That’s it for today’s blog. A reminder that you can follow Norwich v Liverpool, which kicks off any minute now, with Barry Glendenning. Thanks for your company and emails - bye!
Everton 3-1 Southampton Andy Hunter was at Goodison Park to watch Rafa Benitez get off to a winning start.
Ahd here’s Jacob Steinberg on an impressive statement of intent from Chelsea
Here’s Paul Doyle’s report from the King Power Stadium, where Jamie Vardy charged around like a 24-year-old and scored a fine winning goal.
Someone has been digging up Trevor Chalobah’s historical tweets, and I’m glad to report they found this rather touching avowal. Chalobah’s mum died five years ago, when he was 16 years old.
I will make it for you mum...I promise😇
— Trevoh Chalobah (@TrevohChalobah) November 27, 2016
The final scores
- Burnley 1-2 Brighton
- Chelsea 3-0 Crystal Palace
- Everton 3-1 Southampton
- Leicester 1-0 Wolves
- Manchester United 5-1 Leeds United
- Watford 3-1 Aston Villa
Full time: Watford 3-2 Aston Villa
Watford return to the Premier League with a rousing victory. The scoreline doesn’t tell the full story - Watford were terrific for the most part and led 3-0 at one stage.
GOAL! Watford 3-2 Aston Villa (Ings 90+7 pen)
Danny Ings scores a penalty on his Villa debut, but there shouldn’t be any time for Aston Villa to equalise.
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Full time: Leicester 1-0 Wolves
Jamie Vardy’s classy goal is enough for injury-hit Leicester to get off to a winning start.
Full time: Burnley 1-2 Brighton
A smash-and-grab victory for Brighton, who took a bit of a battering for the first 70 minutes before stunning Burnley with two quick goals.
Full time: Everton 3-1 Southampton
And a solid start for Rafa Benitez’s Everton, who came from 1-0 down at half-time to win comfortably against Southampton.
Full time: Chelsea 3-0 Crystal Palace
A very comfortable afternoon for Chelsea, with Trevoh Chalobah’s cracking debut goal the highlight.
Leicester 1-0 Wolves Conor Coady has had a goal disallowed for offside at the King Power Stadium. It was the right decision, albeit it fairly tight.
Ayr 1-1 Dundee United “That last email did the trick, Rob,” says Simon McMahon. “United have equalised via the penalty spot, and Ayr are down to 10. Just gotta ride it.”
GOAL! Everton 3-1 Southampton (Calvert-Lewin 81)
That should be enough for Everton. Dominic Calvert-Lewin has put them 3-1 up with - Houchen alert - a diving header from Richarlison’s cross.
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GOAL! Burnley 1-2 Brighton (Mac Allister 79)
Blimey, what a turnaround at Turf Moor. The substitute Alexis Mac Allister, just on as substitute, finishes smartly from Pascal Gross’s cross. Burnley had plenty of chances to put the game to bed; now, all of a sudden, they are 2-1 down.
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The latest scores
- Burnley 1-1 Brighton
- Chelsea 3-0 Crystal Palace
- Everton 2-1 Southampton
- Leicester 1-0 Wolves
- Watford 3-1 Aston Villa
GOAL! Everton 2-1 Southampton (Doucoure 76)
Abdoulaye Doucoure has put Everton in front, and Goodison is going mad. It’s turning into a pretty good day for Rafa Benitez.
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GOAL! Burnley 1-1 Brighton (Maupay 73)
Neal Maupay, who was run over for James Tarkowski’s opening goal, has equalised for Brighton. Meanwhile, at Goodison...
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“Dundee United, a week after inflicting a first league defeat on Rangers since Covid became a thing, are today being made to look like a Sunday pub team by Ayr United of the Scottish Championship, who they currently trail 1-0,” weeps Simon McMahon. “Ronan Keating was right, life is a rollercoaster.”
Norwich City v Liverpool The team news is in from Carrow Road. You can read all about it with Barry Glendenning.
GOAL! Watford 3-1 Aston Villa (McGinn 70)
A brilliant goal from John McGinn gives Villa a soupcon of hope at Vicarage Road.
GOAL! Watford 3-0 Aston Villa (Hernandez 66)
What a day for Watford! Cucho Hernandez, who has only just come on as sub, crashes the ball in off the post to make it 3-0!
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Watford 2-0 Villa “Villa look like a side with a purpose in this second half and are in the ascendency,” says Neill Brown. “However, there’s been a few niggly challenges that have resulted in bookings for players of both teams, so I’d be surprised if this finishes XI v XI. Good, lively game though.”
