Twitter reacts to Premier League shocks in second matchweek
Holly Thackeray | August 21, 2016
Twitter reacts to Premier League shocks in second matchweek
It’s like it has never been away! Matchweek two of the 2016/17 Premier League season has certainly delivered with goals, drama and shocks galore.
Coral sum the spectacle up for punters by the magic of social media, compiling the best comments, jokes and insights from Twitter, as users across the globe add their two pennies’ worth on the action from the English top-flight.
So, enjoy our stupendous selections below, and who knows – perhaps next week your Tweet could be featured!
Man Utd 2-0 Southampton
As Zlatan Ibrahimovic made his mark with a brilliant brace to give Jose Mourinho his first home victory at Old Trafford, Bleacher Report found an Olympics-themed way to honour the Super Swede’s striking exploits, as well as have a dig at those who thought he might be getting too old. Here’s looking at you Arsene Wenger.
Getting too old, they say. pic.twitter.com/Ax83Pckice
— Bleacher Report UK (@br_uk) August 19, 2016
Ibrahimovic wasn’t going to get away from the godly comparisons anytime soon either…
Four goals in three competitive #MUFC games.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s off to a divine start. pic.twitter.com/q95O6cwpUo
— Bleacher Report UK (@br_uk) August 19, 2016
While, others picked up on second-time debutant Paul Pogba’s secret code handshake with Eric Bailly. Any guesses?
Hey Man! #Pogba #Pogback pic.twitter.com/55nluoe9fl
— PremierHaber (@Premierhabercom) August 21, 2016
But there was also a touch of class from the former Juventus man, as Pogba picked a fan of his old club to be his Man Utd mascot.
CLASS: Paul Pogba flies over a young Juventus fan to be his Manchester United mascot on his return debut. Respect. pic.twitter.com/0rYvNYwNaq
— BBC Sporf (@BBCSporf) August 20, 2016
Not to be outdone on his Old Trafford bow, however, Mourinho showcased a first touch Wayne Rooney would be envious of…
Jose Mourinho skill pic.twitter.com/8A3o15Ge5I
— United Digest (@UTDdigest) August 19, 2016
To be fair, Pogba’s opening touch against Southampton didn’t flatter him either.
Jose Mourinho has a better touch than Pogba
— Drew (@FirminoSkill) August 19, 2016
Stoke City 1-4 Manchester City
While, as for the Sky Blue half of Manchester, a Saturday lunchtime trip to wet and windy Stoke ended in a rout for the Citizens, as Pep Guardiola’s guys continue to go from strength to strength.
The Catalan coach’s new Spanish signing Nolito certainly made an impact.
Nolito’s game by numbers vs. Stoke City:
21 minutes played
2 shots
2 goalsImpact sub. pic.twitter.com/ypX401ETTj
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) August 20, 2016
And the forward’s stats did compatriot Jesus Navas no favours…
Nolito: Has managed as many goals in the PL in 21 mins vs Stoke than Navas has in his last 5648 mins of PL action combined (2) #STKMCI
— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) August 20, 2016
Sergio Aguero also continued his cracking form with a deadly double himself. Hands up if you had him in your fantasy team?
Everyone who’s got Zlatan and Aguero in their Fantasy team: pic.twitter.com/1b7j3x0faC
— Coral (@Coral) August 20, 2016
If you have Sergio Aguero as your FPL captain, like me, well done.
— Chelsea HQ (@Chelsea_HQ) August 20, 2016
The Argentine will certainly be pleased with himself after going level on Premier League goals with Chelsea legend Didier Drogba.
Sergio Aguero has now scored the same amount of premier league goals as Didier Drogba playing 102 less games. #MCFC pic.twitter.com/olITM3vjSf
— Transfer Swoop (@SwoopTransfer) August 21, 2016
But not everyone agreed with the comparison…
Finals Aguero has scored in : 2
Finals Drogba has scored in : 11#BigGamePlayer pic.twitter.com/z5Ad5sVNDh
— BlueTweetsFC™ (@BlueTweetsFC) August 20, 2016
Burnley 2-0 Liverpool
Many a Liverpool fan will have been glad this match was not televised, as Premier League new boys Burnley stunned the Reds with two goals at Turf Moor, less than a week after the Merseysiders thumped Arsenal 4-3.
It was a peculiar performance from Liverpool, and coach Jurgen Klopp’s facial expressions, soaked raincoat and all, seemed to sum up his team’s afternoon.
Current mood at Turf Moor. pic.twitter.com/jnr1kdrktb
— Bleacher Report UK (@br_uk) August 20, 2016
Goals from Clarets forwards Sam Vokes and Andre Gray did the damage, though the Reds rearguard helped make the pair look potent. Giving some cause to bring out comparisons to a certain Coral ambassador.
Liverpool defense making Andre Gray look like peak Alan Shearer…
— Rafael Hernández (@RafaelH117) August 20, 2016
Klopp will certainly want to contemplate his back four after the trip to Turf Moor.
Liverpool’s back four of Clyne, Klavan, Lovren & Milner won just ONE tackle in the first half.
Gegendepressing. pic.twitter.com/ORezuFU31L
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) August 20, 2016
Burnley’s giant killing was proof again that possession doesn’t always win you games. Ouch at those stats.
