Liverpool drew to Fulham 2-2; Tottenham Hotspur beat Southampton 4-1; Jorginho’s penalty helps Chelsea beat Everton 1-0
Liverpool drew to Fulham 2-2; Tottenham Hotspur beat Southampton 4-1; Jorginho’s penalty helps Chelsea beat Everton 1-0
Title contenders Liverpool might solely handle a draw at Fulham on the opening Saturday of the Premier League season whereas Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur made successful begins to the brand new marketing campaign.
Liverpool needed to come from behind twice to cancel out objectives from Fulham’s Serbian striker Aleksandar Mitrovic with new signing Darwin Nunez and Mohamed Salah heading in the right direction within the 2-2 draw for Juergen Klopp’s aspect.
Spurs additionally went behind, at residence to Southampton, however then Antonio Conte’s aspect cruised to a 4-1 victory over the Saints.
A penalty on the stroke of halftime from Jorginho was sufficient to provide Chelsea a hard-fought 1-0 win at former favorite Frank Lampard’s Everton.
Manchester groups in motion on Sunday
Champions Manchester Metropolis begin their title defence at West Ham United on Sunday whereas Dutch supervisor Erik ten Hag takes cost of Manchester United for the primary time towards Brighton & Hove Albion at Outdated Trafford.
Mitrovic scored 43 objectives in 44 video games as Fulham gained promotion from the second-tier Championship final season and continued that type as he put the London aspect forward within the thirty second minute.
Kenny Tete’s cross from the proper was simply what the tall centre ahead relishes and he out-muscled Trent Alexander-Arnold on the far put up to go residence.
Runners-up final time period, Liverpool struggled to get a foothold within the recreation however introduction of Nunez within the second half had the specified affect.
The Uruguayan, purchased from Benfica for an preliminary payment of 75 million euros ($76.36 million) introduced the guests stage with a intelligent flicked end simply after the hour mark.
Regardless of having barely threatened after the break, Fulham have been quickly again in entrance as Mitrovic was dominated to have been tripped within the field by Virgil van Dijk, and the Serb stepped as much as stroke residence the spot kick to make it 2-1.
If signing Nunez was Liverpool’s highest profile transfer available in the market, the brand new contract for Salah is arguably their most vital piece of enterprise and the Egyptian confirmed his worth once more poking residence the equaliser from shut vary.
Spectacular begin for Conte’s Tottenham
Tottenham’s close-season recruitment has boosted hopes in north London that Antonio Conte’s aspect can get nearer to the highest two this season they usually confirmed that optimistic perspective with a powerful begin.
The hosts fell behind to a James Ward-Prowse volley within the twelfth minute however dominated all through with objectives by Ryan Sessegnon, Eric Dier and Dejan Kulusevski sealing the win.
Southampton’s lead lasted solely 9 minutes earlier than Sessegnon powered a header previous Premier League debutant goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu from Kulusevski’s cross.
Dier glanced in Son Heung-min’s cross with a stooping header within the thirty first minute to place Tottenham forward, and the hosts ought to have been out of sight earlier than the interval.
Mohammed Salisu clumsily turned Emerson Royal’s cross into his personal internet within the 61st minute, and two minutes later Royal arrange the spectacular Kulusevski to information an beautiful end past Bazunu whose saves saved the rating respectable.
Everton make Chelsea work for win
Chelsea peppered Everton’s aim with 13 corners within the first half however regarded set to be pissed off because the interval approached, just for Jorginho to transform from the spot after Ben Chilwell had been fouled to provide the guests the lead.
An excellent save from Edouard Mendy early within the second half to disclaim Abdoulaye Doucoure preserved Chelsea’s benefit, and that was nearly as good because it bought for a disappointing Everton, who solely survived relegation by the pores and skin of their tooth final time period.
England ahead Raheem Sterling, making his first league look for Chelsea after a summer season swap from Manchester Metropolis, might have marked a powerful debut with a late second however noticed his close-range effort deflected simply vast.
Nottingham Forest’s return to the highest flight after a 23-year absence resulted in a 2-0 loss at Newcastle United with Fabian Schar scoring a screamer earlier than Callum Wilson sealed the win.
There was a greater begin for one more promoted aspect, Bournemouth, who beat Steven Gerrard’s Aston Villa 2-0 with objectives from Jefferson Lerma and Kieffer Moore.
Leeds United, who battled towards relegation final season, had a brand new look with 4 debutants and loved a 2-0 win at residence to Wolverhampton Wanderers.
