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Here are the Fresh Football Player Ratings for Manchester United’s 2-0 win over Southampton at Old Trafford. Ratings by Aidan Small.

Manchester United

De Gea 6 - He was forced to make one save against Long which any keeper could save - even at Sunday League! His distribution was composed as always.

Valencia 8 - Valencia’s one job was to torment Targett and he done it superbly. His physicality when driving forward was a nightmare to contain and his crossing was much improved from last season. Baily 8 - Long and Redmond had a quiet day today and it was greatly down to this man. He’s assured on the ball, dominant in the air and an attackers nightmare with his rough and physical style. Manchester United have truly found their man at the back.

Blind 7 - produced some timely tackles when needed and helped to redistribute play effectively, but held no star moments Shaw 8- United’s failures last year were greatly down to Shaw’s absence. He was key in all phases of play and looked like the player that Southampton sold. Fellaini 5 - the game passed him by and his only notable impact was providing a nuisance to the opposition with fouls. Pogba 7 - some fantastic footwork and some brilliant ideas in his play but the final product

Bailly 8 - Long and Redmond had a quiet day today and it was greatly down to this man. He’s assured on the ball, dominant in the air and an attackers nightmare with his rough and physical style. Manchester United have truly found their man at the back. Blind 7 - produced some timely tackles when needed and helped to redistribute play effectively, but held no star moments

Shaw 8 - United’s failures last year were greatly down to Shaw’s absence. He was key in all phases of play and looked like the player that Southampton sold.

Fellaini 5 - the game passed him by and his only notable impact was providing a nuisance to the opposition with fouls.

Pogba 7 - some fantastic footwork and some brilliant ideas in his play but the final product was lacking. It’s clear to see that Pogba is exactly what United have needed in the middle of the park - someone who is physically strong whilst also possessing great technical ability. It was a promising performance but the 9’s and 10’s you will be finding in tomorrow’s papers will be due to the hype and excitement.

Mata 6 - Mata found some exciting positions but failed to provide that killer pass or add any real excitement to the frontline. Rooney 7 - his general play was certainly more efficient than usual and he provided the assist for Ibrahimovic’s goal with a delightful cross. Minus that, his impact on the game wasn’t as destructive as Monday nights.

Martial 6 - he had the right idea on a number of attacks but the final ball simply wasn’t there. Had he executed his ideas this could easily have been an 8.

Rooney 7 - his general play was certainly more efficient than usual and he provided the assist for Ibrahimovic’s goal with a delightful cross. Minus that, his impact on the game wasn’t as destructive as Monday nights.

Ibra 9 - are there many players more clinical in football? Zlatan is proving to be the ruthless force that we all hoped he would be in the Premier League, and I’ve got to say, I’m loving every second of it.

Southampton

Forster 5 - the big man had next to no chances to impact the game. When Ibrahimovic is firing it takes a world class keeper to even stand a chance, but nevertheless, he conceded two goals.

Cedric 5 - Martial managed to send the Euro 2016 winner the wrong way on a number of occasions. He also failed to deliver any dangerous crosses into the path of Long. However, there was a number of cutting passing through the midfield that helped to push the team forward. Fonte 7 - Southampton’s second Euro winner provided a mature performance that involved a number of superbly timed tackles to stop some dangerous attacks. VVD 8 - as always, Van Dijk was composed on the ball and dominant in the air. He even offered an attacking threat at moments by charging forward into the United defence. Targett 4 - I believe that Targett has a future at a decent level, but in

Fonte 7 - Southampton’s second Euro winner provided a mature performance that involved a number of superbly timed tackles to stop some dangerous attacks. VVD 8 - as always, Van Dijk was composed on the ball and dominant in the air. He even offered an attacking threat at moments by charging forward into the United defence. Targett 4 - I believe that Targett has a future at a decent level, but in

VVD 8 - as always, Van Dijk was composed on the ball and dominant in the air. He even offered an attacking threat at moments by charging forward into the United defence. Targett 4 - I believe that Targett has a future at a decent level, but in

Targett 4 - I believe that Targett has a future at a decent level, but in Puel’s system he is simply lost. He doesn’t possess enough pace to track back into the space left behind him and is all too indecisive in high offensive positions. But his worst aspect of the game by far was the fact that he was destroyed by Valencia three times over in the same manner. Despite Valencia always looking to bomb down the line, Targett dived in too early and allowed Valencia room to get in behind. However, he delivered two well struck crosses into the box Romeu N/A - sadly the Spaniard was forced off in the opening 15 minutes after an injury. He didn’t have enough time to impact the game in any way.

Clasie 7 - first things first, Clasie was wrongly punished for the supposed “foul” on Lule Shaw. Beyond this, he is looking more and more suited to the PL as times goes on. Finally we are seeing some bite, freedom and high relentless pressing in his play. Hojbjerg 8 - Højbjerg was smart when starting attacks and winning the ball back. The positioning of his body when receiving the ball was that of a truly

Hojbjerg 8 - Højbjerg was smart when starting attacks and winning the ball back. The positioning of his body when receiving the ball was that of a truly high class midfielder. This is another performance that will give the fans great promise over his quality Davis 5 - the Northern Irish International covered his ground superbly in the opening 25 minutes but his touch soon become clunky and he wasn’t aware of his position - most likely due to playing a more advanced role under Koeman. In addition, he also failed to follow one of the first rules in defending by allowing Rooney the time and space to deliver the cross for Ibrahimovic’s opener. Potentially tired after a tough physical battle in the

Davis 5 - the Northern Irish International covered his ground superbly in the opening 25 minutes but his touch soon become clunky and he wasn’t aware of his position - most likely due to playing a more advanced role under Koeman. In addition, he also failed to follow one of the first rules in defending by allowing Rooney the time and space to deliver the cross for Ibrahimovic’s opener. Potentially tired after a tough physical battle in the Euro’s. Tadic 6 -

Tadic 6 - Puel’s main attacking outlet played a number of smart through balls, but his play is greatly determined by the service from the CM’s and FB’s which at times was lacking. Alongside this, he also shanked a number of chances that would have worked the keeper if taken by a recognised goalscoring number ten. Redmond 5 - every single time that Redmond picked up the ball he was marked by three players at each and every attack. The rating of five is handed to him not because of his own play, but simply because Mourinho ensured that his side marked him so tightly Long 5 - Long worked the channels well in moments but quite simply, he fluffed his two big chances in the game when faced with a goalscoring opportunity. As our main goalscorer, that simply

Redmond 5 - every single time that Redmond picked up the ball he was marked by three players at each and every attack. The rating of five is handed to him not because of his own play, but simply because Mourinho ensured that his side marked him so tightly Long 5 - Long worked the channels well in moments but quite simply, he fluffed his two big chances in the game when faced with a goalscoring opportunity. As our main goalscorer, that simply

Long 5 - Long worked the channels well in moments but quite simply, he fluffed his two big chances in the game when faced with a goalscoring opportunity. As our main goalscorer, that simply isnt good enough.

Subs

Austin 5 - Austin made next to no impact on the pitch when given 25 minutes to show his worth.

Mkhitaryan 5 - Jose has promised that Mkhitaryan’s time in the side will come, and sadly tonight, he simply couldn’t impact the game with the opportunities that he was given.

Rashford N/A - coming on as a late sub, the talented youngster had no opportunities to please the fans at Old Trafford.

The two London clubs meet at White Hart Lane this Saturday with both clubs looking to get their first win of the season. Crystal Palace suffered a shock defeat at home to West Brom last Saturday whilst Tottenham managed a point away to Everton. Both teams didn’t kick off the new campaign as they would have wanted and they’ll certainly want to put that right this weekend, here are three key battles that will decide the outcome of the match.

1 - Andros Townsend v Danny Rose

New Crystal Palace man Andros Townsend will find himself up against one of the most improved left-back’s in the Premier League this Saturday in Danny Rose. The former Spurs player returns to his former club this weekend and will be eager to show his former club what they’re missing out on and will certainly want to get the better of England compatriot Rose. Both players will know each other inside out after spending several years together at Spurs, they will know each other’s strengths and weaknesses and will look to exploit that this weekend. Townsend found fine form on the back hand of last season and will look to replicate it this year whilst Rose was a consistent performer in the Spurs squad that finished third, this is certainly one battle to keep an eye on which could pan out to be a very exciting watch.

Pep Guardiola wasted no time in acknowledging just how tough the Premier League is after Manchester City’s late 2-1 win versus Sunderland at the Etihad last Saturday. He wasn’t wrong, and as some will have you believe, the Catalan can forget all about his past domestic and continental success because he’s about to take the truest of litmus tests - A cold Tuesday night away to Stoke.

Okay, the fixture machine has been kind enough to hand Man City a fixture at least 20 degrees warmer than usual, whereas it’s also not the sacred day for football in Stoke’s neck of the woods, so Guardiola can rest a little easier.

Or, perhaps not. In what’s usually been a more successful fixture for Man City in comparison to their rivals, Stoke have managed to take two victories in the last four meetings between the two clubs, most recently in last season’s clash at the formerly-named Britannia Stadium.

The Citizens have won once away to Stoke, so there’s certainly a degree of caution to be had over this match-up. Here are three key battles that could sway game’s result.

1 - Marko Arnautović vs. Bacary Sagna

Marko Arnautović got into the habit of scoring in the big games last season, seeing him score against the likes of Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester United and Everton.

Man City were no exception to the rule for the Austrian, as he bagged the brace that gave Stoke their last victory against the side then managed by Manuel Pellegrini, winning 2-0.

Bacary Sagna is usually one of the most reliable right backs about, but as we saw against Sunderland on the opening day of the season, he, alongside Gaël Clichy on the opposite flank, occupies a new role in Guardiola’s system.

With the ex-Barcelona boss opting for an attacking selection of players, including David Silva, Kevin De Bruyne, Raheem Sterling and Nolito, Guardiola has compensated for their defensive shortcomings in the middle of the park by instructing the full backs to tuck in close to Fernandinho.

Meanwhile Man City are still getting accustomed to their new system, one must wonder how much space will be afforded to Arnautović in wide positions, especially on the counter attack.

Antonio Conte kicked off his Premier League adventure with a vital 3 points against a tough West Ham United side. Now they travel to Watford, a team also under new management and one that is playing in the hipster formation of this generation: 3-5-2. Conte will have to be at his tactical best to unlock this Watford side at home. Here are three key battles his players will need to win to come out on top.

