August 19, 2016
Manchester United 2-0 Southampton
Zlatan Ibrahimovic 36’ 52’
In their first home match of the season, Manchester United finished 2-0 winners over Southampton. Manchester United was coming from a 3-1 away win in their league opener against AFC Bournemouth, while Southampton was looking for their first win of the season, after failing to win their opening day home match against Watford.
It was the first match for the most expensive signing in football history, Paul Pogba. He did not get on the scoresheet, but he impressed the home fans.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic already showing his value. As he scored both goals for Manchester United to grab a win in front of their home fans. His 36th-minute header on the end of a Wayne Rooney cross gave United the lead they took into the break. Ibrahimovic doubled the lead and his goals for the match when Luke Shaw was brought down in the box by Bournemouth’s defender Jordy Clasie. Zlatan made no mistake with the penalty and put United 2-0 up in the 52nd minute.
August 20, 2016
Stoke City 1-4 Manchester City
Bojan Krkic 49’(pen) Sergio Aguero 27’(pen), 36’
Nolito 86’, 90’+ 5
After their local and arch rivals victory a day before, Manchester City knew that anything but w win against Stoke will not cut it. Two goals from Sergio Aguero and Nolito gave Manchester City a 4-1 victory over Stoke. Aguero converted a penalty into a goal in the 27th minute, before he doubled the lead for Man City in the 36th minute. At 2 goals up at the end of the of the first half, and with the quality that the team possessed, it was difficult to see Stoke City getting any points out of the match. The last time Manchester City played at Stoke, it was the same scoreline at half time, but Stoke was the team enjoying the day.
Bojan Krkic cut the lead in half in the 49th minute when he scored from a penalty kick. With the score at 2-1, getting a point from the match was very realistic for the home team and supporters.
In the 86th minutes, Manchester City’s new signing; Nolito restored their two-goal lead, before extending the lead late into injury time.
Swansea City 0-2 Hull City
Shaun Maloney 79’
Abel Hernandez 90’+2
Newly promoted Hull City has started their 2016/17 Premier League campaign on high. After beating the defending champions in their opening match at home, they traveled away to Wales and won their second match of the season, and first home match of the season.
Swansea first two matches in the season was against newly promoted teams. On paper, it should have been 6 points from two matches. But this is not how football is designed.
Swansea City was downed in front of their home crowd by two second half goals from Hull City. Shaun Maloney scored the opener in the 79th minute and Abel Hernandez added to it two minutes into injury time.
Tottenham Hotspurs 1-0 Crystal Palace
Victor Wanyama 83’
A late header from Victor Wanyama in the 83rd minute was enough to give Tottenham their first win of the season. If there is any chance of Tottenham to repeat/improve on their performance from last season, a win is what the team needed. After failing to grab a win in their opening match against Everton, Tottenham needed a win sooner than later.
As for Crystal Palace, losing their first two matches by a single goal is not the start they would have wanted, but there is still time for the team to fight for a mid table finish.
Watford 1-2 Chelsea
Etienne Capoue 55’ Michy Batshuayi 80’
Diego Costa 87’
Chelsea left it late again. Diego Costa scored another late winner for Chelsea to grab an away win at Watford.
Etienne Capoue gave Watford the lead with a wonder strike in the 55th minute. It was a lead they kept until the Chelsea introduced Cesc Fabregas into the match in the 78th minute. Fabregas vision and incisive passes created the opportunities for both of Chelsea’s goals.
A Cesc Fabregas pass to Eden Hazard allowed for a powerful low shot that was too hot to handle by Watford’s goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes. Chelsea’s Michy Batshuayi was alert and pounced on the rebound to strike in the equalizer.
The winning goal for Chelsea came in the 87th minute when another Cesc Fabregas pass cut through the Watford backline to find Diego Costa with enough room to run a pace himself for a shot at goal. Costa wasn’t going to miss this opportunity.
West Bromwich Albion 1-2 Everton
Gareth McAuley 9’ Kevin Mirallas 45’+2
Gareth Barry 60’
Everton came from a goal down to win away at The Hawthorns. After an away win against Crystal Palace in the first match of the season, West Brom was excited to open the season in front of their home fans.
Things started out beautifully for the home side when Gareth McAuley gave them the lead in the 9th minute. Hindsight, that might have been too early for a team to take the lead. They might have gotten comfortable, and the losing team is given the motivation to attack at an early point of the match.
A first half injury time equalizer from Kevin Mirallas gave Everton something to cheer about before the break. Everton was coming off a home draw to Tottenham Hotspurs, and the second draw in as many games was not going to be the ideal start for the team and their new manager, Ronald Koeman. Gareth Barry found the winner for Everton in the 60th minute. We can’t say Everton didn’t deserve this win.
Burnley 2-0 Liverpool
Sam Vokes 2’
Andre Gray 37’
Jurgen Klopp suffered his first loss of the season with Liverpool after an impressive opening day performance against Arsenal.
A lot was expected from Liverpool, and probably none from Burnley. As a newly promoted team, Burnley was expected to have a hard time holding off the high pressure of Jurgen Klopp teams.
Sam Vokes gave Burnley a very early lead in the 2nd minute of the match. And with great team defense and composure, Burnley kept Liverpool from finding and equalizing goal.
Against the run of play in the 37th minute, Andre Gray doubled the lead for Burnley. They 2-0 lead at halftime was enough to give Burnley their first win of the season.
Leicester City 0-0 Arsenal
The top two teams from last season are yet to find a win in the new season. They gave the league the first goalless match of the 2016/17 season.
Both teams lost their opening matches by a goal, but the managed to find the net. As defending champions and in front of the home crowd, Leicester was expected to make amends for failing to win against newly promoted Hull City in their opening match of the season. In Leicester City’s title winning season, Arsenal was the only team to have a 100% win record.
A few penalty calls could have changed the outcome, but a draw is a result both teams can take to start their season with some points on the table.
August 21st, 2016
Sunderland 1-2 Middlesbrough
Patrick van Aanholt 71’ Cristian Stuani 13’ 45’
Sunderland coming off a 2-1 loss to Manchester City and Middlesbrough coming off a 1-1 draw with Stoke. Middlesbrough has points on the table and Sunderland has none. Playing against a newly promoted team was an opportunity for Sunderland to grab some points to kickstart their season, but the home team failed to achieve their goal. Christian Stuani’s two first-half goals for Middlesbrough saw them through this match.
The half time team talk must have worked, as Sunderland came out aggressive in attack. Patrick van Aanholt 71st minute goal was the only reward for their impressive display in the second half.
West Ham United 1-0 AFC Bournemouth
Michail Antonio 85’
It was a great day for West Ham United, as they opened their new home stadium with a win in their first Premier League home match.
West Ham United lost to Chelsea and AFC lost to Manchester United. These are two teams in need of points on the table. West Ham is playing their first league match in their new stadium. As important as a win would be for their opener, avoiding a loss stands above that.
They left it late. Michail Antonio’s 85th-minute goal was what it took to separate the two teams.
