Arne Slot received off to a profitable begin as Liverpool supervisor with a 2-0 win at newly-promoted Ipswich on Saturday as Arsenal started their Premier League title problem by beating Wolves by the identical scoreline.
Newcastle defied an early pink card for Fabian Schar to edge previous Southampton 1-0, whereas Brighton ran riot underneath new supervisor Fabian Hurzeler in a 3-0 victory at Everton.
Slot has enormous footwear to fill at Anfield after the departure of Jurgen Klopp, who restored the Reds to the highest of the English sport.
The Dutchman was left lower than impressed by his aspect’s first 45 minutes at Portman Highway as Ipswich flew out of the traps on their return to the Premier League for the primary time in 22 years.
Nevertheless, Liverpool have been a distinct aspect after the break as objectives from Diogo Jota and Mohamed Salah barely mirrored their dominance to get Slot off to the right begin.
“We as a crew made a giant change at half-time as a result of we got here out completely totally different to how we had come out within the first half,” mentioned the previous Feyenoord boss.
“Second half, we gained extra duels, we gained extra second balls and we performed extra balls in behind as a result of if the opposite crew takes the chance of enjoying one-v-one and you’ve got the likes of Luis Diaz, Mo Salah and Diogo Jota then use them, play the balls in behind.”
Arsenal have completed second to Manchester Metropolis in every of the previous two seasons and are highly-fancied to be the champions’ closest challengers once more.
Kai Havertz opened the scoring on the Emirates from Bukayo Saka’s cross to reward the Gunners’ early dominance.
Nevertheless, Mikel Arteta’s males wanted a significant save from David Raya to disclaim Jorgen Strand Larsen and Matheus Cunha missed an enormous likelihood to degree earlier than Arsenal made the factors protected.
The roles from the primary aim have been reversed as this time Havertz teed up Saka to lash dwelling.
Newcastle’s hopes of a profitable begin to the season appeared to have been undone when Schar was despatched off after simply 28 minutes for what the referee deemed a headbutt on Ben Brereton Diaz regardless of restricted contact between the pair.
Southampton had dominated even the early exchanges towards the Magpies’ full praise however didn’t convert from 19 photographs and almost 80 % possession.
In contrast, Newcastle have been medical as Alexander Isak teed up Joelinton for the one aim simply earlier than half-time.
Everton’s remaining season at Goodison Park received off to a nightmare begin as 31-year-old Hurzeler loved a dream begin to life within the Premier League.
Kaoru Mitoma fired Brighton in entrance on his return from damage that noticed the Japanese worldwide miss a lot of final season.
Danny Welbeck added a second after the break earlier than Everton have been diminished to 10 males when Ashley Younger noticed pink.
Simon Adingra made it 3-0 late on and solely a VAR overview denied Brighton a fourth by means of Yasin Ayari.
Antoine Semenyo stepped into the void left at Bournemouth by the departure of Dominic Solanke with a late equaliser to salvage a 1-1 draw at Nottingham Forest.
Aston Villa journey to West Ham in Saturday’s late match.
Metropolis start their defence of the title within the standout fixture of the weekend at Chelsea on Sunday.
Manchester United received their marketing campaign off to a profitable begin on Friday when debutant Joshua Zirkzee got here off the bench to seize a late winner in a 1-0 victory over Fulham.
AFP