FULHAM VS LIVERPOOL – Written by Swans.Pure

Fulham provide the shock of the weekend after getting a deserved point at home Vs title challengers Liverpool. A game full of goals saw the points shared in a 2-2 draw. Goals from Fulham’s Mitrovic, New signing Nunez and the inevitable Salah meant Liverpool drop 2 points at Craven Cottage.

LIVERPOOL: Klopp and Co would select an unchanged outfield lineup, with the only change being Alisson in for Adrian from their 3-1 beating of Manchester City in the Community Shield. Surprisingly, record signing Darwin Nunez is on the bench as Klopp wanted to “spice things up” like explained in the pre-match press conference. Former Fulham man Fabio Carvalho has been named amongst the substitutes as he could come off the bench to play against his former club after a summer move from SW6. Liverpool would start in the usual 4-3-3 favourited by Klopp with the midfield trio having as huge impact on the game.

GK: Allison Becker 

LB: Andy Robertson

CB: Virgil Van Dijk

CB: Joel Matip

RB: Trent Alexander-Arnold

CM: Thiago Alcantara (51′)

CM: Fabinho (59′)

CM: Jordan Henderson (C)

LW: Luis Diaz (78′)

ST: Roberto Firmino (51′)

RW: Mohammed Salah

FULHAM: Marco Silva would start 2 new signings as he chooses his first premier league side since being sacked from Everton. Silva guided Fulham to the premier league in a record breaking season in the EFL Championship during the 2021/22 season. Silva claimed that Leno was not ready for his first appearance in a Fulham shirt as he will watch the game from the bench. Supporters at Craven Cottage will be able to welcome Joao Paulinho and Andreas Pereira as they will make their debuts against title challengers Liverpool. Fulham will lineup in a 4-2-3-1 formation which was commonly used last season by Silva’s men. 

GK: Marek Rodak

LB: Antonee Robinson

CB: Tim Ream (C)

CB: Tosin Adarabioyo

RB: Kenny Tete

CM: Joao Paulinho

CM: Harrison Reed

LW: Neeskens Kebano (66′)

CAM: Andreas Pereira (89′)

RW: Bobby Reid (94′)

ST: Aleksandar Mitrovic 

FULL-TIME: FULHAM 2-2 LIVERPOOL

Fulham started the game very brightly taking the game to Liverpool and not allowing them any time and space on the ball. This incredible start to the game would carry on as Aleksandar Mitrovic would nod Fulham ahead in the 32nd minute following a lovely cross from Kenny Tete. Fulham dominated Liverpool up until that point but would now have to spend the remainder of the game sitting back with a low block. Liverpool almost responded immediately with Diaz unable to get onto the end of a lovely cross from Robertson with the Columbian also hitting the post late on in the first half. Both side would go into the tunnel with the score at 1-0 to Fulham. 

Second half saw early changes due to an injury with Thiago and Firmino being replaced by Elliot and Nunez. It didn’t take long for Nunez to make an impact equalising in the 64th minute to level the score at 1-1. However the score didn’t remain for long as Mitrovic was brought down in the box by Virgil Van Dijk, and it was the Serbian striker that slotted away the penalty to put Fulham 2-1 up. However after scoring in every first game of the season it was inevitable to see Mohammed Salah on the score sheet and in the 80th minute exactly that happened. A wonderful ball from Trent Alexander-Arnold (who’s poor defending let to the first goal) found Darwin Nunez in the box who brought it down to Salah who tucked it away nicely to make sure Liverpool got a share of the points. 

Liverpool will hope to bounce back as they host Crystal Palace next Monday and Fulham will try and remain their good form away to Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday.

NEWCASTLE VS NOTTINGHAM FOREST – Written by Jackson K

It has been a long 23-year wait for Nottingham Forest’s return to the Premier League. Coming up against a revitalized Newcastle team, following their acquisition by PIF they have been going from strength to strength and will provide a tough test for the traveling Forest team.

