Premier League Talking Points: Emery, Pogba and Fulham’s return
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A round-up of the best top-flight moments
The return of the Premier League produced its fair share of talking points across the weekend.
The Coral News Team have picked out five of the best in their Monday morning round-up.
Emery off to a slow start
Opening up against the champions was never going to be an easy task for new Arsenal boss Unai Emery. So yesterday’s 2-0 defeat at the hands of Manchester City wouldn’t have come as too much of a surprise.
There were some positive signs for the new man in the dugout, though. Matteo Guendouzi showed plenty of promise for a 19-year-old making his Premier League debut, as did Alexandre Lacazette after coming off the bench.
No-one is under any illusions that it’s a work in progress at the Emirates this season as Emery attempts to undo several years of stagnation from the Arsene Wenger era. It’ll take time. But this was a positive start, in spite of the result. The Gunners are now 28/1 to build on this result and win the Premier League.
Kane’s August curse continues
Tottenham Hotspur got up and running with a hard-fought win away at Newcastle United in Saturday’s early kick-off. Jan Vertonghen and Dele Alli scored the goals for the visitors. But there was no joy for 3/1 Golden Boot favourite Harry Kane.
The Spurs striker is still without a top-flight goal in the month of August and never looked like finding the net in this one, putting in a quiet and sluggish performance at St James’ Park. Could Mauricio Pochettino have rushed his prize asset back too soon?
Money hasn’t bought Fulham points…yet
They may have spent upwards of £100m in the transfer window, but things didn’t go to plan for Fulham on their return to the Premier League. The Cottagers went down 2-0 to Crystal Palace thanks to goals from Jeffrey Schlupp and Wilfried Zaha.
It wasn’t all doom and gloom for home fans, though. In fact there were plenty of positives to be had. Slavisa Jokanovic’s men enjoyed 66% possession and zipped the ball around well. But for a lack of clinical finishing they may have taken a point. They’re 10/1 to make amends against Spurs at Wembley next time out.
Liverpool pick up where they left
It was business as usual at Anfield as Liverpool strolled to a convincing 4-0 success over West Ham United. The Reds laid down a solid marker as the nearest challengers to Man City, forcing the Coral traders to cut their odds of a title victory to just 7/2.
They’ll face tougher tests than a new-look Hammers side still finding their feet under new boss Manuel Pellegrini. But as opening games go, this was as convincing as they come from Mohamed Salah and co.
Cryptic Pogba overshadows United win
“If you’re not happy, you cannot give your best. There are things I cannot say otherwise I will get fined.” Those are not the mutterings of a contented player. Yet those were the words of Paul Pogba on Friday night when speaking to the BBC after Manchester United’s 2-0 victory over Leicester City.
The Frenchman scored the contest’s opening goal but seemingly remains far from satisfied at Old Trafford. Rumours of a transfer to Barcelona continue to abound. Will the Catalan club lodge a bid before the end of the month?
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