1 - Nordin Amrabat vs. Eden Hazard

The Premier League has missed the magic of Eden Hazard. Last season he epitomised Chelsea, a player with so much talent that delivered so infrequently. The club are now heading in a new direction under the stewardship of Antonio Conte and under the Italian, Hazard has already made an instant impact. He scored against West Ham but that was just a penalty, what was really impressive was his overall performance. The Belgian was perfect in his attacking performance, completing 7 dribbles. Although Watford play with a back three naturally, against teams like Chelsea they are likely to play with 5 defenders, with the likes of Amrabat required to drop deeper to combat the threat of players like Hazard. Eden is so good that Amrabat will need to double up on him with the right centre back on the day to ensure Hazard’s effectiveness is restricted as much as possible. If they fail to contain Hazard this result is only going one way. Amrabat is more naturally an attacking player so he will need to go against his attacking instincts in this game to benefit the team.

Chelsea have made a couple of really good additions this summer in N’Golo Kante and Michy Batshuayi, but there’s certainly more work to do if they are to win the league this season.

Recent reports have linked the club with the signing of two defenders. The first, Kalidou Koulibaly, depending on what report you may or may not believe, he would cost between £50million-£60million. His club Napoli do not need cash after Juventus activated Gonzalo Higuain’s £78million release clause. Napoli do not want to lose Koulibaly and if they do, it will be for a lot of money. The club have also been linked with a £22million move for Switzerland and Wolfsburg full-back Ricardo Rodriguez.

If the signings of Rodriguez and Koulibaly came off, Conte’s tactical options would be far greater. It would enable the Italian to play with his favoured 3-5-2 formation. Why can’t they do it now you ask? Well in Azpilicueta they only have one attacking full back, Ivanovic would not be capable of playing in such an advanced role due to the athleticism required. In Rodriguez Conte would acquire a left back that loves to attack and can do a lot of damage with his left foot. This would also enable Axpilicueta to play on the right-hand side.

Chelsea have Zouma, Cahill and Terry but in Koulibaly they would acquire a central defender that can link the defence and midfield seamlessly. He loves to carry the ball forward and averaged an incredible 62.86 forward passes per 90 last season, this compared to Terry’s 33.20 and Cahill’s 26.72 highlights the different dimension Koulibaly would add to the defence. When you play with three central defenders you cannot afford to have three players that can provide nothing going forward. Koulibaly’s pace and strength make him the all round perfect defender for a system like this and for me, it is no surprise to see him valued in excess of £50million. If John Stones is valued just shy of that amount, the Koulibaly certainly warrants such a mighty valuation. He may take time to settle into English football but if he can replicate the form he managed last season for Napoli, Chelsea could gain a central defender that will soon be considered amongst the very best, and he is still young at just 25.

When comparing other statistics between the three defenders you can see Koulibaly’s strengths too, he won 2.15 tackles per 90 last season, this was substantially more than Terry (0.77) and Cahill (0.83). He’s not quite as strong as Cahill (3.08) in the air, but he did win a respectable 2.52 aerial duels per 90 last season, which was marginally more than Terry (2.17).

It is worth noting that these signings would not force Conte into a change of formation. Koulibaly could simply play alongside one of Zouma, Cahill and Terry and form a very strong partnership. Rodriguez could slot in at left back and Azpilicueta then on the right. Rodriguez is an attacking left back though so if Conte sticks with the 4-2-3-1 we saw against West Ham then he would likely demand more security from Hazard to be defensively secure, as we know Conte loves to be.

Of course these two signings would require significant investment and there is no way you can be sure that one or either of the players will be joining Chelsea. Conte has publicly spoken of how prices are through the roof this summer and without significant backing from the chairman, the club will not be able to make these additions. But as the club look to enter a new generation, they need to ensure that Conte has the finances to make the changes he deems necessary to lift the squad to the next level. In Koulibaly and Rodriguez, I think Chelsea would be much more prepared to go full Conte.

You could quite rightfully question whether investing such a large amount into two defenders would be a good idea - but I think Chelsea need it. Since Baba Rahman left on loan, Chelsea only have two full backs and one of them is the ?? Year old Ivanovic. A left back is essential in my eyes and at around £22million, Rodriguez is good value.

In central defence, Terry isn’t likely to be around much longer and injury problems continue to disturb Zouma’s career. We haven’t seen the best of Cahill in the last 18 months either, so the club would certainly benefit from adding an elite defender like Koulibaly.

With so much attacking talent at the club with the likes of Hazard, Willian, Oscar, Cesc Fabregas, Diego Costa, Michy Batshuayi etc. if Chelsea could add a defensive duo of such quality, then it would be hard to look past them as title favourites.

We recently covered the news that Manchester United are interested in signing Southampton captain Jose Fonte, with the Saints man open to an offer from a big club. The latest reports suggest Fonte will opt for United over Arsenal - we take a look at what he’d potentially add to the club.

Portuguese compatriot Jose Mourinho is said to be in the market for a more experienced leader to hold the helm of United’s back line with Fonte certainly fitting into that criteria, the Red Devils have reportedly already opened informal talks with the Southampton star ahead of a proposed move this summer.

The 32-year-old Euro 2016 winner is thought to be open to an idea of moving to a ‘bigger club’ after a very successful summer but Southampton will be reluctant to sell their captain after another squad exodus this summer, seeing Saido Mane, Victor Wanyama and Graziano Pelle all leaving the club this summer.

Manchester United have already splashed the cash on one central defender this summer with Eric Bailly arriving at the Theatre of Dreams from Villarreal, the new United man has impressed tremendously in his opening games for the club but the United manager is now eager to add an experienced head to his United squad, certainly something which Fonte portrays.

Fonte reportedly is on the Gunners radar too as they have an injury crisis on their hands, but as reports state, the 32-year-old is keen to link up with Jose Mourinho at Manchester United.

Jose Fonte has been exceptional in Southampton’s rise in the top tier of English football and has been an influential player to their squad for many seasons; we take a look at how Fonte has compared to United’s current crop of defenders last season and if he will be a good partner for Bailly.

Daly Blind was signed for Manchester United as a central defensive midfielder but was deployed in a much deeper role in the United squad as he played as a centre-back or a left-back using his superb versatility to great measures. The Dutch international accomplished 1.94 tackles per 90 minutes, Phil Jones 1.18, Chris Smalling 1.11 and United target Fonte 0.97.

A trait which defenders have an advantage over their opponent is if they’re strong and powerful in the air, playing in one of the toughest leagues in the world, Fonte wins an impressive 68.18% of his aerial battles. Smalling trails on 63.68% and this is an obvious weakness for Blind, who stands at just 5ft 11′ only managed 38.64%.

The game has changed, defenders are often relied on to build up play from the back and have pinpoint passing and accuracy, this is certainly a trait that has changed over time but is now a very key factor for a defender to have. Phil Jones, who managed just ten games last season comes out on top for pass competition with an exquisite 85%, this is phenomenal for a defender who is under the radar at United to say the least. Fonte and Blind are both joint second with the latter commonly receiving heaps of praise for his composure on the ball; both defenders managed an impressive 84%. Smalling, who is arguably United’s most important defender managed 82% which is still very impressive, but an improvement will be required going into the new season.

As mentioned, building up play from the back is key in the modern game and defenders are heavily relied on to become natural ball players, as well as having immaculate passing accuracy, defenders are relied on to start a counter attack with forward passing at times, or simply relieving pressure on the back four. Blind accomplished 45.46 total forward passes per 90 last season which puts him ahead of all the other defenders. Jones is second with 37.35, Fonte third with 35.48 and once again Smalling last 30.83.

There are many contributions defenders must master to become a complete player and a few aspects of their game is interceptions and blocks. Fonte comes out on top for blocks showing his desire to get in front of the ball with 0.91. Blind is second with 0.58. Smalling is just behind In third 0.54 and Jones last with quite a poor 0.17. Smalling does come out on top with interceptions with an impressive 2.77. Southampton man Fonte is second with 2.33 which put him just ahead of Blind 2.31. Jones is again last with 2.19.

All defenders are equally matched with different sets of skills to their playing style. But who should partner new central defender Eric Bailly?

United fans should be overwhelmed with what they have witnessed of Bailly thus far, a composed ball playing no nonsense defender if the first impression he has given the spectators in his first few games in England. One of the best Premier League debuts I have seen, the powerhouse was efficient on the ball and just as impressive without, putting in hard tackles and being dominant in the air.

For me, it is between Blind and Smalling (if Fonte doesn’t sign) who partners Bailly. Smalling is a good defender and has the athleticism which allows him to not easily be beaten; he is comfortable with the ball and a presence at the back and can be a nuisance on set-pieces. Blind is very, very professional, his tactical positioning is often spot on and he is very good on the ball, picking out long balls and short, although he isn’t the quickest, he certainly makes it hard for players to get the beating of him.

United have Smalling, Bailly, Blind and Jones occupying the centre-back positions and I don’t think Fonte should be a priority, for me, Fonte wouldn’t start at United, he would be a backup player like Jones, and at 32-years-old this is certainly something he would have to consider. If the Gunners did make a concrete move, it would make more sense for his footballing career to move there, he will be a guaranteed starter after the Gunners injury woes and would become a key player in their back-line.

Last seasons top two will meet on Saturday evening in a must win game for both clubs, especially the Gunners. Both teams started their campaigns with a loss last weekend and a recovery is needed. Leicester City only lost three games last season and two of them were against Arsenal, so the Gunners will come into this one with some confidence, whilst Ranieri’s Leicester will of course, remain fearless. Here are three key battles that will decide the outcome of the match.

1 - Jamie Vardy vs. Laurent Koscielny

Koscielny is set to be rushed back into first-team football to cope with Vardy’s presence. Arsenal very publicly tried to sign Vardy this summer and he will be determined to go and crush the Gunners title hopes in the second week. Even if Koscielny does return, Arsenal’s defence will not be at full strength and there will still be a vulnerability that Koscielny needs to work hard to solve. I’m sure the Gunners are working hard to practice their defensive shape ahead of this fixture, but if they perform anything like they did against Liverpool, Leicester could really embarrass the Gunners on Saturday. But if Koscielny does return on Saturday then Arsenal have no real excuse, they could possibly line up with 4 of their first choice back 5 in Cech, Bellerin, Koscielny and Monreal - there’s plenty of ability and experience there to handle the threat Vardy and Leicester can offer, but will they? I’m sure the outcome of this individual battle will have a huge outcome on deciding the outcome of this one.

Matchday 1 of the Premier League has come and gone and, if you’re anything like me, you’ll most likely have a fantasy team in need of recalibration. Just a tad, honestly! In an attempt to second guess the professionals, here are three players you ought to consider backing before Friday’s deadline.

1 - Dimitri Payet

Position: Midfielder
Club: West Ham United
Cost: £9.5m

Slaven Bilić will be sure to approach the Dimitri Payet case with caution, so his inclusion in your fantasy team would represent a pretty big risk. The West Ham United manager may have to gamble himself on the Frenchman’s fitness, however, with the Hammers looking lost for inspiration every time they got onto the ball versus Chelsea on Monday.