I could get used to this working arrangement, where the readers do all the work and I smile and say thanks.
Burnley 1-0 Brighton “How was that Burnley goal allowed to stand?” says Espen Bommen. “I mean, I hate VAR and would love to see it binned, but it’s here, isn’t it? After watching that I’m not sure because that is absurd. I know they wanted to use it more sparingly and let things go, but come on! They also said it would be harder to get penalties, and if this sets the standard for what you are allowed to do as a defender, things will be interesting.”
That’s one word for it. I’m sure it’ll settle down after a few games, but for now it looks like the referees are overcompensating.
GOAL! Chelsea 3-0 Crystal Palace (Chalobah 58)
A charming moment at Stamford Bridge: Trevoh Chalobah, 22, has scored on his Premier League debut for Chelsea. It was a cracking goal, too, rifled into the bottom corner from 25 yards. Chelsea may have found a player.
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Everton 1-1 Southampton “In addition to the goal, Richarlison deserves praise for playing in the opening match after being in action all summer for Brazil,” says Mary Waltz. “The man has basically played without a break since the end of last year’s Premier League schedule.”
The latest scores
- Burnley 1-0 Brighton
- Chelsea 2-0 Crystal Palace
- Everton 1-1 Southampton
- Leicester 1-0 Wolves
- Watford 2-0 Aston Villa
Leicester 1-0 Wolves I’ve just noticed that Conor Coady is trending. I’m sorry, I can’t go there, I’d rather not know.
Everton 1-1 Southampton “That Richarlison goal is precisely why Rafa signed Townsend,” says Brad Wilson. “For that exact play. More please!”
I’ll pass it on.
Watford 2-0 Aston Villa The Villa left-back Matt Targett, who was given a first-half chasing by Ismaila Sarr, has been taken off at the break. Jacob Ramsey replaces him.
GOAL! Everton 1-1 Southampton (Richarlison 47)
Everton are level right at the start of the second half. It was a good finish from Richarlison, who steered Andros Townsend’s cross past Alex McCarthy, it says here.
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Peep peep! It’s half-time in the Premier League games, and these are the latest scores:
- Manchester United 5-1 Leeds United (FT)
- Burnley 1-0 Brighton
- Chelsea 2-0 Crystal Palace
- Everton 0-1 Southampton
- Leicester 1-0 Wolves
- Watford 2-0 Aston Villa
Leicester 1-0 Wolves “Lovely finish by Vardy but Ricardo made it with a fantastic run and cross,” says Graham Randall. “Vardy - what a joy. Best player we have ever had.”
I love how much he has improved since turning 30; very rare that happens.
“Re: Ings and Armstrong,” begins Hugh Molloy. “There’s something hugely satisfying about a team selling their top scorer for big money and successfully replacing him with a younger and cheaper option from the league below. As the Lion King would have it, it’s the circle of life.”
Yep. It might be an illusion but it feels like Premier League clubs are shopping in the lower leagues a lot more these days.
Leicester 1-0 Wolves Jamie Vardy’s goal was apparently a beauty, flicked cleverly past Jose Sa from Ricardo Pereira’s cross.
GOAL! Watford 2-0 Aston Villa (Sarr 42)
This is turning into quite a day for Watford. Emmanuel Dennis plays in Ismaila Sarr, whose shot takes a deflection and loops over Emi Martinez.
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GOAL! Leicester 1-0 Wolves (Vardy 41)
The old man is off the mark!
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GOAL! Chelsea 2-0 Crystal Palace (Pulisic 40)
On Sky Sports, Paul Merson is purring about how well Chelsea have played in the first half. Christian Pulisic has doubled their lead, clipping home a loose ball after Mason Mount’s cross was pushed away by Vicente Guaita.
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Everton 0-1 Southampton “Since you are writing blind so to speak,” begins Mary Waltz, “I will give you a brief description from my legal NBC feed. Everton had a few nice choices but Keane decided to dawdle on an attempted clearance, Armstrong picked his pocket and had a 1v1 on Pickford and neatly tucked into the Everton goal. Sigh.”
I might put that on my CV. ‘Rob Smyth, blind freelance writer. I just want to work.’
Leicester 0-0 Wolves And although Leicester have been on top at the King Power, Adama Traore has just missed a great chance after destroying the Leicester defence.
Burnley 1-0 Brighton Burnley have been much the better team, giving Brighton all sorts of problems from set pieces in particular.
