Premier League 2017-18 couldn’t have started on a more entertaining note. The first week had everything in it, drama, disappointment, shock and of course sending-offs. Here are the three talking points from what has been an exciting weekend of Premier League action:
Chelsea’s poor start and indiscipline
Chelsea couldn’t have started their title defence in a worse way as they went down 3-0 to Burnley in their own backyard. It was quite surprising to see the Blues so immensely susceptible to Burnley’s counter-attacks and so poor from aerial duels. Ironically, Chelsea fans were heard chanting ‘Spend some f****** money’ in the second half after the game was more than over with the Clarets winning by three goals already then. The Blues have spent around £140 million this summer to get in Tiemoue Bakayoko, Alvaro Morata and Antonio Rudiger and they hardly have any scope for additions.
Another huge concern for Chelsea has been the indiscipline in their games. It all started in the FA Cup final game last season when Victor Moses was sent off after receiving two yellow cards at Wembley. The custom of getting sent-off continued in the FA Community Shield against Arsenal yet again and on Saturday against Burnley, it worsened.
First, it was skipper Gary Cahill who was red carded for a reckless challenge early in the game and then Cesc Fabregas, who got booked twice just when Chelsea looked poised to make a comeback. Antonio Conte will now be without Cahill, Fabregas and Eden Hazard in their next game.
Have Crystal Palace started on the wrong foot again with the new manager?
One of the most shocking results of the opening day came at Selhurst Park as Crystal Palace saw newly promoted side Huddersfield Town pull out a 3-0 victory in their first game in the top flight. For new manager Frank De Boer, whose appointment has been hugely criticized by a large portion of the fans and critics, things can get worse from here.
Palace’s failure to get in Mamadou Sakho from Liverpool might just have cost them big time. 20-year-old Jairo Riedewald and 19-year-old Timothy Fosu-Mensah were definitely not the solutions. Although the more experienced James Tomkins came on late in the game, the damage was done by then. De Boer had too many inexperienced players taking the field on Saturday getting his tactics wrong.
Manchester United making a statement
Perhaps the most entertaining game of the week alongside Arsenal’s 4-3 win over Leicester City was at Old Trafford. The Red Devils ran riot on West Ham United 4-0 showing tremendous dominance. Every player was up to the mark and in their peak giving everyone a reason to believe that this could be their season.
Although it is only the first game of the season and United won against West Ham, who have the worst opening day record in the Premier League, the win was a definite signal of intent by Mourinho who is working with a totally different United side this season. The Red Devils hadn’t won even a single game with a four-goal margin last season and have already made a vast improvement this season.
