Premier League Matchweek 2 Review

The second gameweek saw an unprecedented 44 goals scored in 10 games. It also saw the return of both Manchester clubs who were postponed a start to the season, due to them playing further into the European competitions in August. Man City won 3-1 at the Molineux on Monday night, finally beating their bogey team Wolves who completed the double over them last season. Kevin de Bruyne repaid the trust of fantasy football players who put him in their team with a brilliant performance, reminding fans why he was named the PFA Player of the Year last season. Overall, City were impressive, with the absence of Laporte allowing for Nathan Ake to make a respectable debut, and Phil Foden being back in the headlines for good reasons. Pep Guardiola will go into the Leicester game completely confident his team will pick up 3 points. However, all is not good on the red side of Manchester.

Manchester United are an anomaly, in every way; it seems that, since Sir Alex left, whenever they fail to finish within the top four, the board act desperately and splash way too much on players in the transfer market in an attempt to get back into the Champions League. When they do get top four, however, the acquisition of big name players that will improve their team becomes an afterthought. The team, despite what some pundits are saying, does not need rebuilding, and it is not in desperate need of the 120 million pound signing of Jadon Sancho. I think Man United will have a good season regardless of the blip they suffered this week, as they endured a 3-1 loss at the hands of Roy Hodgson’s Crystal Palace. There is a great deal of overreaction when a big 6 team loses to a team like Palace on the opening day. Let us not forget this team finished 3rd last season, playing some exciting and fast paced football (albeit their wins were often aided by an incredible amount of penalties, some being very questionable decisions) and have, on paper, one of the best midfields in the world if they can figure out who is going to play the number 6 between van de Beek, Pogba and Bruno Fernandes (McTominay and Matic simply are not good enough).

In other news, two Sadio Mane goals dispatched Chelsea at Stamford Bridge to maintain Liverpool’s 100% start. New signing Thiago Alcantara looked absolutely electric in midfield; there are few players that have the audacity to come into the premier league and world champions’ team and instantly control the game, ask for the ball at every available opportunity, move it quickly and effectively, break records for the amount of passes made within 45 minutes and essentially just look like the best player on the whole pitch. It seems that Thiago is one of those players. I believe he will push Klopp’s men to retain the title this season. Everton, Leicester and Spurs also recorded high scoring wins (5-2, 4-2 and 5-2 respectively), with Heung-Min Son scoring 4 for Tottenham in the same week that they announced Gareth Bale’s return to North London. After a shaky start, it seems Spurs fans have a lot to look forward to in the 20/21 season. Overall, another electric set of matches has reminded us all why we love the Premier League, which is, simply put, the best top flight football division on the planet.