“I’m legally watching Watford v Villa all the way from locked-down Melbourne,” says Neill Brown. “First thing to note is it is Graham Taylor day at Vicarage Road. Second thing is that Watford have started really well and Sarr has been a constant threat, creating openings almost every time he has the ball. Villa have come back into it in the last five or ten minutes but Watford are well worth their 1-0 lead.”
Sarr is such a fine player, and so much fun to watch. Nice to hear it’s Graham Taylor day, and worth reminding everyone that he managed both Watford and Villa to second-place finishes in the top flight. It’s a bonkers achievement, that.
Everton 0-1 Southampton Richarlison has been booked for diving in the Southampton penalty area. The Everton regulars on the liveblog are worryingly quiet. It’s 3.31pm on the first day of the season!
45 - Since the start of 2019-20, only Ivan Toney (55) has scored more goals in the top four tiers of English football than Adam Armstrong (45). Prolific. #EVESOU
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) August 14, 2021
GOAL! Chelsea 1-0 Crystal Palace (Alonso 27)
It was a matter of time before Chelsea scored, and Marcos Alonso has done so with a delicious free-kick. He has his flaws, but by flip his left foot has an almighty sweet spot.
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Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace Still no goals at Stamford Bridge, though Chelsea have had approximately 110 per cent of the posses- hang on, scratch that.
Here’s more on the continuing woes of Wayne Rooney’s Derby County™
“I fear for the sanity of whoever designed those Everton and Southampton training tops,” says Matt Dony. “Was the inspiration taken from an old tv, half tuned in? A shocking piece of cloth. I’m happy to see Benitez back in the league, and I’m looking forward to seeing what he does with this squad. They played some excellent football last season, obviously not in a Rafa-stylee, but there’s clearly a decent amount of ability for him to play with.”
Those tops were specially designed, Matt, to show support for the LGBTQ+ community and help to fight discrimination in football. Discrimination, Matt. You see, hummel launched the collaboration with Saints, alongside Everton and Danish side Brøndby IF, to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community as part of Copenhagen 2021 World Pride and the EuroGames taking place in the company’s home country of Denmark. More than one in five LGBTQ+ people have experienced homophobia or transphobia, while a report from Kick It Out has revealed that reports of abuse based on sexual orientation in professional football have increased by 95% in the past year.
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GOAL! Everton 0-1 Southampton (A Armstrong 22)
Adam Armstrong, who has the unenviable task of replacing Danny Ings, has made a fine start with an accomplished finish at Goodison Park. It stemmed from a mistake by Michael Keane, who faffed and was robbed by Che Adams. The ball ran through to Armstrong, who did the necessary with aplomb.
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The latest Premier League scores
- Manchester United 5-1 Leeds United (FT)
- Burnley 1-0 Brighton
- Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace
- Everton 0-0 Southampton
- Leicester 0-0 Wolves
- Watford 1-0 Aston Villa
Burnley 1-0 Brighton It sounds like James Tarkowski is doing his rounds at Turf Moor. Having mauled Maupay for the goal, he has since flattened Bissouma and been booked for elbowing Maupay.
Leicester 0-0 Wolves Jamie Vardy has had a goal disallowed for offside. Wolves are playing a high line, so Vardy is making plenty of runs in behind. Even at 34, he’s one of the fastest forwards in the league.
Huddersfield 0-1 Fulham Aleksandra Mitrovic has scored one of the most farcical goals in football history, according to Alan McInally on Sky Sports. You might want to keep an eye out for that on Twitter, when it appears legally of course.
Goal 9' #htafc 0-1 #FFC
— Huddersfield Town (@htafc) August 14, 2021
A really poor moment leads to the first for Fulham.
Sorba Thomas overhits a back-pass and, in an attempt to keep it in, Ryan Schofield's clearance hits the sliding Mitrovic and goes in.
Big question mark on whether the ball went out of play.
GOAL! Watford 1-0 Aston Villa (Dennis 10)
An early goal for promoted Watford at Vicarage Road! Their new striker Emmanuel Dennis got it, scoring at the second attempt after good play from Ismaila Sarr. At least I think that’s what happened. We’re not actually allowed to watch the 3pm games, because Guardianistas are law-abiding, morally superior folk, so I’m doing my best to paraphrase the words of people who are - legally or otherwise - watching the match.
