Iain Macintosh casts his eye over the best and worst of the action from opening weekend in the Premier League.
HEROES
Even though you'd imagine that at least 10 percent of Liverpool's supporters are still hiding behind the sofa, for this was not a particularly relaxing way to start to the season, what an opening day win it was to triumph 4-3 at Arsenal. There is plenty for Jurgen Klopp to work on, particularly at left-back (see below), but four goals at the Emirates Stadium indicates that, whatever the new campaign brings, it certainly won't be boring. This was also further proof that, as long as Philippe Coutinho is in the team, there's always a way out of any crisis.
Where on earth did that come from? Relegation favourites Hull City couldn't have had a worse preparation for the season had they accidentally sold half their squad on eBay. They've only got 13 fit senior players and there they were beating the champions on the first day of the season. Exceptional performances from the likes of Sam Clucas and Curtis Davies were enough to secure a genuinely astonishing 2-1 result. A few more afternoons like that and they might even survive. In fact, given that Leicester were relegation favourites at this time last year, perhaps...
Pep Guardiola praised all of his Manchester City players after their victory over Sunderland, but he kept singling out Fernandinho and it was easy to see why. The Brazilian midfielder had a duel role, working in the middle of the pitch on the odd occasion that City were out of possession, dropping back between -- and sometimes behind -- the centre-backs when possession was regained. He was calm, composed and tireless. Or in other words, exactly what his new manager required of him.
Okay, it's only Bournemouth, no-one expects much of them and they conceded a whopping 67 goals last season, but you can't turn your nose up at a thumping opening day win. It has been a good start for Jose Mourinho at Manchester United. In a short space of time, he has made the team quicker, harder and, oddly given his reputation, considerably more attractive to watch. Goals for Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Wayne Rooney and Juan Mata, secured a very encouraging result and settled a few nerves at the same time.
So much has changed over the summer and so many new faces have arrived in the Premier League. And yet some things will always remain the same: Tony Pulis continues to grind out results against the run of play. The West Bromwich Albion manager might face an uncertain future with new owners in place, but there's no-one quite like him in the country, no-one who can seemingly guarantee safety, whatever the odds. Crystal Palace dominated possession. The Baggies dominated the scoreline. Meet the new Premier League. Same as the old Premier League.