Payet’s introduction late on in the London derby brought a familiar feel to West Ham’s game, so I’d be equally unsurprised if he’s thrown in to face Bournemouth, in particular with the occasion being the Olympic Stadium’s official debut.

The last clash between the two Premier League clubs at West Ham’s place produced a 4-3 thriller, a score line Payet and co. will be keen to avenge. The club have serious ambitions for the Champions League this season so they must ensure they get points on the board this weekend. They need their Payet back.

We were sent some quite interesting statistics about Premier League ticket prices, this information goes against the grain somewhat so we thought we’d share it…

Despite the Emirates generally getting a bad name when it comes to ticket prices, the club are among only nine who offer an adult Premier League ticket for under £30, according to a survey by Free Super Tips revealing the true price of football for fans.

The Premier League Match Day Calculator also shows that Gooners can snap up a ticket for as little as £27 – less than Manchester United, Chelsea, Manchester City and Tottenham.

Tickets for an equivalent game at United would set you back at £31, with Chelsea and City coming in at £30, and the cheapest ticket for a game at White Hart Lane priced at £32.

Arsenal’s Category C games range from £27 to £39.50 but the equivalent prices at Tottenham start at £32 rising up to £47, meaning that Gooners could make a potential saving of up to £20 compared with their rivals.

Supporters who are non-members could watch Arsenal in action against Swansea City and Middlesbrough across back-to- back weekends starting onSaturday October 15.

Elsewhere around the Premier League, Stamford Bridge is the most expensive venue for refreshments for the 2016/17 season.

Away fans travelling to Chelsea will have to fork out £4.50 for a pie and £4.60 for a pint but a trip to Anfield will be much more enjoyable with the traditional pre-match combo costing £6.50 altogether.

We had a closer look at the calculator and thought it was interesting to see that Liverpool offered a home ticket for as little has £7. Arsenal, despite offering the most expensive ticket, also offer a ticket for just £27. Reasonable, but how bad is the view?!

Another shocker comes from Stamford Bridge where Chelsea are reportedly charging £4.50 for a pie and £4.60 for a pint! That’s pretty much £10 for a pie and a pint! I Kante believe it.

Arsenal (and travelling) fans have been very public about their dismay of the prices at The Emirates in recent seasons, but it seems the prices they are charging are often in line with other clubs, especially when you purely compare them with other London-based teams, who of course will charge a premium due to their geographical location.

We all want to get the price of football down, but these statistics help put into context some of the figures you see from fans on Social Media.

We’d love to hear about your favourite away grounds to travel too, as of course, price isn’t everything. If a club offer a better experience and quality of product then it obviously the consumer will be more willing to shell out additional funds. Tweet us @FreshFootball on Twitter and share your experience.

Arsenal may have started the window in the right fashion with the addition of Granit Xhaka, but since then, it has all gone a little downhill for the Gunners.

The season has started (badly) and Arsenal still lack efficiency at both ends of the field. As well as incomings, there are still issues to sort in terms of shredding the squad down. To make new signings, the Gunners may have to shift a few players. Here are four transfers I think they need to complete to try and win the title this season.

1 - Shkodran Mustafi

Surely Arsenal should just get this one done? Valencia need the money, they’ve publicly admitted that, but Arsenal are baulking at the asking price. Depending on what report you believe, the Spaniard’s are asking for between £25million-£35million for Mustafi, a 24-year-old defender that has won the World Cup and is widely considered as a very good defender in Spain, despite Valencia’s struggles last season. The Mirror suggest that Arsenal are attempting to sign him for around £20million - you think, at this stage, Arsenal should just bite the bullet. He is known to be good friends with the German’s currently playing for Arsenal (Per and Mesut) and so you’d hope / expect him to settle in nicely with the squad. If Wenger is not willing to budge with his valuation for Mustafi, what’s the likelihood that another club come and pay what Valencia are asking? I’d say it is highly likely. Just get it done, Arsene.

Pep Guardiola has arrived at Manchester City and he is certainly showing a ruthless streak already with some of his selections.

Amongst those players to be cast aside is Joe Hart. The 29-year-old hasn’t had the best of years has he? An abysmal Euro 2016 and now being dropped from the Manchester City side, Hart’s career is heading the wrong way and he seriously needs to jump ship. Amongst those interested in the services of Hart are Everton and Liverpool, according to Sky Sports who have Everton as slight favourites for Hart’s signature, with Liverpool close behind. They do not substantiate their claims that Liverpool are battling with Everton, but merely suggest that the two clubs are favourites. We tried to find any substance for Sky’s reasoning to place Liverpool as 2nd favourites, but there doesn’t appear to be any concrete sources linking the move yet. Sevilla have also been attributed with interest.

So who needs him more? Obviously if Hart were to move he would want to be guaranteed first team football as that is his reason for considering his future at City currently, according to the BBC.

First, the case for Everton - despite signing Maarten Stekelenburg this summer, who impressed in the Premier League’s opening weekend, the club still lack top quality between the sticks and I think it would be fair to say that Hart would provide an improvement on what the club have already got. Hart is also homegrown, an English international with a wealth of experience, that would be welcome to an Everton back five that lacked shape and discipline last season. Stekelenburg was impressive in his first outing, but does he have the ability to be consistently that good? His checkered past in the Premier League would suggest otherwise and it wouldn’t surprise me if Ronald Koeman was keen to bring in the England international considering his sudden availability.

What about Liverpool? Like Everton they have signed a new goalkeeper this summer, Loris Karius. They also tied down current keeper Simon Mignolet to a new long-term contract last season, not the clubs most popular decision it has to be said. I cannot realistically see Jurgen Klopp wanting to splash £20million on a goalkeeper when he has already committed to two players in that position in 2016. It remains to be seen how good Karius is, but surely Hart would be an upgrade on Mignolet? Even though Hart is prone to an error from time to time, I think that time does not come around as often as it seems to for Mignolet.

The problem for both clubs as they look to get rid of the errors that have haunted them in previous seasons, is that Hart is prone to an error himself. The stats show though, that Hart made 1 error leading to a goal last season, despite playing one less game, Mignolet made a catastrophic 4. Hart managed to made an impressive 1.91 saves per goal last season whereas Mignolet managed just 1.27. In fact, in the six areas we looked at when comparing the duo, it was only in disibution accuracy where the Belgian stopper came out on top. The Liverpool man was accurate with 66% of his distribution last season, Hart was behind on 59%.

The latest suggests that Hart would initially favour a loan move away from the club as he does not currently want to make a decision on where his long-term future lies. In terms of who would be more likely to make a loan bid, perhaps it would be Liverpool, who may be looking to temporarily cover for Loris Karius, although it seems Liverpool’s summer signing is making a return quicker than expected.

So the statistics are on Hart’s side, but Liverpool and Everton fans, I’d love to know if you would actually want Hart at your club? Is he good enough and worth the rumoured £20million asking price? Comment below or tweet us @FreshFootball to share your thoughts.

Chelsea began their title challenge on Monday night with an impressive win over London rivals West Ham United.

Spearheading the team was Eden Hazard, a player that was often the scapegoat last season as he struggled to find Premier League form. But the signs towards the end of the last campaign showed that Hazard could reach the hi

Stat of the Match: Hazard completed 9 of his 12 dribbles against West Ham - higher than all of his full seasons at Stamford Bridge. (via Opta)

Hazard made 81 touches and was influential throughout. His WhoScored match rating of 7.98 made him the statistical Man of the Match and few managed to be more impressive this weekend. Another stand out statistics for Hazard was the 9 dribbles he managed to complete. Despite completing 9 dribbles he was only dispossessed 3 times highlighting his ability to be consistently reliable in transition.

Hazard had been linked with a move away from the club following his poor form last season but under new manager Antonio Conte it looks like Chelsea may well have the old Eden back. Not just did he show individual ability, but he teamed up well with his teammates, this is highlighted by his 81.8% pass accuracy. A statistic that may surprise you is that Hazard managed to complete 4 accurate long balls last night, that is quite a lot for an attacking midfielder, and it shows he has the ability to accurately switch possession, adding diversity to the Chelsea attack.

It’s clear that Hazard will be key to Chelsea’s title aspirations this season and the Belgian kicked off proceedings in fine for on Monday night. Chelsea fans will hope this isn’t a one off performance and they will know that Hazard is capable of continuing at this level. If he manages to, Chelsea have every chance of winning the title this season.

Here’s what Twitter and fans thought of Eden’s performance on Monday night:

Hazard is massively under appreciated by rival fans.

— - (@VivaDrogba) August 16, 2016

Eden Hazard: "Chelsea are better when Eden is at his best." https://t.co/5sxVemJlgM

— Get French Football (@GFFN) August 16, 2016

Hazard and Costa re energized by mister Conte- if you're surprised then you don't know Chelsea's new manager

— David Amoyal (@DavidAmoyal) August 15, 2016

Hazard was quality tonight .. was impressed with Oscar as well #cfc

— Paulie (@P__cfc) August 15, 2016

Tbf being a United fan, even I'm happy to see Hazard back to his best. He's incredible to watch on his day.

— Henry🔰 (@ClassyCristiano) August 16, 2016

Despite it being a penalty, it is great to see Hazard off the mark far quicker than he managed last season (at least for Chelsea fans). You saw after the goal that Hazard grew in confidence and he attempted and pulled off patches of football that he never managed during his poor spell last season.

With the club struggling to get signings over the line, Conte will be desperate to build his team around Hazard and harness the Belgian’s match-winning potential. If Hazard can be the player he was two seasons ago, you’d be mad to bet against Chelsea winning the league this season.

After each gameweek, our writers will put together a Premier League team of the week. Here’s our selection for gameweek 1, we’ve gone for a 4-2-3-1 formation.

GK - Maarten Stekelenburg

The Everton shot-stopper had an afternoon to remember against Spurs, individual brilliance saw him stop Vincent Janssen scoring after a quick reaction save, he then made a miraculous save against Erik Lamela when he tipped his shot onto the bar.

The Everton goalkeeper had a very consistent game and managed 100% claim success, with the Toffee’s shot stopper managing two saves per goal.

His individual brilliance was a main reason Everton managed a point against Spurs, has taken the gloves from Tim Howard and looks set for a sublime season.

FB - Antonio Valencia

Valencia carried his fantastic pre-season form into the start of the BPL campaign; he was an outlet throughout the game and supported the attack immensely down the right hand side whilst delivering dangerous crosses into the box.

His efficient style of play saw Valencia create once chances for the Red Devils, whilst finishing the game with an impressive 86% pass accuracy.

