The Premier League 2020/21 season kicked off this past weekend with six games played across Saturday and Sunday.
On Saturday, Arsenal produced a dominant display as they beat a hapless Fulham side 3-0 away from home.
The defending champions-Liverpool were involved in a seven goal thriller at home to newly promoted Leeds United, one that Jurgen Klopp’s side won 4-3 in the end.
Crystal Palace took care of Southampton 1-0 while Newcastle United defeated West Ham United 2-0 at the London Stadium.
On Sunday, West Bromwich Albion were treated to a baptism of fire as Leicester City beat them 3-0 while Everton stunned Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 away from home.
Sheffield United at home to Wolves and Chelsea away to Brighton are the two fixtures lined up for Monday.
For Burnley against Man United and Man City’s away fixture at Aston Villa, were both postponed after the two Manchester sides were given a further week to rest after their involvement in the later stages of European club football competitions.
Here are the XI players who stood out according to Shaban Lubega.
GK: Jordan Pickford (Everton)
On a day that Everton sent out early warnings to the top four, Pickford impressed in goal as he kept a clean sheet despite facing five shots on target in the win at Spurs.
RB: Timothy Castagne (Leicester City)
Castagne was signed from an impressive Atalanta side that reached the quarter finals of the Champions League last season and got his Leicester City career off to a flyer, heading them in front in the 3-0 win at West Brom on Sunday.
LB: Lucas Digne (Everton)
His quality is known to everyone and it is only Digne’s consistency that raises questions. On Sunday, he was the player that attracted Barcelona a couple of years ago and his brilliant afternoon was cupped with an assist for winner against Spurs.
CB: Gabriel (Arsenal)
A dream debut for Gabriel at the center of Arsenal’s defence. The big Brazilian scored Arsenal’s second goal in the 3-0 victory away to Fulham on Saturday.
CB: Jamal Lewis (Newcastle United)
Another new signing that impressed on opening day. Signed from Norwich, Lewis was commanding in the 2-0 victory at West Ham United and barely put a foot wrong on the day.
MF: Jack Harrison (Leeds United)
What a game of football we were treated to at Anfield as Leeds United narrowly lost 3-4 against Liverpool. Harrison was a handful for Trent Alexander-Anorld and was rewarded with a goal for his day’s work.
MF: Jeff Hendrick (Newcastle United)
Newcastle had a near to perfect day away to West Ham United and one of their new signings in Hendrick was at the center of all good as he assisted the opener and scored the second in the 2-0 victory.
MF: Willian (Arsenal)
Willian receieved mixed reactions from Arsenal fans when he signed for them last month. However, all that was forgotten on Saturday as the Brazilian assisted two of their three goals and it was his close range effort that was parried into the path of Alexandre Lacazatte for the opener.
FW: James Rodriguez (Everton)
After a frustrating time at Real Madrid, Rodriguez looks to have been given a new lease of life at Everton and he was a handful for Spurs on Sunday as his side scrapped to a 1-0 victory in the end.
FW: Muhammad Salah (Liverpool)
Continued his run of scoring on the opening day as he netted a hat trick in Liverpool’s thrilling victory at home to Leeds United.
FW: Jamie Vardy (Leicester City)
Scored twice-both from the spot as Leicester City took care of West Bromwich on Sunday.
