Premier League: Weekend round-up & Monday prediction - Gameweek 2
By Max Cooper
There's nothing quite like Premier League football, eh?
We're not even two weeks into the season yet and we've seen Arsenal crumble under the lights against newly-promoted Brentford, as well as watching Manchester City slip up at the first sign of trouble.
Gameweek two is, and was, an opportunity for some sides to prove their opening defeats were nothing but blips, and that's something City were keen to prove as they comfortably dispatched of Norwich at the Etihad.
There were three other winners in Saturday's five other games, while there was an early contender for goal of the month at Villa Park.
But the fun isn't over yet and there's still plenty of 90min predictions to play out before the weekend is over...
Saturday
Liverpool vs Burnley
The opening game of the weekend saw Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool exact revenge over Burnley with a 2-0 win at Anfield.
The Clarets were one of six teams to visit Merseyside last season and emerge victorious, but there was to be no repeat on this occasion. Liverpool started the game brightly and were rewarded with the game's opening goal within 20 minutes; Diogo Jota escaping his marker to glance home Konstantinos Tsimikas' superb cross
Mohamed Salah had a goal ruled out for offside towards the end of the half, but Liverpool were never really threatened by Burnley and sealed the points through Sadio Mane's goal 20 minutes from time - laid on by a tidy assist from Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Liverpool player ratings
90min prediction: Liverpool 3-0 Burnley
Final score: Liverpool 2-0 Burnley
Aston Villa vs Newcastle
Aston Villa responded to an opening weekend defeat to earn their first points of the new Premier League season with a 2-0 victory at home to Newcastle United on Saturday.
A boisterous start to the match from those in the crowd and on the pitch soon descended into an infuriatingly staccato first half that was heavy with rain but light on quality.
That is until Danny Ings produced an early contender for goal of the season with a blistering overhead kick, before the game was settled by an Anwar El Ghazi penalty in the second half.
Aston Villa vs Newcastle player ratings
90min prediction: Aston Villa 2-1 Newcastle United
Final score: Aston Villa 2-0 Newcastle United
Crystal Palace vs Brentford
Patrick Vieira's wait for a first win as Crystal Palace boss goes on after his side were held to a 0-0 draw by Brentford at Selhurst Park.
Chelsea loanee Conor Gallagher rattled the frame of the Brentford goal before Ivan Toney struck a drilled effort just wide soon after. There wasn't much to write home about in truth, but the Bees' unbeaten start to the season continues - while Palace are now without a goal in two.
Crystal Palace vs Brentford player ratings
90min prediction: Crystal Palace 2-2 Brentford
Final score: Crystal Palace 0-0 Brentford
Leeds vs Everton
Leeds United and Everton played out an entertaining 2-2 draw on Saturday afternoon, as the two sides put on a show for the returning Elland Road crowd.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin stepped up to give the visitors the lead from the penalty spot, before Leeds hit back through Mateusz Klich after some great work from Raphinha and Patrick Bamford. Demarai Gray restored Everton's lead after half-time, but the hosts clawed their way back into the game through a fine Raphinha finish with just under 20 minutes remaining.
Leeds vs Everton player ratings
90min prediction: Leeds 1-1 Everton
Final score: Leeds 2-2 Everton
Manchester City vs Norwich
Manchester City put consecutive defeats behind them to claim a comfortable first win of the season, thumping Norwich 5-0 at the Etihad Stadium.
An own goal from Tim Krul and a first for the club for £100m record-signing Jack Grealish got City off to the perfect start, and it was a routine afternoon thereafter for Pep Guardiola's side.
Gabriel Jesus was in top form all afternoon, but it was left to Aymeric Laporte, Raheem Sterling and Riyad Mahrez to round off the scoring in a routine victory.
Manchester City vs Norwich player ratings
90min prediction: Manchester City 4-0 Norwich City
Final score: Manchester City 5-0 Norwich City
Brighton vs Watford
Brighton made it two wins out of two as they comfortably dispatched Premier League's new boys, Watford, 2-0 at the Amex Stadium.
Forgotten man Shane Duffy opened the scoring for the Seagulls with a powerful header from a corner, before the impressive Yves Bissouma seized upon a mistake in the Hornets defence to set Neal Maupay free on goal.
He finished with aplomb, wrapping up all three points for a Brighton side who look more comfortable playing the brand of football Graham Potter wants to see.
Brighton vs Watford player ratings
90min prediction: Brighton 0-0 Watford
Final score: Brighton 2-0 Watford
Sunday
Southampton vs Manchester United
Manchester United equalled Arsenal's top-flight record of 27 away games without defeat, but they required a second-half strike from Mason Greenwood to earn them a 1-1 draw with Southampton.
Saints took the lead against the run of play when Che Adams' deflected effort flew past David de Gea on the half-hour mark.
After the break, Greenwood levelled up the scores with a scuffed effort that Alex McCarthy perhaps should have kept out. Both sides had chances to win it as the clock ticked down but it ended all square to ensure Saints picked up their first point of the new season.
Southampton vs Manchester United player ratings
90min prediction: Southampton 1-3 Manchester United
Final score: Southampton 1-1 Manchester United
Wolves vs Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham made it two wins from two to start the Premier League season, narrowly securing a 1-0 win over Wolves.
The game saw Nuno Espirito Santo return to his former club and his side got off to a perfect start when Dele Alli was brought down in the box by Jose Sa. The midfielder converted the resulting penalty to give his side an early lead.
Wolves rallied after the break with Adama Traore spearheading their attacks, but Spurs managed to hold on to maintain their 100% winning start. The hosts, meanwhile, slipped to a second successive 1-0 defeat.
Wolves vs Tottenham Hotspur player ratings
90min prediction: Wolves 0-0 Tottenham Hotspur
Final score: Wolves 0-1 Tottenham Hotspur
Arsenal vs Chelsea
A debut goal from the imperious Romelu Lukaku helped Chelsea stroll to a 2-0 win over Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.
It only took Lukaku 15 minutes to reopen his Blues scoring account with the Belgian tapping home Reece James' fine cross. James then doubled the Blues' advantage before the break, finishing emphatically at the back post.
Arsenal had a good shout for a penalty turned down on the stroke of half time but in truth, they never looked like scoring. The victory maintained the Blues' 100% winning record while Arsenal are still waiting for their first points of the new campaign.
Arsenal vs Chelsea player ratings
90min Prediction: Arsenal 0-2 Chelsea
Final score: Arsenal 0-2 Chelsea
Monday
West Ham vs Leicester City
What time is kick off? 20:00 (BST)
Where is it being played? London stadium
TV channel? Sky Sports Main Event (UK), fuboTV (US)
Finally, we've got the Monday night kickoff, where two Gameweek 1 winners go head to head in East London. West Ham and Leicester put in impressive displays against Newcastle and Wolves, and neither will want to fall off the winning trail.
David Moyes' men showed plenty of spirit and character to come from behind twice to beat the Magpies, but the Foxes are a much sterner opposition. Both proved they know where the goal is, and we expect them to strike gold on Monday.
But Leicester are the stronger of the two clubs, and they should have just enough to return home with all three points.
Prediction: West Ham 1-2 Leicester City