He was one of the best players offensively and defensively for United, a brilliant start to life under Mourinho for the Colombian.

CB - Eric Bailly

One of the best Premier League debuts I have seen, the powerhouse at the back dominated the Bournemouth attacking line, was efficient on the ball and just as impressive without, putting in hard tackles and being dominant in the air.

The dominant brute Bailly won 67% of his tackles on his debut whilst completing an impressive 100% take on’s, which shows he wants to come out from the back, the most impressive stat from his first game is he managed to complete 95% of his passes.

Was consistent throughout and Bailly looks very comfortable at the heart of the United defence, this will certainly not be the last time he is in our team of the week.

CB - Curtis Davies

On paper, he had a very tough afternoon ahead of him, with Ahmed Musa and Jamie Vardy running in behind the Hull defender, but, he certainly got the better hand of the attackers and was inspirational in Hull’s victory, he had a solid game and didn’t let Vardy have a minute to rest on the ball. Davies came close to breaking the deadlock early on and saw his team worthy winners over the champions.

Standing at 6ft 2, he managed to win 100% of his aerial duels against the Foxes; Hull kept the ball well against Leicester and played from the back with Davies scoring 78% pass accuracy.

FB - Ahmed Elmohamady

We know he’s also a right back but we simply couldn’t leave out Elmo, he’s the second full back in our eleven. Elmohamady was another Hull player to impress against Leicester, he grew into the game tremendously and his work rate up and down was a key role in how Hull’s set up to win.

The right-back was dominant and was simply too good not to include, hence why we picked two RB’s. Like Davies, Elmohamady managed to win 100% of his aerial duels and also won 50% of his tackles.

Bagging himself an assist in the winning goal and was just as superb defending, brilliant game for the Egyptian.

CM - Idrissa Gueye

The new Everton man had a very solid game in the middle of the park, keeping possession well and helped the Toffees midfield tick, showcased his athleticism and energetic play whilst proving why Koeman wanted him so badly, a brilliant debut for the ex-Villa man.

As mentioned, Gueye kept possession very well and in the end finished the game with an 82% passing accuracy, winning 100% of his aerial duels and 67% of his tackles.

CM - N’Golo Kante

Kante was another to make his debut in game week 1; the midfield engine was superb for Chelsea against West Ham and put them in total control of the game, Kante always made himself an outlet for the back four whilst his midfield drive was a consistent theme.

The midfield workhorse was at the heart of everything last night and accomplished 95% passing accuracy, which is very good for a midfielder.

Although he was cautioned in the opening minutes this certainly didn’t restrict the midfielder for the rest of the game, brilliant individual performance and looked good next to Nemanja Matic.

AM - Saido Mane

Scoring contender for one of the best individual goals of the season already, Mane was majestic against the Gunners and caused their defence havoc all game. Mane had a 100% shooting accuracy in his Reds debut, whilst having 67% successful take on’s.

Although he was offensively perfect, Mane also tracked back well to support his defenders, his performance was of such high quality and if he can continue that on a regular basis he will have a crucial season.

AM - Philippe Coutinho

Coutinho was absolutely fantastic against Arsenal, he scored one of the best free-kicks you’ll see this season and scored his second after the break, and he grew into the game massively in the second half and put in work to Arsenal’s makeshift defence, an individual master-class by the Brazilian.

Like Mane, Coutinho managed a 100% shooting accuracy against Arsenal which is simply impeccable, whilst the play-maker also averaged 77% pass accuracy.

The attacking midfielder carved the Gunners apart and was a key player in Liverpool’s 4-3 victory at the Emirates stadium.

AM - Robert Snodgrass

From the first whistle Snodgrass was causing Leicester City problems, using his strength and trickery to get the beating of their defence and deliver excellent crosses.

The experienced Hull City man was showcasing brilliant link-up play on the flank fluently whilst supporting the defence well.

The influential midfielder created two chances against the Foxes which show’s his efficient brilliance on the day, as mentioned, he was superb in helping out defensively and won 4/4 tackles.

Scoring the winner against the Premier League champions is worthy enough to be in the team of the week, Hull will rely massively on their star man to help them avoid relegation this season. Eden Hazard almost made it in.

ST - Alvaro Negredo

Brilliant debut for Middlesbrough’s marquee signing, their star striker put a superb shift in and helped his team get a deserved point, he was hanging off the last man and held the ball up magnificently, like any experienced striker, was in the right place at the right time to score a clinical goal on his debut.

The new Boro’ man accomplished 100% shooting accuracy in his debut which led to him scoring one goal, finishing the game with 73% passing accuracy.

Arsenal have widened their search for a central defender and have approached Southampton for their Portuguese international Jose Fonte.

Fonte is keen to join the Gunners arch rivals Manchester United but has received an approach from the North London club, according to ESPN.

Jose Mourinho is said to be in the market for an experienced leader with Fonte certainly fitting that criteria, the Red Devils have opened informal talks for the Saints player who is expected to play for the club at Old Trafford as the teams meet on Friday evening.

The 32-year-old Euro 2016 winner is thought to be open to an idea of moving to a ‘bigger club’ after a very successful summer but Southampton will be reluctant to sell their captain after another squad exodus this summer.

United have already forked out for Eric Bailly who has impressed tremendously in his first couple of games for the club, but the United manager is eager to add the experience at the back which Fonte portrays.

Arsenal is in a defensive crisis with Per Mertesacker and Gabriel Paulista set for a lengthy spell on the side line. The Gunners are chasing Shkodran Mustafi who remains the clubs first choice defender but are dithering on the price set by Valencia, the Spanish side are demanding in excess of £30 million for their star defender with the Gunners rating Mustafi around the £20 million mark, personal terms have been agreed between the player and the club but a massive sticking point is agreeing the fee.

The Gunners are certainly looking for alternatives with Fonte emerging as a potential target, he has two years remaining on his current contract with the Saints and the club would command a fee of around £10 million, which would make him a much cheaper option to Mustafi who is already Premier League proven.

Bad news for Arsenal is he is keen to link up with Portuguese compatriot Mourinho at Old Trafford, but good news for the Gunners faithful they’re in the market and working hard to bring players in before the transfer market closes.

Stay tuned to @FreshFootball as we’ll bring you the latest news on this story.

Baptism of fire.

When Rob Holding lined up against Liverpool, he was probably very excited, but alongside another inexperienced presence in Calum Chambers, it was a recipe for disaster.

Arsenal fans were worried heading into this fixture: Laurent Koscielny, Per Mertesacker and Gabriel all out.

Of course, aged just 20, there is plenty of time for Holding to grow and mature into a top level defender, but right now it is too much to expect him, alongside another young defender, to perform at the highest level against a team of Liverpool’s calibre.

Stat of the Match: Despite conceding four goals, defensive pairing Chambers (8) and Holding (7) won 15 aerial duels between them against Liverpool.

Holding’s pass accuracy wasn’t the best for an Arsenal defender at 74%, he’ll have to develop more consistency and reliability in his passing to become a mainstay in the Gunners back four. Holding made 2 interceptions and 2 blocks, crucially he gave away 1 foul which led to Liverpool’s first goal, but the referee was incredibly harsh to award Holding’s touch-tight defending as a foul.

Despite conceding four goals, many Arsenal fans felt that individually, Holding’s performance was not too bad. Here’s a brief overview of how Arsenal fans have reacted to Holding’s performance on Twitter.

Rob Holding. From Bolton, who were relegated from the Championship, to opening day starter for Arsenal. Alongside Chambers!

— Ted Knutson (@mixedknuts) August 14, 2016

The issue wasn’t not playing Koscielny it was not playing Monreal at LCB and Gibbs LB. Holding isn’t good enough for Arsenal right now

— Sach (@SarriesKid10) August 15, 2016

Watching the game yesterday i felt for Holding but Chambers should be better. Obviously not good enough and should be sold. #Arsenal

— Steve (@goonersteve12) August 15, 2016

Yes, we may have conceded 4(never ideal) but that’s down to team shape & organisation. Holding looks good though, will get a lot better.

— Satish (@FabulousArsenal) August 14, 2016

It appears that in general, Arsenal fans feel Holding was better than his partner Chambers. Due to Holding’s age and the fact that he has just arrived at the club, many appear to (rightly) be willing to cut him some slack, whilst also acknowledging the club do need to bring in a more experienced defensive presence.

As the fans pointed out, Holding was not helped by Arsenal’s defensive shape. In the first 20 minutes of the second half, the Gunners midfield completely abandoned defensive responsibility, in particular Mohammed Elneny and Francis Coquelin were caught out of position too often and that only piled more pressure on an inexperienced defensive pairing.

Arsenal fans will be hoping that Wenger can make a defensive signing early in the week so that Chambers and Holding do not line up alongside each other against Champions Leicester City on Saturday.

According to BBC journalist David Ornstein, Arsenal are looking at alternatives to Skhodoran Mustafi after so far failing to agree a fee with Valencia.

In a series of tweets on Monday evening, Ornstein revealed that the Gunners are considering a cheaper alternative to Mustafi as they are hoping to sign a striker later in the window.

“Arsenal yet to agree fee for Mustafi. #AFC (Arsenal) considering Omer Toprak & Simon Kjaer as alternatives but Mustafi remains priority & keen to join” said Ornstein.

Interestingly Ornstein went on to suggest that the Gunners may be holding back funds to help secure an attacking signing: “Price the issue. Arsenal want to hold back funds for possible striker signing. #AFC (Arsenal) transfer budget factors in fee, salary, agent commission”

So who is Toprak and how would he fit in at Arsenal? Toprak is considered as one of the leading central defenders in Bundesliga outside of Bayern Munich, he currently plays for Bayer Leverkusen, a club hoping to challenge for the Bundesliga title this season. Although he had injury problems last season, he really impressed.

A Turkish international that has grown as a player throughout his five years at Leverkusen, Toprak fits the ‘experienced’ label that Arsene is looking for. He has been capped 23 times for his country and has played nearly 200 Bundesliga matches for Freiburg and Leverkusen. Not only does he have the games under his belt, Toprak has a very calm presence on the pitch, his concentration is very good and that would be welcome in the Arsenal defence at the moment in the long-term absence of Per Mertesacker.

As much as it would appear a reactionary signing, I have no doubt that Arsenal scouts have been watching Toprak for some time and now with the injuries to Mertesacker and Gabriel Paulista, they may have recommended him to Arsene.

From what I’ve seen of Toprak I would suggest that his positioning is one of his main strengths. He is intelligent and would be able to aid a younger defender like Rob Holding if he played alongside him. Toprak’s presence would have certainly be beneficial for example, during Sunday’s match. For all the potential that Holding and Calum Chambers have, they lack the know-how, the experience, the intelligence, the awareness, all the attributes that develop as a defender matures and learns the hard way.