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“Hi Rob,” says Simon McMahon. “League Cup action in Scotland today and tie of the round is at Somerset Park in Ayr where Dundee United, effectively Scottish league champions after last week’s surprise, though thoroughly deserved, win over previously invincible Rangers, are the visitors. The other ties are Livingston v St. Mirren and struggling Dundee v Motherwell.”
How on earth has that Tarkowski goal not been ruled out by VAR? Two hands on Maupay shoving him to the floor, a clear and obvious foul. Ridiculous decision. #BHAFC #BURBHA
— Charlie Haffenden (@JournoHaff) August 14, 2021
I’m sensing rancour.
GOAL GIVEN! Burnley 1-0 Brighton (Tarkowski 2)
James Tarkowski heads Burnley ahead from Ashley Westwood’s corner, though by most accounts he should have been penalised for running over Neal Maupay. You’ve missed VAR, haven’t you.
Updated
GOAL? Burnley 1-0 Brighton (Tarkowski 2)
There’s a VAR check going on. It’s back!
Peeeeeeeeeeep peeeeeeeeeeeeeep! The 3pm games are under way.
“Any news about why Kante isn’t in the Chelsea squad?” asks Julian Menz.
It’s a precaution, apparently - he probably would have played if it was, say, a Champions League final.
Ten minutes to kick off, so time for me to grab some coffee. See you back here, 3pm sharp.
“I know as an Evertonian I am supposed to be congenitally gloomy, but...” says Brad Wilson. “That starting lineup looks decent especially in the midfield, where I think Townsend and Gray are solid bargain pickups. Might have more pace than last year’s unit. Especially if Doucoure can get forward. Ok, there is very limited depth and who knows how tired Olympic hero Richarlison is, but, for now, optimism! COYB!”
His name is Robert Paulson Bruno Lage
His first @premierleague game as our head coach! pic.twitter.com/DvOGzxjQi2
— Wolves (@Wolves) August 14, 2021
Championship It’s been another miserable day for the team we are contractually obliged to refer to as ‘Wayne Rooney’s Derby County’. They were 1-0 up at Peterborough going into injury-time, and they still lost.
“What do we think of Everton’s starting eleven, you didn’t ask?” says Matt Burtz. “It’s about as strong as it could be considering who’s available. Does this mean that I have confidence in Rafa Benitez? Absolutely not. We all know how hostile Goodison can potentially be towards either team, and only a solid performance today from the home side will keep the ire directed at Southampton. I could see this game going either way, really.”
I fear a little for the sanity of Everton fans this season. I don’t think they’ll struggle - Benitez is far too good a coach for that - but I’m not sure how soul-stirring the experience will be.
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Manchester United 5-1 Leeds United was the final score in the opening game of the day, with Bruno Fernandes welting a hat-trick and Paul Pogba creating four goals.
Watford v Aston Villa team news
The summer signings Emmanuel Dennis, Peter Etebo and Juraj Kucka all start for Watford. Villa’s XI also includes three new boys: Emi Buendia, Ashley Young and Danny Ings.
Watford (4-3-3) Bachmann; Cathcart, Kabasele, Ekong, Masina; Cleverley, Etebo, Kucka; Sarr, Dennis, Sema.
Substitutes: Foster, Ngakia, Rose, Sierralta, Louza, Gosling, Deeney, Fletcher, Hernandez.
Aston Villa (4-2-3-1) Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Mings, Targett; McGinn, Nakamba; El Ghazi, Buendia, Young; Ings.
Substitutes: Steer, Tuanzebe, Hause, Ramsey, Philogene-Bidace, Chukwuemeka, Bailey, Wesley, Traore.
Referee Mike Dean.
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Leicester v Wolves team news
Nine months after suffering that horrific head injury at the Emirates, Raul Jimenez is back in the Wolves starting line-up. Leicester make one change from the Community Shield win over Manchester City, with Luke Thomas in for Ryan Bertrand at left-back. Wolves’ new goalkeeper Jose Sa starts, as does Francisco Trincao, who is on loan from Barcelona.
Leicester (4-2-3-1) Schmeichel; Ricardo, Amartey, Soyuncu, Thomas; Tielemans, Ndidi; Perez, Maddison, Barnes; Vardy.
Substitutes: Ward, Vestergaard, Albrighton, Choudhury, Praet, Dewsbury-Hall, Soumare, Iheanacho, Daka.
Wolves (3-4-2-1) Sa; Kilman, Coady, Saiss; Hoever, Neves, Moutinho, Marcal; Traore, Trincao; Jimenez.
