Liverpool recorded their first victory at the Emirates Stadium with a 2-0 victory over a weakened Arsenal side as an unfortunate Aaron Ramsey own-goal and a late Luis Suarez strike gave the visitors their first victory of the new season.
Chances were few and far between for both sides in a game that turned into something of a midfield battle,as Andy Carroll wasted Liverpool’s best first-half goal chance and Robin van Persie blew another in the second half. But it was Ramsey’s unfortunate own-goal and Suarez’s last minute tap-in that ensured victory for Kenny Dalglish’s men.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger was forced to hand debuts to Carl Jenkinson and Emmanuel Frimpong, but the biggest surprise in the ‘Gunners’ line-up was the inclusion of Samir Nasri. The Frenchman was recalled to the starting line-up, despite being expected to leave the club in the coming days. With injuries ravaging the Arsenal squad, there were also places on the bench for talented duo Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Ryo Miyaichi.
Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish made two changes to his starting line-up from the side held at home by Sunderland on the opening day. Dirk Kuyt was preferred ahead of Luis Suarez and Martin Kelly returned for John Flanagan at full-back, with both replaced men dropping to the subs bench.
The best chance in the first 10 minutes fell to Andrey Arshavin when a loose ball fell to the Russian on the edge of the penalty area, following a right wing corner, but the forward was unable to steady himself and badly miscued his shot.
Arsenal’s injury woes were worsened in the 14th minute as Laurent Koscielny broke down with what appeared to be a lower back problem, much to the dismay of Wenger. The French defender was unable to continue, thanks to a back injury? made him unable to continue. Spaniard Ignasi Miquel came on in his stead, to make his Premier League debut.
In Stamford Bridge, new Chelsea boss, Andreas Villas-Boas,hit the ground running when his side rallied back from an almost embarassing loss to humble Osaze Odemwingie’s West Bromwich Albion 2-1.
Chelsea wobbled and fumbled in the first-half and paid for it when Albion’s Shane Long pick-pocketted an opener, after catching Brazillian Alex napping.
The Blues returned in the second-half, pepped and improved, to make their home fans happy. Anelka restored some smiles in the 53rd minute, but the clincher was Malouda’s 83rd minute goal, when he converted Jose Bosingwa’s cross and caused the stadium to erupt in cheer.
Osaze nearly pulled one back, but shot straight into the goalkeeper’s arms.
Newcastle United emerged victorious in a tight derby, after Ryan Taylor’s free-kick flew into the top corner of the Sunderland net to heap defeat and more derby pain onto Steve Bruce and end the game at 1-0. To compound the home side’s misery, they were also forced to finish the game with 10 men after Phil Bardsley was sent off late for a foul on Fabricio Coloccini.
It could scarcely have gone as badly as last season’s 5-1 defeat away to their bitter rivals, but this toothless display will have quietened the home fans’ optimism after they began the season with an opening day draw at Anfield.
Combative and fiercely contested throughout the opening exchanges, it looked like it would have gone either way, but it was the ‘Black Cats’ who showed more purpose, attacking almost solidly for the opening 15 minutes, though they could not really make the pressure tell despite Stephane Sessegnon’s best efforts.
Shola Ameobi nodded the ball across goal after keeper Simon Mignolet failed to collect, and Newcastle’s enfant terrible, Joey Barton, got his head to the ball to divert goalwards.
Sebastian Larsson, however, was ‘on hand’ to divert the ball away and while Barton correctly appealed for a penalty, it was denied by referee Howard Webb after consultation with his linesman.
Webb was forced to act soon after, however, as Yohan Cabaye became the first name to enter the referee’s book for a late, high, and ultimately needless challenge on Phil Bardsley.
Cabaye wasn’t alone in the book for long. Soon after, he was joined by Wes Brown and Ryan Taylor, both for their second badly timed tackles.
Inevitably, Barton and Cattermole were both booked five minutes later, along with Bardsley, as Cattermole’s reckless challenge on Gutierrez caused a melee which threatened to boil over, but ultimately simmered.
In truth, Sunderland never really threatened in the second half and the match petered out despite Steve Bruce’s introduction of new signing Connor Wickham.
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