Toprak only managed a 76% pass success rate last season, that is relative to how Leverkusen play in comparison to Arsenal. Koscielny (87%) and Mertesacker (89%) are much more reliable on the ball and Toprak would have to adapt his style to suit the Gunners ‘build from the back’ style of play. Crucially, in 17 league games last season, Toprak made 0 defensive errors. In terms of aerial ability, Toprak attempts more and wins more aerial duels than Mertesacker, but obviously being so much shorter (6ft 1′) he is not as ‘efficient’ as the German (wins 55% vs. Per 78%). He also won more tackles per 90 (1.79) than Koscielny (0.82) and Mertesacker (1.06) last term, but once again it is important to remember both teams play with different styles which can warp statistics.

The problem for Arsenal is that, if Toprak is viewed as a ‘cheaper’ alternative, they could be due more disappointment as Bayer Leverkusen are unlikely to part with their defender for any less than £30million, a similar asking price to Mustafi. That’s why personally I’d be more inclined to believe the Simon Kjaer link. Kjaer currently plays for Turkish club Fenerbache and would probably cost around £12million (he is also 27).

Tottenham kick-started their Barclays Premier League season with a 1-1 draw at Goodison Park, and there was one player that caught the eye of the fans.

That player being Spurs’ wide playmaker Erik Lamela.

Although the end result wasn’t the one most fans had hoped for, nicking a 1-1 draw at Everton is still a good result considering Spurs fell behind early on.

Ross Barkley put the Toffees ahead after his free-kick was misjudged by Hugo Lloris and the defence and sailed through into the bottom corner; this was later cancelled out by Erik Lamela’s neat header in the second half after the Argentinean got the beating of his man.

The wide playmaker was very lively on the right-hand side and was a nuisance all afternoon; he scored a good goal and saw his fine shot deflected onto the bar after a fine save by Stekelnsburg to give Spurs the lead.

The tricky wide-man managed a very impressive 76% passing accuracy against Everton and also managed a 67% shot accuracy. The winger often roamed around the midfield positions and popped up centrally too, his creativity saw him manage 100% successful take ons against Everton, showing why he caused their defence such a problem.

Although this was the opening game in Spurs’ campaign he certainly looks set to cement himself a place in their starting XI, Lamela tracked back well and supported the attack efficiently, which saw Spurs more or less dominate the second half.

Lamela wasn’t the fans favourite immediately after he joined the club but the way he finished last season combined with the way he is starting this one shows that he is adapting well to the Premier League, and finally showing why Tottenham were happy to spend big to bring him to the club.

Mauricio Pochettino has many options to choose from for his starting team, but if Lamela picks up a consistent run and continues to shine like he did against Everton, he will certainly find himself starting each week and could go on to have a very impressive season.

Here’s what Spurs fans thought of his performance.

There's a lot to be said about Erik Lamela's growth at Tottenham. His nasty streak a good sign of growth in responsibility. Nasty is good.

— Sport Witness (@Sport_Witness) August 13, 2016

Lamela scores with a fine header.

— Rafael Hernández (@RafaelH117) August 13, 2016

Slow start, really good second half performance. Lamela now looks the player we thought we were getting keep up great work @ErikLamela #CSWY

— SpursCANTSMILE (@Spurscantsmile) August 14, 2016

Lamela is going to be so good this season

— Aaron Perry (@Aperry98) August 13, 2016

Got a very good feeling this year will be the year lamela justifys the 30mil we paid for #COYS💙

— Rhino (@RyanMustchin) August 14, 2016

He was brilliant last season but I reckon Erik Lamela is really gonna step up this season. 👊🏼⚽️ #COYS

— Nicky (@BlockHeadStick) August 13, 2016

Great to see Lamela score. Going to be brilliant this season for us!

— Eoghan Mullan (@EMullan95) August 13, 2016

Never win on the opening day, my bet that Lamela will score all of Tottenham's goals this season is looking good though. #COYS

— Tim (@CookPassTim) August 13, 2016

Very good header by Lamela

— Touchline Fracas (@touchlinefracas) August 13, 2016

Take the point in end @kylewalker2 @ErikLamela Danny Rose all very good.

— Graham Roberts (@GrahamRoberts4) August 13, 2016

Since his arrival, Erik Lamela has failed to produce top quality performances on a consistent basis and struggled to win the hearts of the Spurs faithful, but after his sublime display against Everton he looks set to kick-start this season and pay back the reported £25 million they paid for his services.

Since Fellaini joined Manchester United he has never been a fans favourite and when Jose Mourinho named him in his first Premier League XI, eyebrows were raised.

Come out from the shadows, Marouane.

The Belgian midfielder performed very well against Bournemouth and

Presumably Fellaini will be replaced by Paul Pogba now that the clubs record signing is available, but Fellaini at least proved on Sunday that he can be a good squad option.

Stat of the Match: Fellaini only misplaced one pass in this game, managing an incredible pass success rate of 99%.

Fellaini is often criticised for lazy passing and giving the ball away when his team is in possession, but this certainly was not the case on Sunday.

Crucially, Fellaini was not just good in possession but playing in a deeper midfield role, he managed to make 6 tackles, which disrupted the Bournemouth flow. He also won 2 aerial duels and did not get dispossessed at all in the 90 minutes he played. Fellaini was industrious with his defensive work, offering a great shield in front of the Manchester United defence. What more can you ask from a midfield player? If he can play like this regularly then Mourinho is right when he said Pogba will have to work hard to get into the team!

If he can be this defensively disciplined and assured in possession then perhaps he could play alongside Pogba at the base of the midfield? Maybe if Wayne Rooney was dropped and a more defensive player brought in, that could be a way Mourinho looks to get results in the future.

Here’s what the United fans thought of Fellaini’s performance on Sunday.

Most passes completed this weekend:

Fernandinho (83)
Oriol Romeu (82)
Ander Herrera (76)
Marouane Fellaini (75) pic.twitter.com/jfPi6hg9qM

— Squawka Football (@Squawka) August 15, 2016

Shocked at how well Fellaini played today, his passing isn’t great but bloody hell he won a few tackles.

— Luke (@LukeLessUnited) August 14, 2016

Marouane Fellaini misplaced just 1 of the 76 passes he attempted vs. Bournemouth - 98.7% completion rate. pic.twitter.com/wW5XSBYlwf

— Squawka Football (@Squawka) August 14, 2016

Fellaini wasn’t as bad as you’d think by knowing it’s Fellaini, but he’s nothing more than a stopgap solution until the midfield’s set.

— Rafael Hernández (@RafaelH117) August 14, 2016

Fellaini wasn’t as bad as you’d think by knowing it’s Fellaini, but he’s nothing more than a stopgap solution until the midfield’s set.

— Rafael Hernández (@RafaelH117) August 14, 2016

Fellaini has been excellent. Has given the ball away once all game but, stats aside, has offered impetus and passed quickly. #mufc

— Samuel Luckhurst (@samuelluckhurst) August 14, 2016

Mourinho has urged fans to get behind Fellaini following his recent performances: “With Fellaini I always have the feeling that he was not loved by the general Red people. But, if he plays like he’s playing now, they have to love him because he’s being so important for us.”

Here are the Fresh Football match ratings for the game between Bournemouth and Manchester United.

Bournemouth

Arthur Boruc: 6.5 - some fantastic saves throughout and wasn’t really at fault for any of the goals conceded, but showed nothing that made the mouth truly water.

Adam Smith: 7 - fantastic work ethic and scored a fantastic left footed shot that seemed to deceive David de Gea, solid start for the Bournemouth right back.

Simon Francis: 5.5 - Bournemouth’s new skipper had a mare in the build up to Mata’s opening goal essentially gifting him the ball on two occasions. Certain he will come good.

Steve Cook: 6 - nothing noteworthy in a naturally poor day for both Bournemouth centre halves.

Charlie Daniels: 6.5 - very much alike Adam Smith, an incredibly hard working full back. Showed real promise down the left hand side on a number of occasions.

Lewis Cook: 7 - perhaps Bournemouth’s best player, promising debut from the youngster who often bossed the midfield against one of the top teams of the division.

Harry Arter: 7 - Eddie Howe’s men always appear strongest in midfield and Arter personifies this. Will be crucial in the Cherries’ survival bid this campaign.

Andrew Surman: 6.5 - replicating the energy of the entire midfield, often solid but found himself over ran by the United midfield on certain occasions.

Jordan Ibe: 6.5 - in an attempt to justify a £15 million price tag I would say Ibe got off to a pretty decent start adding even more pace and depth in a Bournemouth side that already look rapid on the break.

Josh King: 6.5 - an average performance against his old side and didn’t really show half the outlet showed against United last December.

Callum Wilson: 6 - some good quality runs but the United defence kept him quiet for the majority of the match.

Substitutes:

Lewis Grabban: 7 - bagged the assist after coming on in the 68th minute and naturally made a positive impact to the team with his fresh legs.

Benik Afobe: 5.5 - very much like Callum Wilson in the sense that he didn’t tend to offer much up front in a firm and organised United back four.

Max Gradel: N/A

Manchester United

David de Gea: 7 - nothing really noteworthy from the United keeper and was often left with nothing to do except prohibiting a late onslaught from Bournemouth. Couldn’t do a lot with Adam Smith’s beautiful finish in the 67th minute.

Antonio Valencia: 8 - personally one of my contenders for Man of the match. After a fantastic pre season he’s emulated that form into the start of the campaign. Looked threatening down the right side, supplying plenty of quality service for the likes of Ibrahimovic and supplied the ball in the build up to Wayne Rooney’s well directed header.

Eric Bailly: 8 - my other contender for man of the match. In such a fast paced league such as the Premier League, you have to keep your head and he has settled into life well at Old Trafford and has remained consistent in his first appearances in a United shirt. Looks incredibly comfortable on the ball, a certain young talent to look out for over the course of the season.

Daley Blind: 7 - nothing noteworthy from Blind in a positive or a negative light and dealt with the vast majority that was thrown his way. Thriving off of his best trait: consistency.

Luke Shaw: 7 - solid start after nearly a year out on the sidelines with a double leg fracture. Making some good runs and is peaking at full fitness ahead of a long season.

Ander Herrera: 7.5 - kept the game ticking throughout when United had to soak up a lot of Bournemouth pressure. Suits the Mourinho style of football to a treat and feel he will thrive under the new regime.

Marouane Fellaini: 6.5 –

Anthony Martial: 6.5 - despite bagging 2 assists it definitely wasn’t one of Martial’s most flattering games as a United player. After a lack of game time at the Euro’s, it just looked slightly flat at times with his attempts to get in behind defenders often quashed by the Bournemouth defence. He’ll be looking to improve on this in a bid to replicate last seasons electric form.