NEWCASTLE UNITED: Lining up in Eddie Howe’s favorable 433, We saw a heavily rotated Eleven from last week’s 2-1 win against Athletic Club De Bilbao, with six changes from that starting lineup

GK: Nick Pope

LB: Matt Targett

LCB: Dan Burn

RCB: Fabian Schar

RB: Kieran Trippier

LCM: Joelinton

CM: Bruno Guimaraes (90+3)

RCM: Joe Willock (80′)

LM: Allan Saint-Maximin (90)

RM: Miguel Almiron (81′)

ST: Callum Wilson (90)

SUBS: Martin Dubravka, Paul Dummet, Sven Botman (90+3), Matt Ritchie, Chris Wood (90′), Ryan Fraser (81′), Jacob Murphy (90′), Elliot Anderson, Sean Longstaff (80′)

NOTTINGHAM FOREST: For the first time in 23 years Nottingham Forest lines up in the premier league, with only one change to the lineup which saw them earn a 1-1 draw against Valencia 7 days ago and

GK: Dean Henderson

LWB: Harry Toffolo

LCB: Scott Mckenna

CB: Moussa Niakhate (83′)

RCB: Joe Worrall

RWB: Neco Williams

LCM: Jesse Lingard

CM: Jack Colback

RCM: Lewis O’Brien (75′)

LST: Sam Surridge (63′)

RST: Brennan Johnson

SUBS: Wayne Hennessy, Giulian Biancone, Orel Mangala (75′), Loic Mbe Soh, Taiwo Awoniyi (63′), Alex Mighten (83′), Cafu, Lyle Taylor, Oliver Hammond

FULL TIME: Newcastle 2-0 Nottingham Forest

A lifeless performance from Nottingham Forest saw Newcastle cruise to a 2-0 win Against the newly promoted side. The game was barely 90 seconds in when Newcastle created their first of 11 Corners starting what would be a repeated showing throughout the 90, that of a low-lying Forest, often with 5 players inside the box defending for their life. And for a while, that worked. As much as they were dominated Nottingham went in at halftime at 0-0, with Dean Henderson and Joe Worrall making many last-ditch saves to keep their team in the game, but this was to no avail, with Fabian Schar scoring a wonderful strike in the 57th minute, lasering into the top right corner of the post, leaving Henderson with no chance. Following the Brilliant strike by Schar Forest continued to give away easy possession, with Neco Williams handing the ball to Saint-Maximin, who plays between Guimaraes, Joelinton, and himself before Joelinton sets up Wilson for the second in the 77th minute, where we had our final score of 2-0.

Looking at Newcastle there is a clear difference in level now in comparison to this time last year. It took 15 game weeks for Newcastle to register all three points, and the clear rise in the level of the players, both physically and mentally following their acquisition by PIF has increased. In particular, both Trippier and Bruno Guimaraes looked a class above the other players, reading the game before it had been played, with Bruno Guimaraes being the MOTM. Overall if you are a Newcastle fan there were some very positive signs, however, if Wilson is to get injured the lack of direct goal threat from both Saint-Maximin and Almiron would be a major worry for the Magpies.

Nottingham Forest on the other hand looked dreadful. The lack of ability to progress the ball from defense to attack was a glaringly obvious problem, however, Orel Mangala didn’t feature heavily, and could hopefully help them with this problem, however that was only the start. That set piece was woeful, the 71st-minute corner tactic has got to be one of the worst set piece tactics I may have ever seen and truly baffled me as to what they were thinking. And this was a common theme throughout the night. It was very clear that this was a team full of fresh new faces, as they lacked any sort of communication and interplay ability, as every player looked like they were lost by themselves, not playing a sport like football. If they want to survive this Premier League campaign they need to figure it out, and quickly or they’ll be dead in the water before they’ve even swam.

BOUNEMOUTH VS ASTON VILLA – Written by Marcus Woodhouse

Saturday afternoon saw several entertaining games including the returning Bournemouth facing off against a formidable Aston Villa side, and it was the Vitality Stadium that hosted the pick of the bunch.

BOURNEMOUTH: The Cherries opted for five at the back, giving goalkeeper Mark Travers his 50th appearance for the club, while handing out Premier League debuts to four players: Ben Pearson, Marcus Tavernier, Kieffer Moore, and Jordan Zemura.

GK: Mark Travers

RWB: Adam Smith

RCB: Jefferson Lerma

CB: Chris Mepham

LCB: Lloyd Kelly

LWB: Jordan Zemura

RCM: Ben Pearson (72’)

CM: Philip Billing

LCM: Marcus Tavernier (86’)

RS: Kieffer Moore

LS: Dominic Solanke (90+5’)

Subs: Lewis Cook (72’ Pearson), Ryan Christie (86’ Tavernier), Emiliano Marcondes, Jack Stacey, Junior Stanislas (90+5’ Solanke), Siriki Dembélé, James Hill, Jaidon Anthony, Will Dennis.