Substitutes: Ruddy, Ait-Nouri, Semedo, Marques, Gibbs-White, Dendoncker, Cundle, Fabio Silva, Campbell.
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Everton v Southampton team news
Rafa Benitez’s two main summer signings, Demarai Gray and Andros Townsend, are in the starting line-up. Southampton can see Everton’s two debutants and raise them - Romain Perraud, Tino Livramento and Adam Armstrong all start.
Everton (4-4-2) Pickford; Coleman, Holgate, Keane, Digne; Gray, Allan, Doucoure, Townsend; Calvert-Lewin, Richarlison.
Substitutes: Begovic, Mina, Kenny, Branthwaite, Delph, Davies, Iwobi, Gordon, Broadhead.
Southampton (4-4-2) McCarthy; Livramento, Stephens, Salisu, Perraud; Walcott, Ward-Prowse, Romeo, Djenepo; Adams, A Armstrong.
Substitutes: Forster, Walker-Peters, Valery, Bednarek, Redmond, Elyounoussi, S Armstrong, Tella, Diallo.
Referee Andy Madley.
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Burnley v Brighton team news
Both teams have a pretty familiar look, though Brighton give a debut to the Zambian midfielder Enock Mwepu. There is also a return for Shane Duffy, who spent last season at Celtic.
Burnley (4-4-2) Pope; Lowton, Tarkowski, Mee, Taylor; Gudmundsson, Westwood, Cork, McNeil; Rodriguez, Wood.
Substitutes: Hennessey, Collins, Pieters, Bardsley, Thomas, Brownhill, Richardson, Barnes, Vydra.
Brighton (possible 3-4-2-1) Sanchez; Duffy, Dunk, Webster; Alzate, Mwepu, Bissouma, Alzate, March; Gross, Trossard; Maupay.
Substitutes: Steele, Karbownik, Mac Allister, Lallana, Moder, Caicedo, Richards, Zeqiri, Andone.
Referee David Coote.
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Chelsea v Crystal Palace team news
Romelu Lukaku, who rejoined Chelsea a couple of days ago, is not in their matchday squad. But Trevoh Chalobah, the younger brother of the former Chelsea midfielder Nathaniel, starts at centre-back.
Marc Guehi, who left Chelsea in the summer, makes his Crystal Palace debut.
Chelsea (3-4-2-1) Mendy; Christensen, Rudiger, Chalobah; Azpilicueta, Jorginho, Kovacic, Alonso; Pulisic, Mount; Werner.
Substitutes: Kepa, Thiago, Zouma, Chilwell, James, Emerson, Havertz, Abraham, Hudson-Odoi.
Crystal Palace (4-3-3) Guaita; Ward, Guehi, Kouyate, Mitchell; McArthur, Riedewald, Schlupp; Ayew, Mateta, Zaha.
Substitutes: Butland, Andersen, Clyne, Kelly, Hannam, Rak-Sakyi, Banks, Street, Benteke.
Referee Jon Moss.
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Make that five goals in the first 23 minutes of the second half...
This is typically brilliant from Paul Doyle, a man who couldn’t write a boring piece if he tried. And believe me, he’s tried.
There’s also a full programme in the EFL this afternoon. You can follow the goals as they go in on our live scores page.
Make that four goals in the first 15 minutes of the second half at Old Trafford.
It’s been a cracking start to the second half at Old Trafford, with three goals in the first 10 minutes. Our Barry has more.
Preamble
The EPL is back! Yep, hello and welcome to live coverage of the first full day of the 2021-22 Premier League season. There’s a feast of top-flight soccer ahead, with five 3pm kick-offs and all sorts to look forward to: three new managers, umpteen new players, ten new kits, five full stadiums, a newly promoted team, the champions of Europe* - and did I mention FIVE FULL STADIUMS?
It’ll be a Premier League-heavy clockwatch, with all eyes - well, both - on these games:
- Manchester United v Leeds United (12.30pm - you can follow that match here)
- Burnley v Brighton
- Chelsea v Crystal Palace
- Everton v Southampton
- Leicester v Wolves
- Watford v Aston Villa
- Norwich v Liverpool (5.30pm)
The team news will arrive just after 2pm. Until then, why not close your eyes and enjoy a hearty whiff of opening-day optimism. It might not smell so pleasant come 5pm.
* Since you asked so politely, I think the last time the European Cup winners started their domestic season at 3pm on a Saturday was when Norwich drew 3-3 with Liverpool in 1984.
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