Juan Mata: 7 - despite countless articles speculating Mata’s future under Mourinho, it appears he has a future in this United side after kick starting the new United era with their first premier league goal this season.

Wayne Rooney: 7 - another man whose subject to criticism and speculation is the United skipper himself. He played in the no. 10 role this afternoon and it is no doubt his best position. After a slow start, his distribution and leadership qualities prevailed, which saw him redirect a Martial shot/cross beautifully past Artur Boruc. He will want to prove a point this season.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic: 7.5 - of course this man had to have a say. He started slowly alongside Wayne Rooney in an attempt to adjust to the Premier League pace but came good in the second half. Fancy flicks and impeccable strength are just standard Zlatan traits, topped off a solid first shift with a tremendous 25 yard strike. United fans will hope of more of the same from the big man.

Substitutes:

Henrikh Mkhitaryan: N/A

Memphis Depay: N/A

Morgan Schneiderlin: N/A

Arsenal often bring plenty of talking points to the table and today was no exception, as the Gunners were defeated 4-3 at home to Liverpool in their first Premier League game of the season.

In light of Per Mertesacker and Gabriel Paulista’s absence through injury, the worry over a Calum Chambers and Rob Holding pairing was visible, as Arsène Wenger opted for protection in Francis Coquelin’s presence ahead of handing new boy Granit Xhaka his debut.

Despite a promising first half in which Philippe Coutinho’s free-kick denied the north Londoners the lead going into half time, the second period brought forward familiar grumbles from the home crowd as Liverpool racked up three more goals.

Stat of the Game: Despite playing just 24 minutes, Arsenal’s Granit Xhaka committed more fouls (4) than any other Premier League player this weekend.

Whereas the £4.2 million spent on Augsburg’s Ragnar Klavan gained a few appreciators, the Reds’ work at the other end versus a depleted Arsenal defence was just as eye-catching. Liverpool’s fluidity in attack tortured the Gunners’ youthful centre half duo, and there was one name deemed responsible for it all - Arsène Wenger.

Arsenal utlimately lacked defensive experience. You cannot score 3 goals at home and not win the game, let alone lose it. Despite a spirited fightback, at the end of the day Arsenal didn’t get the job done, not even close. The last couple of goals purely acted as a consolation. Arsenal fans blamed Wenger for the defeat and now hope he makes a response in the transfer market before it is too late. The Gunners are already 3 points of the pace of Liverpool and both Manchester clubs and with a game against Champions Leicester City up next, it doesn’t look great for the Gunners.

Wenger has blamed a lack of ‘defesnive experience’ for losing the game. Whose fault is that? …. himself. Arsenal fans are not happy.

Nothing new. Arsenal been drifting for some time under Wenger. Club lacks leadership. Nobody in club holds Wenger properly to account. #afc

— Henry Winter (@henrywinter) August 14, 2016

Could have been avoided. Why not sign a experienced CB in July? Now clubs will know Wenger is looking for reinforcements & will raise price.

— Yousef Teclab (@yousef738) August 14, 2016

Arsene Wenger to blame. Known about the Per injury for weeks and penny pinching has already cost us 3 points. That was so winnable.

— Oli Price-Bates (@OliPriceBates) August 14, 2016

this is no ones fault but Wenger. whether you're an AKB/WOB, it's a fact. He's left us short again when he and 3 months to prepare us.

— Naż (@NabardWaissi) August 14, 2016

Nothing like an opening day loss and Wenger then saying in his presser "If the quality is there, then we will buy" to start the season.

— Jubz (@TheWengerWay) August 14, 2016

The once revolutionary, Arsene Wenger, is now a yesterday's man. He has been for some time.

Outdated principles in a modern game.

— Adam Sweeney (@AdamWSweeney) August 14, 2016

Not the start the Frenchman had hoped for, who has more than just the club’s fans to win over. Key men Alexis Sánchez and Mesut Özil have just two years left on their contract, so this season could really be do or die for Arsenal in many aspects. Luckily, there’s still a couple more weeks of the transfer window left to reassure some heads.

Here are Fresh Football’s ratings for Arsenal’s opening game against Liverpool.

Arsenal

Petr Cech - 5

A day to forget for the Arsenal keeper, conceded four goals and did not look sharp, although couldn’t do much on most of the goals.

Hector Bellerin - 5

Brilliant tackle on 22 minutes to stop Firmino with a clear chance, but Liverpool’s dominance in attack shown through in the end, struggled to support the attack.

Calum Chambers - 4.5

Poor pass in the 39 minute which led to a Liverpool break, was against a top Liverpool attack and struggled to cope with the pressure. Scored a consolation goal.

Rob Holding - 5

Gave away the free-kick for Coutinho’s goal (decision was harsh), but there was some bright glimpses for the youngster, good passing and was positioned well, but like Chambers, a very tough afternoon for the youngster on his debut.

Nacho Monreal - 5

First half he was brilliant and supported the attack well, second half was outclassed by Mane for his their fourth and was under pressure non-stop.

Francis Coquelin - 4

Gave away silly free-kicks but was OK in possession. Did not control the midfield which was required and was lucky to not get sent off.

Mohamed Elneny - 5.5

Nice and tidy in the middle of the park as always. Was good in the first half but was dominated in the second, removed for Xhaka but Arsenal missed his legs after he came off.

Theo Walcott - 5.5

Missed the penalty after he won it but made up for it with a great finish to put the Gunners ahead. Was non-existent in the second half and lacked the quality the Gunners needed.

Aaron Ramsey - 4.5

First shot on target inside five minutes after good link up pay with Alexis, did not offer much after and went off injured.

Alex Iwobi - 5

Always positive on the ball and looked lively going forward, was over loaded in the end and struggled massively before going off injured.

Alexis Sanchez - 4.5

Struggled to get into the game in the first half and the same in the second half, improvement is needed by the Gunners Chilean although with not much pre-season behind him, he is one player that can be forgiven.

Liverpool

Simon Mignolet - 4

Made a great save to deny Walcott’s penalty but couldn’t do much with his goal, conceded two goals after and like Cech, and afternoon to forget.

Nathaniel Clyne - 6

Helped the attack well and had a shot in the 12th minute which was saved. Brilliant assist for Coutinho’s goal and was good defensively.

Dejan Lovren - 6.5

Solid at the back and kept Alexis out of the game.

Ragnar Klavan 6.7

Much like Lovren, dominate in the air and kept Alexis out of the game.

Alberto Moreno - 3.5

Great tackle on Ramsey in the 14th minute to disposes Ramsey in the box. Gave away the penalty in the 28th minute. Caught out for Arsenal’s opener had a torrid first 45 minutes and much the same in the second.

Adam Lallana - 6.5

Scored a well taken goal in the 49th minute and grew as the game went on.

Jordan Henderson - 6

Kept Liverpool’s midfield ticking and tracked back well, did little going forward.

Georginio Wijnaldum - 7

Solid debut for Wijnaldum, good in possession and supported the front three very well.

Saido Mane - 8.5

Always looked to go forward and caused Arsenal problems. Sublime goal in the 63rd minute and ran the Arsenal defence all over the pitch.

Roberto Frimino - 8

Lively as always and caused Arsenal many problems in the second half, grew into the game and was very positive going forward.

Phillipe Coutinho - 9 (MOTM)

Scores an absolute class free kick in the 45th minute to level the score and scored his second in the 56 minute. Grew into the game massively in the second half and ran the Arsenals makeshift defence raged, sublime performance by the Brazilian.

Subs

Santi Cazorla - 5

As always, good on the ball and offered Arsenal creativity, great assist for Chambers goal.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain - 5

Should have started. Scored Arsenal’s second goal and looked very lively, wrong call by Arsene to leave him out.

Granit Xhaka - 4

Did not have enough time to do much, booked and gave away more fouls than he should of.

Emre Can - 4

Came on to secure the three points for the Reds.

Divock Origi - 4

Struggled to make an impact.

Kevin Stewart - N/A

Liverpool fans were quite rightly over the moon with a win over Arsenal at the Emirates on the Premier Leagues opening weekend.

The Gunners took the lead through Theo Walcott but a 25-minute splurge from the away side saw Klopp’s men take an astonishing 4-1 lead. Despite almost throwing it away after all the hard work, Liverpool fans were understandably happy with the result and one players performance in particular really pleased the fans.

That player was £34million signing Saido Mane, who made an instant impact on his Liverpool debut. The wide midfielder made light work of a makeshift Arsenal defense and ultimately netted the vital 4th goal which turned out to be the winner. For the goal Mane took it upon himself to embarrass Calum Chambers in a 1 vs. 1 duel and then finish cooly. Mane showed he has both the pace and the efficiency in the final third to be a real asset for Klopp’s energetic Liverpool team this season.

But his goal was not the former Southampton mans only achievement in this game. Often criticised for his lack of consistency in his technical play, Mane shut away the doubters with a pass completion rate of 93% in this game. He was such a reliable outlet on the ball. 93% accuracy for an attacking player is brilliant, especially a player who is often looking to play forward. Mane has perhaps already shown that he is very adaptable and that could be why Klopp was happy to pay so much money for him. He also managed 4 successful take ons to get past a very experienced Nacho Monreal and ultimately pile pressure on the inexperienced duo of Chambers and Rob Holding.

Perhaps the most telling statistic of all though, was Mane’s defensive workrate. He was constantly back and helping Clyne, and he managed to make 4 tackles, winning the ball high up the pitch and again putting the pressure straight back on Arsenal - he did this particularly well in the second half.

Before we start with the Liverpool fans reactions, let’s look at how Arsenal’s official account reacted..

#nowords

Mane makes it four.#AFCvLFC 🔴1-4⚫ (63)

— Arsenal FC (@Arsenal) August 14, 2016

Here’s what some Liverpool fans thought of Mane’s performance.

That Mane goal doesn’t get boring even after watching it 748 times. Try it. #LFC #Worldie

— Graeme Kelly (@GraemeKelly1) August 14, 2016

This is where Mane picked up the ball before scoring. Amazing. 👍👍👍 pic.twitter.com/kKWOp3VSRj

— Empire of the Kop (@empireofthekop) August 14, 2016

In theory, I thought the Mané signing was great. But in practice, even if it’s still very early stages, I’m loving it even more. Great fit.

— The Tactics Room (@TheTacticsRoom) August 14, 2016

Mane making that run before the 4th goal pic.twitter.com/Ltro0HaU6d

— joseph schooling fan (@kxsmo) August 14, 2016

Sadio Mane’s goal was magic.