ASTON VILLA: Steven Gerrard told his team to play a 4-3-3 formation, handing out debuts to summer signings Boubacar Kamara and Diego Carlos, the latter replacing ex-captain Tyrone Mings.

GK: Emiliano Martínez

RB: Matty Cash

RCB: Ezri Konsa

LCB: Diego Carlos

LB: Lucas Digne

RCM: John McGinn

CM: Boubacar Kamara (82’)

LCM: Jacob Ramsey (45’)

RM: Leon Bailey

ST: Danny Ings (66’)

LM: Philippe Coutinho (82’)

Subs: Tyrone Mings, Douglas Luiz (82’ Kamara), Emiliano Buendía (45’ Ramsey), Ollie Watkins (66’ Ings), Calum Chambers, Ludwig Augustinsson, Ashley Young, Robin Olsen, Cameron Archer (82’ Coutinho).

FULL-TIME: BOURNEMOUTH 2-0 ASTON VILLA

The game kicked off at 3pm and inside the first 3 minutes, Bournemouth had their first Premier League goal since July 2020, as Jefferson Lerma slammed the ball home following a Marcus Tavernier corner and a weak clearance from the claret and blue defence. Danny Ings looked to level the scores soon after but his shot was expertly grasped by Mark Travers between the sticks. Solanke fired a similar chance at Martinez, before Leon Bailey sniffed an opening from Jacob Ramsey’s parried attempt, only to be ruled offside and that was that for the first half.

Half-time saw Gerrard, in an attempt to induce some creativity into his slightly lacklustre side, brought on Emi Buendía for Ramsey, who nearly made an instant impact as he teed up Boubacar Kamara’s impressive long-range effort that just dipped past the post. The physicality of the game then ramped up, with Villa’s attempts to play tiki-taka constantly halted by the unrelenting work of Bournemouth’s midfield, most notably Ben Pearson. Finally, with ten minutes of normal time left to play, Kieffer Moore emphatically secured the three points, once again following a Marcus Tavernier set piece that was whipped back in by Lloyd Kelly and powerfully fired into the far corner of the net by the head of Moore.

All in all, it just didn’t seem to click for Aston Villa in this game. The individual quality of players like Buendía, Ings and McGinn was evident but collectively the team failed to produce any clear-cut chances, despite dominating the possession. Bournemouth on the other hand surprised many who had tipped them to go straight back down this season, their new signing Marcus Tavernier gelling perfectly with the rest of the squad, whose quality was plain to see, with electric runs and pinpoint set pieces on show. Moore, Pearson and Zamura all proved that they are Premier League level as well, impressing on their first match in the elite league. Scott Parker can be very pleased with the performance put on by his team today.

LEEDS UNITED VS WOLVES – Written by Jack Cornwall

This afternoon saw the return of Premier League football to North Yorkshire, as Bruno Lage’s men took on Jesse Marsch’s Leeds.

LEEDS: Leeds started the match with the same line-up and formation that saw them win 6-2 vs Cagliari in pre-season. Jesse Marsch handed competitive debuts to new boys Brendan Aaronson, Tyler Adams, Marc Roca and Rasmus Kristensen.

GK: Ivan Meslier

RB: Rasmus Kristensen

LCB: Diego Llorente

RCB: Robin Koch

LB: Pascal Struijk

LCM: Tyler Adams

RCM: Marc Roca (73′)

RM: Brenden Aaronson (85′)

CAM: Rodrigo (65′)

LM: Jack Harrison

ST: Patrick Bamford (84′)

Subs: Kristoffer Klaesson, Cody Drameh, Leo Hjelde, Joe Gelhardt (84’ Bamford), Archie Gray, Sam Greenwood (73’ Roca), Darko Gyabi, Mateusz Klich (65’ Rodrigo), Crysencio Summerville (85’ Aaronson).

WOLVES: The Wanderers started the season with a change in formation, switching to a 4-2-3-1 after usually playing with a back 5 last season. Bruno Lage gave a debit to former Burnley man, Nathan Collins.

