The Premier League table has taken on a familiar look after just two games, with Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool all on six points, joined by early gate-crashers Brighton and Hove Albion.
Meanwhile down at the bottom the newly promoted teams have picked up just a single point between them and are joined in the bottom group by perennial strugglers Everton.
Erling Haaland scored the 23rd hat-trick of his still young career as Manchester City swept aside new boys Ipswich Town, and that after the Tractor Boys took an early lead through new boy Sammie Szmodics, just signed from Blackburn Rovers. Within nine minutes of scoring Ipswich were 3-1 down as the Sky Blues set about them ruthlessly. VAR picked up a foul on Savinho by Leif Davies and Haaland swept home the penalty and then, in City’s next attack, Ipswich keeper Aro Muric was dispossessed by Savinho and he squared for Kevin De Bruyne to pass the ball into an empty net. Muric’s day got worse when he came out to try to intercept a pass from De Bruyne but Haaland beat him to it to score, and the Norwegian completed the rout with a searing strike late in the game, and that after Rico Lewis had rattled he Ipswich crossbar.
Haaland has four goals from his first two games and 67 in 68 Premier League appearances…ominous.
The Premier League 2024 betting odds here at SBOTOP back Pep Guardiola’s team to win a fifth consecutive title but they will be pushed hard by Arsenal, who saw off Aston Villa with second half goals from Leandro Trossard and Thomas Partey. And there was a great first win for new Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca as the Blues beat Wolves 6-2 at Molineux as Noni Madueke scored a hat-trick. Elsewhere, Fulham beat Leicester City 2-1 while Newcastle United drew 1-1 away to Bournemouth.
Salah on the mark again as Liverpool beat Brentford
The weekend’s top flight entertainment came to a close at Anfield where Liverpool hosted Brentford on Sunday and the Reds took an early lead when Colombian winger Luis Diaz rounded off a lightning break to give new manager Arne Slot his first goal experience at Anfield. It was a relatively subdued first half from the Reds with just a couple of shots on target but they came out with great intent in the second period. Andrew Robertson should have scored when he had a chance presented by Diogo Jota but Mark Flekken made a great save; meanwhile Bryan Mbeumo came close for the Bees and Allison made a strong save to deny Nathan Collins.
Centre back Collins was busier in his own penalty area and he made great blocks to deny Jota twice while Trent Alexander-Arnold crashed an effort against the crossbar. And then the great man, Mo Salah, put the game to bed. Diaz put him through and the Egyptian finished beautifully to beat Flekken and claim the three points.
Zirkzee goes from Hero to Zero
In other Premier League 2024 news Fabian Hurzeler’s dream start as Brighton manager continued as Joao Pedro headed a 95th minute winner to give the Seagulls all three points in a clash against Manchester United. But it was a difficult afternoon for the Red Devils’ marquee signing Joshua Zirkzee who scored the winner in his side’s 1-0 victory over Fulham last week. Former Manchester United striker Danny Welbeck gave the Seagulls a first half lead and they could have gone further ahead but Welbeck was denied by the crossbar and James Milner had an effort cleared off the line. The hosts were pegged back by Amad Diallo when his shot was deflected home. United should have gone ahead but when Alejandro Garnacho’s goal bound effort was touched by Zirkzee on the goal-line the Dutchman was ruled offside. And Zirkzee’s embarrassment was compounded when Pedro plundered the late, late winner.
Toffees come unstuck again
As good as Brighton’s start is Everton’s is bad and they suffered a second damaging defeat a week after the Seagulls had slapped them 3-0. This time it was the turn of Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham Hotspur to pile more misery on the Toffees, winning 4-0 to move on to four points while Sean Dyche’s Everton are rock bottom. Yves Bissouma smashed home the opener off the underside of the bar and then Everton keeper Jordan Pickford dallied and allowed Heung-Min Son to rob him of the ball and pass it into the net to make it 2-0 before the break. Son scored his second late in the game and that after Cristian Romero had made it 3-0 on his 100th appearance for the Whites.
Dyche is a fine manager but he has his work cut out to keep the sorry Toffees up.
●●●
CHECK OUT OUR BLOG FOR MORE FOOTBALL STORIES & ODDS
Stay updated with everything sports and betting.
Follow us on social Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