— Sam McGuire (@SamMcGuire90) August 14, 2016

Mane looked every bit a £30m player out there. Perfect fit for this Klopp team

— James Pearce (@JamesPearceEcho) August 14, 2016

Not bad for a start. Mane man of the match for me. Great game, great signing. #LFC

— Artur Petrosyan (@arturpetrosyan) August 14, 2016

And to think that some people were genuinely annoyed when we signed Mane.

— Green Scouser (@Green_Scouser) August 14, 2016

Mane is a game changer for us. The pace, tenacity and finishing.

— Jay (@Jay82_LFC) August 14, 2016

Liverpool fans will now hope that Mane can offer more consistency than he has previously. If he can keep up that kind of form he will certainly be worth the hefty £34million they paid.

Chelsea’s new boss Antonio Conte enters the Premier League scene under somewhat of a baptism of fire, hosting West Ham United in a London derby on Monday night.

The former Juventus manager can take confidence away from the fact that the Hammers haven’t won at Stamford Bridge since September 2002, whereas West Ham are unbeaten under Slaven Bilić versus the Blues after last season’s results. Here are three key battles to look out for as two London heavyweights come head-to-head:

1 - Gary Cahill vs. Andy Carroll

There’s a lot riding on big Andy Carroll come Monday night, with the English striker scoring twice in the two games against Chelsea in the 2015/16 season.

Carroll also comes into the clash on good form, hitting a brace versus Juventus in their opening ceremony of the Olympic Stadium, which spells danger for the likes of Gary Cahill and John Terry.

Of the two English centre backs, the ex-Bolton Wanderers man has often appeared as the weakest link in the past couple of seasons and remains the most likely defender to drop out of the Chelsea XI should they land someone like Napoli’s Kalidou Koulibaly.

It’s plausible that Carroll, often targeting spaces between centre backs and full backs from crosses, will opt to fall on Cahill’s side rather than the aerially accomplished Terry.

A lot has been made of Ola Aina potentially dethroning Branislav Ivanović at right back, but with the threat posed by Carroll, the Serbian’s presence should aid Cahill.

Jose Mourinho said he only wanted to make three major signings and after the big money move for Paul Pogba, you would be forgiven for thinking Manchester United’s business this summer was over, but that appears to be the case.

According to reports in Spain, Manchester United are now after Real Madrid defender Raphael Varane. The reports suggest that Varane would cost around €40million.

The negative though is that the report in AS suggests that although Varane is a big fan of Mourinho, the player currently has no desire to leave Spain.

That won’t put off Mourinho though, the Portuguese manager has managed to lure the likes of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Paul Pogba to the club this summer, despite the clubs lack of Champions League football next season.

Through a mixture of money and manager pulling power, Mourinho is making United a great team again. Is Varane the next piece in the jigsaw? He’d certainly be a brilliant signing.

Despite the signing of Eric Bailly, Manchester United would surely benefit from another defensive signing. Phil Jones and Daley Blind are not the best fit for Mourinho style defences, Chris Smalling is good and so is Bailly, but he’s young. Traditionally Mourinho likes to have a defensive partnership with experience and although Varane is not the age of an experienced defender, he has experience beyond his years, having played at the highest level for club and country for many years now.

Here are Fresh Football’s ratings for Guardiola’s first game in charge of City against Sunderland at the Etihad Stadium.

Manchester City

Willy Caballero - 5

Great save in the 40th minute to deny Defoe. Poor distribution and did not look too comfortable throughout the game, made dodgy decisions and his handling was pretty poor. Could not do much for Defoe’s goal.

Bacary Sagna - 6

Nice and tidy in possession and was solid throughout. Saw a header glance just wide in the 82nd minute.

John Stones - 7

Solid debut, well positioned in defence and was very comfortable on the ball.

Aleksandar Kolarov - 7

Partnered Stones at CB, good in possession with brilliant cross field passes, solid showing.

Gael Clichy - 6.5

Clichy done well this evening, playing in the new system he looked comfortable, kept Watmore quiet and helped out the midfield and attack.

Fernandinho - 8

Excellent in the middle of the park, strong and was always an outlet for Stones / Kolarov from the back.

David Silva - 6.5

Played in a deeper role and looked ok, his link up play with Noltio was very good on the eye. Recycled the ball well as always and was always positive on the ball.

Nolito - 6

Looked sharp and showcased some excellent skills.

Kevin De Bruyne - 6

Was not his best game by all means but was good in possession and often looked to create chances.

Raheem Sterling (MOTM) - 8.5

Looked lively all game, won the penalty for Aguero in the opening three minutes. Good on the ball and was positive most of the time, good first game for Sterling.

Sergio Aguero - 7

Converted City’s first goal inside three minutes with a clinical finish, was kept reasonably quiet but always looked good on the ball and was always on the move. Missed a golden chance in the 60th minute but did not see much of the ball after.

Sunderland

Vito Mannone - 5

Conceded the penalty but was very quiet for most of the game. Good save from KDB free-kick then conceded thanks to an OG.

Donald Love - 6

Had a tough afternoon against the skillful Nolito and then Sterling, was not always beaten though and certainly showed some character.

Lamine Kone - 6.5

Was solid at the back for Sunderland, saw his header fall to Defoe who nearly scored, good performance.

Younas Kaboul - 6.5

Much like Kone, did not have the busiest afternoon but was solid when called upon.

Patrick Van Aanholt - 4

Given the run around by Sterling to give away the penalty, had a head to head battle all afternoon in a tough game.

John O’shea - 5

Played in a unnatural position in midfield, was often overrun by the brilliant Silva / De Bruyne but did protect the back four well.

Jack Rodwell - 4.5

Struggled to cope in the middle, often was dispossessed or was given the ball away, not the best afternoons for the former City man.

Fabio Borini - 5

Was quiet for most of the game, always wanted to go forward on the ball and did deliver some good crosses.

Duncan Watmore - 5.5

Was very direct and positive with the ball, was not able to create much and the City defence kept him quiet.

Lynden Gooch - 5.5

Looked lively on the ball and put in some dangerous crosses. Confident on the ball and tracked back well. Good debut for the youngster.

Jermain Defoe - 6.5

Saw a good chance saved by the City keeper, but scored a great clinical goal in the 71st minute.

Subs:

City

Jesus Navas (58) - 6

Played on the right and often used his pace to try beat his marker, put in some good crosses but didn’t make a huge difference. Assisted the goal on the 86th minute.

Fabian Delph (64) -5

Showed a consistent showing as always, Pep will use him in many different positions throughout the season.

Kelechi Iheanacho (79) - N/A

Missed a golden chance in the 89th minute, was quiet apart from that.

Sunderland

Adnan Januzaj (64) - 4.5

Done ok when he come on, worked the wing well and won a few set pieces for Sunderland. He often took the set-pieces and hit the first man, poor corners.

Wahbi Khazri (64) - 4

Was kept quiet and struggled to get into the game.

Paddy Mcnair (82) - 1
Within four minutes scored an own goal, sure he wished he stayed on the bench.

Here are Fresh Football’s ratings for Everton’s game versus Tottenham Hotspur for the Premier League:

Everton

Maarten Stekelenburg - 7

The Dutchman looked confident aerially and pulled off a big save to stop Janssen scoring on his debut in the 80th minute, whereas he had little hope of stopping Erik Lamela levelling the game.

Mason Holgate - 6.5

A really assured performance from young Holgate, keeping his corner of defence locked up in the first half. His inexperience showed, however, when he granted Lamela that extra yard to head in the equaliser.

Phil Jagielka - 7

The Everton skipper provided numerous blocks in dangerous areas, coupling his defensive actions with keeping Harry Kane detached from the game.

Ramiro Funes Mori - 7

A solid performance from the Argentine defender, who also offered some nice involvements in Everton’s attacking phases.

Leighton Baines - 6.5

Maintaining a fairly reserved approach throughout, Baines’ crosses rarely failed to threaten whenever he had the chance to whip one in.

Gareth Barry - 7

The veteran was disciplined and led by example at the heart of Everton’s midfield.

Idrissa Gueye - 7

The ex-Aston Villa man constantly hovered around those in possession, contributing with combative and energetic play.

James McCarthy - 6.5

Tireless work from the Republic of Ireland international contributed to a decent performance.

Ross Barkley - 7

Often the ball carrier in transitions, Ross Barkley also scored the Toffees’ first goal with an inviting free kick.

Kevin Mirallas - 7

The Belgian proved to be difficult to pick up, as he formed part of a fluid front three for Everton.

Gerard Deulofeu - 7

A good performance that saw Deulofeu bother Spurs’ defence by finding pockets of space to run into, but the ex-Barcelona winger will rue his missed one-on-one at the end of the first half.

Subs

Arouna Koné - N/A

Aaron Lennon - N/A

Tottenham Hotspur

Hugo Lloris - 5

The Spurs captain gambled on a deflection from Ross Barkley’s free kick and paid the price. He then had to be substituted in the first half for Michel Vorm due to an injury.

Kyle Walker - 7.5

One of Spurs’ best bets to unlock Everton’s defence, the England right back was as enthusiastic as a ever and assisted Lamela for the equaliser.

Jan Vertonghen - 5.5

You could tell the Belgian had just returned from injury, looking off the pace and often tortured by the likes of Mirallas and Deulofeu running in behind him.

Toby Alderweireld - 6.5

Took full responsibility in bringing the ball out from defence, whereas he struggled slightly with Everton’s fluidity up top.

Danny Rose - 5

He was all over the left flank, but Rose’s passing and decision making looked particularly sketchy. The full back almost gifted Everton a second goal at the end of the first half when his pass back to goal was intercepted by Deulofeu.

Victor Wanyama - 5

Ronald Koeman’s former midfield enforcer often occupied the same position as Dier, making his presence fairly pointless for the most part.

Eric Dier - 5.5

Without his habitual midfield partner, Mousa Dembele, the Englishman left the creative duties to Alderweireld behind. Dier was then replaced by Vincent Janssen in the 55th minute.

Christian Eriksen - 6

Tried to make things happen, but the ex-Ajax man will have had better days.

Dele Alli - 4.5

The 20-year-old was drowning in Everton’s midfield bodies all game.

Erik Lamela - 7

The wide playmaker offered creativity on the right, roaming centrally, on the left and, most importantly, scored the equaliser. Lamela also saw a deflected effort hit the top of the bar with little more than ten minutes of the game to go.

Harry Kane - 4.5

Much like Dele Alli, Kane was taken out of the game completely by Everton’s defence.

Subs:

Michel Vorm - 6.5

Substituted the injured Lloris in the first half and denied Everton’s second goal of the game when saving Deulofeu’s one-on-one opportunity.

