’s going to be a very important player for us, and I’m happy to have him in my team.” Matt Dunn

• Match report: West Ham 1-2 Aston Villa

US money plays part in Ipswich’s rise

Portman Road has a nostalgic vibe, right down to the 70s font used on the stadium’s main stand, but Ipswich, despite being a League One club two years ago, fully embrace modernity. These are no church mice. While Ed Sheeran has a minority stake, the majority of the business is owned by an investment consortium, ORG, which manages funds on behalf of a multibillion US pension pot, known as the Arizona Public Safety Personnel Retirement System. In March, a private equity fund, Bright Path Sports Partners, bought a 40% stake. The pastel suits and aviator shades of Stateside business were visible in the executive boxes, a contrast to the blue-shirted fervency of the home fans. A good day was had by all, barring the result, especially during an excellent first-half display. Kieran McKenna and his players offered hope for the season ahead. Theirs is a huge task but the ownership has the wherewithal to support them. John Brewin

• Match report: Ipswich 0-2 Liverpool

Milner still delivering in 23rd season

It was the quality and range of Brighton’s attacking options – soon to be enhanced with the £40m signing of Georginio Rutter from Leeds – that took the game away from Everton, but behind it all was the familiar, effective presence of James Milner. “An unbelievable character,” as Fabian Hürzeler described the midfielder after this rout of Sean Dyche’s team. “He’s a leader, a role model in terms of preparing for every training session. On top of that he is still a great player.” The 38-year-old became the first player in Premier League history to compete in 23 consecutive seasons and unlike the 39-year-old Ashley Young, who was sent off, he showed age is just a number. The respect between Milner and his 31-year-old head coach is mutual. “The first day he comes in, the age is an issue if you don’t know what he’s about,” Milner said of Hürzeler. “But he was very clear in what he wants and you don’t even think about it then. He has been brilliant since he has been here, very authoritative, fantastic team talks and very methodical in how he does things.” Andy Hunter

• Match report: Everton 0-3 Brighton

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Schär sees red amid Guéhi pursuit

Newcastle’s Fabian Schär deserved to be sent off after walking into the trap set by Southampton’s Ben Brereton Díaz, but perhaps there is another reason why the Switzerland defender was so easily provoked. Schär is Eddie Howe’s first-choice centre-half on the right and knows that, should Newcastle end up signing Crystal Palace’s Marc Guéhi, he will almost certainly lose his starting place. It was hard to sympathise with Brereton Díaz, who went down as if he had been shot, but Schär’s lack of composure may be linked to Howe’s protracted courtship of Guéhi. He is now suspended for three games, which could lead Crystal Palace to up Guéhi’s asking price by another £5m as Newcastle contemplate a fifth bid. Not that there was much wrong with the defending of Howe’s 10 men, who somehow kept Russell Martin’s impressive promoted team at bay while protecting the lead secured by Joelinton’s winning goal. With their 3-4-3 formation suiting them well, Southampton’s disappointment should be leavened by optimism. Louise Taylor

• Match report: Newcastle 1-0 Southampton

Disappointment for depleted Palace

Is the honeymoon over for Oliver Glasner? Judging by the performance against Brentford, there were still plenty of positives for the Crystal Palace manager. But he was rightly frustrated that, having responded well to falling behind, his side let Brentford snatch all three points after switching off at the crucial moment to allow Yoane Wissa’s opportunistic late goal. “It feels like we shouldn’t lose this game but we did,” admitted Glasner. “We know that we can do better because we weren’t at our top level.” Things should improve when Adam Wharton – who was withdrawn just before Wissa’s winner – and some of the rest of the squad who had international commitments over the summer are back to full speed. Ed Aarons

• Match report: Brentford 2-1 Crystal Palace

Maresca managing amid mayhem at Chelsea

Fans chanting for Conor Gallagher after 20 minutes, a Raheem Sterling statement calling for “clarity” on his future an hour before kick-off, and a £280m midfield trio being overrun by one containing a player in Mateo Kovacic that Chelsea sold for £25m; is there no end to the chaos at Stamford Bridge? How on earth is Enzo Maresca supposed to instil a style, or a semblance of stability, amid all this madness? As managerial beginnings go, Maresca has had it tougher than most. He could certainly have been handed a kinder opening fixture than a clash with a City side gunning for five in a row. Despite all that, however, there are glimmers of hope for Chelsea, and the manager understandably sought “positives” afterwards. His side enjoyed more shots than City, had a superior expected goals and Pedro Neto looked particularly bright. Silver linings and all that. If only the other stuff would quieten down. DB

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Huijsen enjoys sweet Cherries debut

It is open season for hot takes but some predictions look surer bets than others. Bournemouth made headlines last week after making Evanilson their club-record signing. While the Brazil striker is likely to be unleashed against Newcastle on Sunday, another arrival made a big impression on his debut at Nottingham Forest. Dean Huijsen, the 19-year-old defender signed from Juventus, whom he joined after rejecting Real Madrid three years ago, was assured from the moment he won his first header inside 30 seconds at the City Ground. The 6ft 5in centre-back coped with Chris Wood and the early signs were encouraging. Bournemouth may still want a goalkeeper and a left-back this window but with Huijsen, Illia Zabarnyi and Marcos Senesi, the latter missing their opener with illness, they are blessed with options in the heart of defence. Huijsen was born in Amsterdam but moved to Andalusia at the age of five and has represented Spain at under-21 level. “We know he has the composure, calm, even strength for someone who is 19,” said the Bournemouth head coach, Andoni Iraola. Ben Fisher

• Match report: Nottingham Forest 1-1 Bournemouth

Source: theguardian.com