If all football games can be like this over the next nine months, we sports betting fans are in for an absolute treat!
Premier League betting bounced back this weekend and boy have we missed it.
It began with a thriller at the Emirates and ended at the Theatre of Dreams – two great arenas on the opening weekend of the greatest show on earth.
Arsenal 4-3 Leicester City
It may not please the traditionalists but if Friday night matches are like this then perhaps the campaign opener should always be played under the floodlights.
It began with a dream start for Alexandre Lacazette and ended with a hero’s impact from the man many tipped for the exit door (Olivier Giroud) following Lacazette’s arrival.
In between, the 2016 champions (with Jamie Vardy at his best) more than played their part in an enthralling game they were unfortunate to lose.
Watford FC 3-3 Liverpool
Anything you can do, we can do too!
The message from the Hornets and Liverpool as a six-goal thriller swung one way then the other before Miguel Britos had the final word, possibly from an offside position, in injury time.
It’s a good start for new Watford boss Marco Silva and a mixture of encouragement and frustration for his counterpart Jurgen Klopp.
Chelsea 2-3 Burnley
It took Burnley eight months to win away last season – this time it took them little over 90 minutes!
The Clarets stunned the champions with a three-goal first-half blitz after Gary Cahill’s dismissal.
Chelsea fought back, despite finishing the match with nine men, but not all seems well at Stamford Bridge.
Crystal Palace 0-3 Huddersfield Town
Dreams are made of afternoons like this.Back in the top flight for
Back in the top flight for the first time since 1972, the Terriers marked their big day with a resounding victory, helped by a debut double from new boy Steve Mounie.
The potential dream start for Frank de Boer turned into a nightmare on a miserable first game for the Dutchman at Selhurst Park.
Everton 1-0 Stoke City
Cometh the hour, cometh the returning hero.
Wayne Rooney marked his first league match back in an Everton shirt – for the first time since 2004 – with the only goal on the stroke of half-time.
A good start to win over any Toffees’ fans doubting his return in a season he’s hoping to break back into the England set-up.
Southampton 0-0 Swansea City
With a point apiece, it’s difficult to read too much into this encounter.
Swansea are a much better side but created little in the absence of their creative talisman Gylfi Sigurdsson and attacking focal point Fernando Llorente.
Meanwhile, Southampton – who have failed to win a home opening fixture since 1988 – will need time to adapt under new manager Mauricio Pellegrino but have retained the nucleus of the squad which finished in an impressive eighth last term.
West Bromwich Albion 1-0 Bournemouth
For a side which enjoyed less than 30 per cent possession, West Brom can be rather pleased with this outcome.
A winning start to the season, a debut goal for Egyptian defender Ahmed Hegazi and a livewire display from another new boy, Jay Rodriguez.
Woe betides the Cherries’ next opponents (Watford) after boss Eddie Howe admitted he was disappointed his side didn’t seem ready for the big kick-off.
Brighton & Hove Albion 0-2 Manchester City
The princes needed 70 minutes to break down the paupers’ rearguard action but there was a certain inevitability about the outcome once Sergio Aguero opened the scoring at the Amex Stadium.
A naturally cautious approach from the newly promoted side meant it was hard to judge Brighton in their first ever Premier League contest.
Title favourites City will see this as a job well done, maintaining their composure after initial pressure failed to lead to a breakthrough.
Newcastle United 0-2 Tottenham Hotspur
Harry Kane shouldn’t have to wait much longer for his 100th Spurs goal.
Even deep in stoppage time, with the match won, he struck the woodwork and had a goal disallowed – proof that the Spurs marksmen, last season’s top scorer, retains his hunger.
Jonjo Shelvey’s dismissal three minutes after the re-start meant Newcastle were always going to be up against it.
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