Vincent Janssen - 6

His mere presence inside the box was a contributing factor in Lamela’s goal, meanwhile the second half substitute also saw his compatriot, Stekelenburg, deny him a debut goal with a snap-shot deep inside the box.

Here are Fresh Football’s ratings for Hull City’s Premier League clash versus Leicester City at the KCOM Stadium.

Hull City

Eldin Jakupović - 6

Had little to do, but, bar the penalty, saved all he had to fairly comfortably.

Ahmed Elmohamady - 8

The Egyptian had a growing influence throughout the game through his anticipation and work rate. Elmohamady was at the heart of Hull’s second goal and equally as efficient at the opposite end.

Curtis Davies - 7

Busy at the back, but saw his best moments shine through at the other half. Came close to breaking the deadlock early, whereas his glancing header led to Hernandez’s goal in the first half.

Jake Livermore - 7

The makeshift centre back provided a crucial block with the goal gaping for Jamie Vardy that would have seen Leicester City take the lead in the 41st minute. Hull City scored five minutes later.

Andrew Robertson - 6.5

Robertson was occupied with keeping Riyad Mahrez quiet, struggling to do so in the first half, but later forcing the Algerian winger to roam centrally as the tide of the game turned.

Tom Huddlestone - 6.5

It was a fairly good performance from the ex-Tottenham man, but a couple of mistimed tackles, in particular one wrongly given as a penalty, blemished his performance, slightly.

David Meyler - 7

The former Sunderland midfielder offered bite and relentless work rate to get Hull over the line with a win on the opening day of the Premier League.

Sam Clucas - 7.5

Clucas recouped and dictated possession well, combining with Meyler and Huddlestone to dominate the midfield for large parts of the game.

Robert Snodgrass - 7.5

Excellent deliveries from set-pieces and a winning goal to go with it for Robert Snodgrass, who also combined well with Elmohamady on the right flank on numerous occasions. His experience was invaluable in the final stages of the game.

Adama Diomandé - 7

The Norwegian forward’s work rate was commendable, causing havoc inside the box in aid of Abel Hernandez.

Abel Hernandez - 7

Scored the game’s first goal and got the better of Leicester’s captain Wes Morgan.

Leicester City

Kasper Schmeichel - 5

The Danish goalkeeper struggled to deal with Hull’s corners, consequently conceding on the stroke of half-time.

Danny Simpson - 5

A few late tackles saw Danny Simpson receive a booking early on. Luckily, much of Hull’s play came down the right flank.

Luis Hernandez - 5

Really struggled in new surroundings, often losing in combative battles with Diomandé.

Wes Morgan - 4

Had to deal two strikers inside the box and looked like he was really feeling the workload.

Christian Fuchs - 5.5

Fairly solid in the first half, but couldn’t go toe-to-toe with both Snodgrass and Elmohamady in the second half.

Riyad Mahrez - 6.5

Looked the most likely to create something for the Premier League champions and scored Leicester’s spot-kick.

Andy King - 4.5

Andy King looked totally ineffectual and outnumbered by Hull’s three-man midfield. Subsequently, he was substituted around the one-hour mark.

Danny Drinkwater - 5

Thwarted by Hull’s midfield and really missing N’Golo Kanté’s presence the most.

Demarai Gray - 6

A lively first half from the ex-Birmingham man, but he gradually saw less and less of the ball in the second period, despite winning a dubious penalty shortly after the restart.

Ahmed Musa - 6

The Nigerian was typically sharp on the turn, but lacked execution in the final third.

Jamie Vardy - 5

A real bad day at the office for Vardy, miss-kicking and blazing over the few chances he had to score.

Daniel Amartey - 5

Came on to battle for the ball at a time when Hull had already surrendered possession. An untimely change.

Shinji Okazaki - 6

Added tenacity to the Foxes’ attack instantly, but others weren’t on the same wavelength.

Leonardo Ulloa - N/A

Even after the unpredictability of last season, very few would have given Hull City a hope in this Premier League opener.

The Premier League Champions had never lost their opening game of the following season before today. But the Premier League has not been following the script as of late and Leicester know that more than anyone else.

Hull City, without a permanent manager and with a squad in disarray were the bookies favourites to get relegated before the big kick off. Those odds may have been cut following this result, albeit in the first game of the season but Hull’s performance surprised many, including the home crowd who amongst all the off the pitch problems, got behind their team excellently.

This Leicester City side had a similar look to last season, but also notable differences. The lack of N’Golo Kante in midfield and Robert Huth in defence were telling. No defensive authority in a goal-line scramble led to Abel Hernandez acrobatically putting Hull City ahead. Riyad Mahrez converted a penalty just seconds into the second half, but Hull replied almost immediately with a Robert Snodgrass strike from outside of the box.

Stat of the Match: Hull City scored as many goals (2) against Champions Leicester as they had managed in their previous 5 Premier League games

If this was the first game of last season, I don’t think anybody would have been shocked about this result but Leicester City are now the reigning Premier League Champions and they need to get used to that extra burden. Here’s a sample of reaction from Twitter.

Leicester finding out early that everyone wants to beat the Champions…

— Carl Bövis ⚽ (@CarlBovis_AFC) August 13, 2016

But even if Leicester get relegated it won’t matter.
Idc

They did in one season what Epl mainstay teams haven’t done in years.

— M’Mányárá (@TEETO_KE) August 13, 2016

Imagine if Hull won the league this season. pic.twitter.com/3w2EWaxMyg

— Busby MUFC (@BusbyMUFC) August 13, 2016

We all had two Hull players to score a joint bicycle kick as the first goal of the season, right?

— JOE.co.uk (@JOE_co_uk) August 13, 2016

Leicester fans right now pic.twitter.com/kcq5MJy9KT

— ~ (@lmfaoarsenal) August 13, 2016

I Kante see how Leicester Kante beat hull..

— POGBOOOM (@UtdNo6) August 13, 2016

Hull fans: “We’re top of the of the league… We’re top of the league… We’re top of the league!”

Good spirit. pic.twitter.com/gXec2C0lHf

— Squawka News (@SquawkaNews) August 13, 2016

Hull have played well today, fair play to them

— Aylestone (@AylestoneLCFC) August 13, 2016

Leicester city are about to find out the hard way that EPL doesn’t like fairy tales

— kenna (@kennagq) August 13, 2016

I know it sounds stupid considering they won the league but Leicester really aren’t that good and weren’t last season either.

— The Anfield Chat (@TheAnfieldChat) August 13, 2016

This result just showed that we are in for another unpredictable campaign. Hull showed similar characteristics that made Leicester City so successful last season. The lowly Premier League sides have been watching and you can expect them to attempt to recreate Leicester City’s style in order to win points. Fearless, counter-attacking football. Leicester, on the other hand, will need to get used to having the ball more often and the ‘tinker man’ Ranieri must find a new way to play.

Want to feature in articles like these? Follow us and tweet us your thoughts on Premier League games this season @FreshFootball

Tottenham vs. Everton. A real blockbuster of a game to open the Premier League weekend. Oddly not chosen to be televised, the match kicks off at 3pm on Saturday. The two former successful Southampton managers meet, and both will be desperate for a positive start to their campaigns. Tottenham must bounce back from last seasons disappointment whilst a new-look Everton need to make vast improvements this season and a result against Tottenham would be a great start. Who will win? We think the match outcome will hinder on the battle between these three.

1 - Ross Barkley vs. Eric Dier

One player who featured regularly for England this summer up against one who never got a lot in. This season it is really important that Barkley kicks on with his development. Koeman is likely to trust in the young English midfielder but he needs develop more consistency and add more to his game to really be considered a top player. This weekend he comes up against Dier, a player who has reinvented himself in a holding role and not just secured his spot for his club but for his country too. The addition of Victor Wanyama puts pressure on Dier to continue improving though and he can start by shutting out one of the most talented young midfielders in the division in Barkley. Both players lack mobility to it’ll be an interesting match up as I expect Dier to stay in close proximity to Barkley throughout. Barkley could ‘take one for the team’ and use Dier’s close marking tactics to Everton’s advantage. If Barkley shifts Dier out of his holding role it may allow more room for the likes of Kevin Mirallas, Gerard Deulofeu and Romelu Lukaku to cause problems to a Tottenham defence that rarely opens up (apart from the last day of last season).

Arsenal’s transfer activity is increasing at the moment. A £25million deal for central defender Mustafi is thought to be close and now according to reports from France, the Gunners are in for Leicester City’s Riyad Mahrez.

According to L’Equipe Arsenal have already had one bid turned down for Mahrez and have since returned with an improved €41million bid.

Mahrez scored 17 Premier League goals last season and also made 11 assists. The Algerian, albeit not a striker, is a natural goal threat and would certainly add productivity to an Arsenal side that has ultimately lacked efficiency in the final third since Robin van Persie’s departure.

With the lack of central strikers on the market currently, perhaps the addition of Mahrez would be a good alternative for the Gunners and it could lead to a formation change for the Gunners. Alexis Sanchez who is expected to start as a striker on Sunday, could play that position more regularly and allow Mahrez to come in and start on the right-hand side.

Not only would this allow both Alexis and Mahrez to be in the team, but it could possibly bring out the best in Mesut Ozil and also allow the development of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Alex Iwobi to continue, as both players can also play on the left wing.

It could come down to, can Arsenal sign a striker that is of better quality than Mahrez? At the moment it doesn’t look like it. Although Alexandre Lacazette is available for around £45million, I think Mahrez is a better player.

Some may say that Alexis cannot play as a lone striker but I disagree. He has the hunger to go and hunt for the ball, the aerial ability and strength to hold it up and win attacking headers. He can score from inside or outside of the box and his pace would stretch defences in a way that Giroud cannot.

So would Mahrez improve Arsenal? If he can replicate last season’s form then certainly.

Ozil is the only Arsenal midfielder who comes close to Mahrez in terms of statistics, even Alexis Sanchez struggled to hit the heights of the 2014/15 season weighing in with only 13 goals and four assists himself. With Alexis in a more central role and the likes of Ozil and Mahrez behind him, I think the Chilean could be reborn and thrive in a more central position. If it doesn’t work or if Arsenal want to play with an alternative option then the Gunners always have Olivier Giroud as a perfectly good option through the middle.

€41million is only £35million and that is not likely to be enough to persuade Leicester City to part with last seasons PFA Player of the Year. The L’Equipe report does mention that the Gunners could also include €9million in add ons, that would take the potential value of the deal to around €50million. Still I think Leicester, if forced into a sale, would want to hold the Gunners to ransom and try and receive around €58million (£50million).

Chelsea are also thought to be interested in Mahrez but new manager Antonio Conte has so far baulked at the excessive asking prices floating around at the moment.

We’d love to hear your thoughts on this one, so tweet us @FreshFootball.