Premier League Winners and Losers from Matchday Two

Matchday two in the Premier League was action-packed as West Ham United moved to the top, but here are the winners and losers from matchday two.

Winners

Michail Antonio

West Ham have begun the season brilliantly with fine performances from the likes of Declan Rice and Said Benrahma. However, Michail Antonio has led from the front and scored two brilliant goals against Leicester City to send the Irons top of the league in the early stages of the season.

Antonio’s brace has taken him above Paolo Di Canio in the Hammers’ Premier League top goalscorer charts and few would have predicted such an impact after the 31-year-old’s move from Nottingham Forest. A run without those troublesome hamstring injuries could see him and the Claret and Blues have another fine season.

Romelu Lukaku

When you sign a player for a club-record £97.5 million there is a bit of pressure and expectation to perform. Therefore it is important to get off the mark early and Romelu Lukaku did just that, taking only 15 minutes to open his account.

Based on this display, however, it won’t be just his goals that keep Chelsea fans happy. The Belgian striker gave a clinic on centre-forward play, giving Pablo Mari a torrid time, opening up space and creating opportunities for Mason Mount and Reece James.

The striker position has seemed cursed at Chelsea in recent years, but with Lukaku, that curse appears to be broken.

Kostas Tsimikas

Two games, two clean sheets and an assist. Kostas Tsimikas endured a tough debut season in England for several reasons but has filled in admirably at the left-back position.

Tsimikas was substituted to a rapturous ovation at Anfield on Saturday having given an all-action display and laid on a perfect cross for Diogo Jota’s goal.

With Robertson set to return next week, Klopp is now afforded the option of some rotation in the left-back position when the opportunity arises.

Graham Potter

Too often last season Brighton would create plenty of chances, not take them and drop points. Therefore, Graham Potter will have been delighted with Saturday’s run-of-the-mill 2-0 victory over Watford. More of those this season and the Seagulls can look up as opposed to over their shoulder.

Nuno Espirito Santo

Two wins from two after playing current Premier League champions Manchester City at home and Nuno Espirito Santo’s old club Wolverhampton Wanderers away always causes for celebration. Tottenham Hotspur have looked solid in the opening two games and appear to be building solid foundations.

The next week will be crucial as they look to hang on to Harry Kane and if they do that then Spurs may have a much better campaign than many anticipated.

Manchester City

This was just like any regular City win over one of the poorer teams in the league but Jack Grealish got on the scoresheet after last week’s disappointing defeat.

City created plenty of chances and scored their template goal after a low pass across the box with a tap-in at the back post.

This win won’t have come as a surprise but it will certainly be welcome.

Danny Ings

The goal of the weekend no doubt. The athleticism and the power on the strike was something to behold from a man going another step towards repaying his transfer fee. The Holte End was in raptures at their new striker’s stunning effort and certainly will be hoping more is to come.

Losers

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Ayoze Perez

A reckless challenge on Pablo Fornals saw the Spaniard sent off and saw Leicester play the second half with 10 men as they suffered a 4-1 defeat at the London Stadium.

Perez had begun the season on the right-hand side of the Foxes’ attack but it’s no secret that it is an area that Brendan Rodgers is looking to strengthen. A three-game ban for Perez may just expedite that search.

Arsenal

The opening day defeat to Brentford set the tone for the weekend defeat to Chelsea but it was a fairly dismal performance, even allowing for certain caveats. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Alexandre Lacazette, Martin Odegaard, Thomas Partey and Ben White did not start from minute one at the Emirates and their London rivals got the better of them. The Gunners afforded Chelsea far too much space which was ruthlessly exploited.

Next weekend’s match at Manchester City may be something of a free hit for Mikel Arteta but after that, the results will have to come, otherwise, serious questions will be asked of the Spaniard.

Wolves

A tough start to the season but no goals in two games will not have been what Bruno Lage was after. It’s only early days but the new manager needs something soon to lift the fans after a bit of a disappointing summer.

Norwich

Despite some pundits’ ludicrous assertions about the Canaries following the weekend defeat, some fans could be forgiven for thinking this is just a continuation of the dismal 2019/20 season.

Matches against the previous two league champions were always going to be difficult but Daniel Farke’s men will be hoping for a win soon to raise confidence and show that, if nothing else, they deserve to be playing at this level.

Manchester United’s midfield

The anger on social media was clear to see once Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s starting lineup was announced. Fred and Nemanja Matic would struggle to make an appearance at any other top side and United desperately need a holding midfielder of the highest calibre if they’re to compete for the top prizes.

Sunday’s draw with Southampton was two points dropped and although it’s only early days, it has left supporters concerned that another frustrating season may lie ahead.

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