The Premier League got underway last weekend with all 20 teams in action across three days 
from Friday to Sunday and with just two draws, it was either a positive or negative start for most of the teams competing this year.
Notable performances came from Manchester City (who were very good 2-0 winners away to Arsenal) and from Liverpool (who thumped West Ham United 4-0 at Anfield and could have had at least two or three more goals). Crystal Palace also deserve great credit after a fine 2-0 London derby victory over newly promoted Fulham, while Mauricio Sarri’s Chelsea lie second in the fledgling table after a thumping 3-0 away win over Huddersfield Town.
Here’s how all the action panned out across the opening weekend of games.
Premier League Results – Matchday One
- Manchester United 2-1 Leicester City
- Newcastle United 1-2 Tottenham Hotspur
- Huddersfield Town 0-3 Chelsea
- Bournemouth 2-0 Cardiff City
- Watford 2-0 Brighton
- Fulham 0-2 Crystal Palace
- Wolves 2-2 Everton
- Southampton 0-0 Burnley
- Liverpool 4-0 West Ham
- Arsenal 0-2 Manchester City
Current League Table
| Pos | Team | Ply | F | A | Pts |
| 1 | Liverpool | 1 | 4 | 0 | 3 |
| 2 | Chelsea | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| 3= | Bournemouth | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| 3= | Crystal Palace | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| 3= | Manchester City | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| 3= | Watford | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| 7= | Manchester United | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| 7= | Tottenham Hotspur | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| 9= | Everton | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| 9= | Wolves | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| 9= | Burnley | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 9= | Southampton | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 13= | Leicester City | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| 13= | Newcastle United | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| 15= | Arsenal | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 15= | Brighton | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 15= | Cardiff City | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 15= | Fulham | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 19 | Huddersfield Town | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 20 | West Ham United | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
Leading Goalscorers
- Sadio Mane (Liverpool) 2 goals
- Richarlison (Everton) 2 goals
All other players that scored have 1 goal apiece.
Performance of the Week
While Liverpool and Chelsea will both be delighted with their opening day performances, it was the style in which Manchester City despatched a tricky Arsenal side away from home that gets my vote. Pep Guardiola’s team will once again be the side to beat in the Premier League this season and they now have a run of relatively easy games over the next six or seven weeks, which could see them make a perfect start to the season.
Matchday 2 Premier League Fixtures
Displayed below are the latest Premier League fixtures for Matchday two, together with the odds on the Full Time Result market as provided by bet365 Sport.
*Odds shown were correct with bet365 Sport as of 14.00 GMT on Tuesday 14th August 2018.
Our Tips for Matchday Two fixtures in the Premier League
- Cardiff City v Newcastle United – Draw 21/10
Two teams that, along with Spurs, did little major business in the transfer window and I think the signs are that both these teams could be struggling at the wrong end of the table this season. Of the two teams I think Newcastle are marginally stronger, but I feel Cardiff will be tough to beat in their first home game of the season. That said both sides need to avoid defeat here and I think they’ll do that with a 1-1 draw my tip here.
- Everton v Southampton – Home Win – 19/20
Both these teams began the season with a draw on the opening weekend, but I feel that Everton’s 2-2 draw at Wolves, achieved despite playing most of the game with 10-men, was a more impressive display that the Saints 0-0 home draw with Burnley. Marco Silva’s new signing Richarlison had an impressive debut and I’m backing him to fire Everton to three points here with a 2-0 victory.
- Leicester City v Wolverhampton Wanderers – Draw – 12/5
Wolves have one point from their draw with Everton last weekend, while Leicester left Old Trafford empty-handed despite a decent display in their 2-1 defeat against Manchester United. I can’t see the Foxes losing here, even against a talented Wolves side, but I also think that this Wolves team has enough quality to avoid a defeat here. As such, I think this will be an entertaining game and another score draw.
- Tottenham Hotspur v Fulham – Home Win – 1/4
A solid performance away at Newcastle United have Spurs a good start to the season, while Fulham were losing at home to London rivals Crystal Palace. I can’t see Slavisa Jokanovic’s team having any joy at Wembley here with Spurs likely to win this game by a relatively comfortable scoreline. Back Harry Kane to grab a couple and Spurs to win 3-0.
- West Ham United v Bournemouth – Home Win – 23/20
The Cherries began the season with a solid 2-0 home win over Cardiff while West Ham were thumped 4-0 at Anfield. That said, Manuel Pellegrini is a wily old campaigner and he will sort West Ham out if given time. He has made some astute signings this season and though I feel Bournemouth will give them a real test, I am backing West Ham to put their Anfield nightmare behind them and come away with a 2-1 win here.
- Chelsea v Arsenal – Home Win – 4/5
Arsenal’s disappointing performance against Manchester City shows that Unai Emery has plenty of work to do and it does not get any easier for the Spaniard as he takes his new team across London to face a Chelsea side second in the table after a 3-0 win over Huddersfield Town. For me, Chelsea have the quality and edge here and I think they will come away with a solid 3-1 victory.
- Burnley v Watford – Home Win – 11/8
Burnley have really impressed me over the last 18 months or so and I think Sean Dyche’s men are showing what hard work and clever management can achieve. Watford started well against Brighton recording a 2-0 win, but this is a tough trip for them against a team that does not concede many, especially at home. As such, I am going for a narrow win for the home side here, probably by the familiar 1-0 scoreline.
- Manchester City v Huddersfield Town – Home Win – 1/12
Manchester City were superb in defeating Arsenal 2-0 on the opening day of the season and they now face a Huddersfield Town side that held them 0-0 at the Etihad near the end of last season. City will remember that, and I think will likely make Huddersfield Town pay as I cannot see anything other than a convincing City win here and likely by a fair few goals.
- Brighton v Manchester United – Draw – 5/2
Brighton recorded a 1-0 win over Manchester United in this fixture last season, but I think Chris Hughton’s men will struggle to match that here. That said, I wasn’t hugely impressed with United at home to Leicester last week and I think Brighton are a team that can cause them problems. I’m backing United to score, but Brighton to grab a late equaliser.
- Crystal Palace v Liverpool – Away Win – 2/5
Palace started the season superbly with a fine win away to Fulham and Roy Hodgson will be hoping his team can capitalise on that against former club Liverpool. The Reds were superb in defeating West Ham 4-0 in their opener and I feel they look like being Manchester City’s closest contenders here. As such, they need to win this game and I think they will do precisely that by a 2-0 scoreline.