GK: Jose Sa

RB: Jonny

LCB: Max Kilman

RCB: Nathan Collins

LB: Rayan Ait Nouri

LCM: Ruben Neves

RCM: Leander Dendoncker

RM: Daniel Podence

CAM: Morgan Gibbs-White

LM: Pedro Neto

ST: Hwang Hee-Chan

Subs: Matija Sarkic, Conor Coady, Yerson Mosquera, Hugo Bueno, Willy Boly, Connor Ronan, Joe Hodge, Luke Cundle, Chem Campbell (85’ Hwang Hee-Chan).

It was the visitors who started the better of the two teams and took the lead after six minutes after a Hwang Hee-Chan header at the back post was slotted away by an unmarked Daniel Podence with an easy finish. Leeds then started to get back into a the game and were matching Wolves with their energy and intensity. A couple of half chances from both sides eventually led to the equaliser from Rodrigo. The Spaniard hit a shot from a tight angle and the ball found its way beyond the arms of Jose Sa. The Portuguese international then a scary just before half-time as he casually let a back pass roll back to him, which Bamford capitalised on but his teammate Jack Harrison was unable to find the net.

Into the second half, and Wolves started it in the same way they started the first, advancing into Leeds’ half and moving the ball well. Leeds’ goal scorer Rodrigo was subbed off for Klich after 65 minutes with Marsch feeling that his side was being overrun in midfield. Then the home side gained back control of the match and were pushing for a winner , with Man of the Match Brenden Aaronson reacting first to a cross from Patrick Bamford to guide the winning goal home, 20 minutes from time. Leeds managed to hold out for the win to start the season with 3 points.

SPURS VS SOUTHAMPTON – Written by Josh Dolan

Spurs: Antonio Conte starts off the new season how he ended the last, optinf for his ever reliable 3-4-3 formation, and with no new signings starting the game

GK: Hugo Lloris

RCB: Cristian Romero

CB: Eric Dier

LCB: Ben Davies (86′)

RM: Emerson Royal (87′)

RCM: Rodrigo Bentancur (86′)

LCM: Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg

LM: Ryan Sessegnon (66′)

RW: Dejan Kulusevski (86′)

ST: Harry Kane

LW: Heung-Min Son

Substitutes: Davinson Sanchez, Lucas Moura (86′), Yves Bissouma (86′), Matt Doherty (87′), Ivan Perisic (66′), Bryan Gil, Clement Lenglet (86′), Djed Spence, Fraser Forster

Southampton: The Saints lined up with a 5-3-2 formation, looking to prevent Spurs from scoring, but ultimately that plan failed with a 4-1 defeat in North London.

GK: Gavin Bazuna

RWB: Kyle Walker-Peters (90+2′)

RCB: Yan Valery (45′)

CB: Jan Bednarek

LCB: Mohammed Salisu

LWB: Moussa Djenepo (72′)

RCM: James Ward-Prowse

CM: Romeu Lavia

LCM: Oriol Romeu (75′)

RST: Joe Ayodele-Aribo

LST: Adam Armstrong (45′)

Substitutes:

Alex McCarthy, Mohamed Elyounoussi, Ibrahima Diallo (75′), Jack Stephens (45′), Che Adams, Romain Perraud (75′), Stuart Armstrong (45′), Nathan Redmond (90+2′), Armel Bella Kotchap

Tottenham started the season brilliantly as they put four past the Saints. Despite Conceding an early goal from a great strike by James Ward Prowse Conte’s side managed to secure the win. Two first half goals put Spurs in front at the half. Eric Diers’ header was his first goal in over three years and Ryan Sessegnon’s first Premier League goal were surprised goal-scorers. Spurs nearly started the second half of superbly as Sessegnon found the back of the net but the goal was ruled out for offside. But this didn’t matter as a great round by Emerson Royal saw Salisu put the ball into his own net. The win was secured as superstar Kulusevski finished of a delightful move to score his first home goal for Spurs. 

Spurs fans saw a glimpse of what this season will be like for them despite none of their new signings starting the game. Players who weren’t very good last season are looking extremely sharp as Conte’s magic work continues to improve as Spurs expect a few more faces to come in as they look to end the summer window on a high. Kulusevski was the stand out performer today as he is carrying on his superb form from the back end of last season. Emerson Royal and Sessegnon look bright as they showed positive signs at fullback for Spurs. Tottenham will face Chelsea next Sunday at Stamford Bridge which will be a great test for Conte’s Lily Whites. 

EVERTON VS CHELSEA – Written by Luke Fenn