Great result for the clarets yesterday…Liverpool had 81% possession, Burnley had 100% of the goals #stats
— Chris Casper (@ChrisCasper1) August 21, 2016
While Liverpool’s bad day out was compounded as even Lord Sugar decided to have his say…
Can’t believe Liverpool down 2
— Lord Sugar (@Lord_Sugar) August 20, 2016
Watford 2-1 Chelsea
Further south, Watford looked as though they would spring a surprise of their own after taking an early lead at Vicarage Road against Chelsea, but the Blues fought back to steal three points at the death.
Cesc Fabregas was the hero of the hour, as he set up Diego Costa’s winner after coming off the bench to deliver an inch-perfect assist. Although, we’re not sure he could pull off the impossible as the Tweet below suggests…
Cesc Fabregas could find Guardiola’s hair with a pass.
— Dami (@TheChelseaWay) August 20, 2016
Having been out of favour, the ex-Arsenal schemer now has fans clamoring for his inclusion in Antonio Conte’s XI.
Man of the match? He only came on with 11mins to go, but for pure impact, it has to be Cesc Fabregas.
— Dan Levene (@danlevene) August 20, 2016
Good players adapt to systems that maybe don’t suit them. Fabregas is a very good player and he did just that. #Magic
— Chelsea HQ (@Chelsea_HQ) August 20, 2016
Fabregas has to start next game.
— ️ (@CescMagician) August 20, 2016
Here is Fabregas’ awesome assist if you missed it:
Oh, Fabregas is magic, he wears a magic hat…. pic.twitter.com/upYROTfkhR
— CHELSEA SAUDI FANS™ (@CFCSAUDIFANS) August 20, 2016
Swansea City 0-2 Hull City
It’s only early days, but many pundits expected promoted, depleted and rudderless Hull to be rock bottom of the league by now. Instead they made it two wins from two by sinking Swansea at the Liberty Stadium. Spirit.
Some Twitter comments even suggested the Tigers, led by caretaker coach Mike Phelan, had a little something of Leicester City about them.
Off to check Hull’s title odds.
— Jacob Steinberg (@JacobSteinberg) August 20, 2016
And, Coral were happy to oblige with the odds…
Hull City now into 500/1 (started season at 1000/1!) for the Premier League!https://t.co/KjgFrRZMqY pic.twitter.com/pF0c5ZN4Eg
— Coral (@Coral) August 21, 2016
Leicester City 0-0 Arsenal
This encounter between last season’s Premier League top two was expected to be a scorcher. But, although there was plenty of controversy as Leicester saw two penalty appeals dismissed, the match was disappointingly light on goals…
Leicester v Arsenal up next on Goals on Sunday.
— Aido (@LeWookieGooner) August 21, 2016
So much so that BT Sport host Jake Humphrey’s post match Tweets were centered around Leicester’s culinary delights.
Homeward bound, and according to these lads I’ve found the best chippy in #Leicester… pic.twitter.com/7r7mP4umgj
— Jake Humphrey (@mrjakehumphrey) August 20, 2016
Others, were far from complimentary about the bore draw.
Final Score: Leicester Arsenal
— Men in Blazers (@MenInBlazers) August 20, 2016
Sunderland 1-2 Middlesbrough
All eyes were also on Sunday’s first Northeast derby between Middlesbrough and Sunderland, but it was Boro that bagged the points with a 2-1 win at the Stadium of Light.
It was applause all round as Cristhian Stuani opened scoring in spectacular style.
Stuani with a great strike! Belter.
Negredo assist #FantasyPoints pic.twitter.com/DgEhllBqoL
— Coral (@Coral) August 21, 2016
Stuani’s goal was absolute liquid football pic.twitter.com/Ph2V5A8dpt
— Michael Lennon (@mjl_1307) August 21, 2016
Guzan is well capable, I’m little concerned over rhodes & stuani on the right doesn’t work for me. He’ll probably get a hat-trick now
— Hutchy 72 (@brucierioch) August 21, 2016
As his first Premier League goal it was a great milestone for the Uruguayan but not for Sunderland stopper Vito Mannone.
Cristhian Stuani has just scored the best goal of the week! It’s his 1st ever PL goal as Mannone concedes his 100th PL goal. #SUNMID #Boro
— Sportdec (@SportdecNews) August 21, 2016
While Alvaro Negredo also deserved a shout out for assisting Stuani’s first strike and, unselfishly, also the second.
2 – Both of Middlesbrough’s goals in this match have been scored by Cristhian Stuani & assisted by Álvaro Negredo. Partnership.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) August 21, 2016
Finally, the Black cats found a leveller through Patrick van Aanholt, who isn’t the best at the back but, as per this stat, is the highest scoring Premier League defender in 2016.
Patrick van Aanholt is the highest scoring Premier League defender of 2016 with 4 goals.
Game on! pic.twitter.com/hX8nRKmJR2
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) August 21, 2016
That wasn’t much consolation to Mackems fans though.
Can we not just have one season of mid table mediocrity?
Just one?!
Is that too much to ask?
— Sunderland Stats (@SunderlandStats) August 21, 2016
Don’t worry Sunderland fans, we all know you’ll come good towards the end of the season and escape relegation. Best yet to come.
— TheSPORTbible (@TSBible) August 21, 2016