Premier League review

Rooney's out, Lawrie's fuming, Chopra's smiling

By Alex Dunn   Last updated: 13th August 2007   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Premier League review

Rooney: Why me?

TEAM OF THE WEEK

See who made skysports.com's Premier League Team of the Weekend.

1) Hahnemann

2) Mears

3) Lescott

4) Richards

5) Duberry

6) Hleb

7) Arteta

8) Gerrard

9) Johnson

10) Martins

11) Wright-Phillips

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With the vast majority of the Premier League having far from penny-pinched in a summer of lavish spending, that even some WAGS may have baulked at, the hype ahead of this season's opening salvo of games was as frenzied since its inauguration.

It would, then, come as little surprise had what ensued proved to be the proverbial damp squib but on the contrary, swelled grounds across the county were treated to an opening day of genuine quality and intrigue.

Wayne Rooney's fractured foot has dominated Monday's back pages, and rightly so, but what should not be forgotten was the fine football which went before it.

Black Cats delight

The script-writers would perhaps have sniggered at what transpired in Saturday's early kick-off in the North East, as Michael Chopra, to some still an impostor in red and white stripes, shrugged off his Newcastle leanings, to come off the bench for Sunderland and score the most accomplished of injury-time winners.

Tottenham, tipped to break the into the promised land of the 'Top Four', were left crestfallen, as Roy Keane celebrated his return to the big time with customary aplomb.

Then came Sven Goran Eriksson's return to English shores with a trip to the capital, to face a West Ham side that is shorn of Tevez but replete with a rostra of big money buys, not unlike Manchester City in fact.

Sven's back

Of the two, it was City's new boys that stole the honours, as Sven breathed a sigh of relief in the realisation he had not succumbed to any video nasties, with the Brazilian Elano in particular impressing in an accomplished 2-0 victory.

Over in the North West, there was only ever to be one winner in the battle of Bolton past and present. Big Sam's Newcastle delivered a performance that was both punchy and pacey, while Little Sam's Bolton were pallid, anaemic in comparison.

Obafemi Martins, wary of the arrival of Mark Viduka and imminent return of Michael Owen, stole the personal plaudits with a brace in the 3-1 success.

Midas touch of the weekend goes to Blackburn boss Mark Hughes, after a pair of his strikers came off the bench, to sink a Middlesbrough side that had previously led through Stewart Downing's free-kick.

First came the swarthy Roque Santa Cruz, seemingly straight off a film set, to power home a thumping header, before Matt Derbyshire, less glamorous but no less potent, curled a magnificent winner.

The doom-mongers in the Midlands have cast Derby as lambs to the slaughter, but at Pride Park they were silenced, as Billy Davies' side fought back to claim a 2-2 draw against Portsmouth.

Big things are expected from Everton this season and for large spells at Goodison Park they did not disappoint, with Leon Osman and Victor Anichebe rendering Antoine Sibierski's debut goal for Wigan mere consolation.

In Saturday's final game, Fernando Torres may have made his bow in Liverpool's 2-1 win at Aston Villa, but it was Steven Gerrard that reaffirmed his status as Anfield's top dog with a late free-kick winner of sublime execution.

Sunday's round of matches had plenty to live up to and, for the most part, they did not disappoint.

Sanchez fumes

A rare noon kick-off in North London saw Arsenal's Jens Lehmann make his annual entry into the season's bloopers video, courtesy of a comical slip that handed a grateful David Healy a goal on his Fulham debut.

A familiar Achilles of missing a raft of chances appeared to flare up as the game entered its final five minutes, but Robin van Persie and Alexander Hleb had other ideas, in netting a goal apiece, which had Lawrie Sanchez fuming, in a manner that one suspects will not be the last time this season.

After Arsenal's style council it was over to the west side of the capital, as Jose Mourinho's Chelsea proceeded to put on a performance that belied their status as being disciples of dour.

Embracing an attacking mantra and a lackadaisical approach to defending, Chelsea were cute on the eye as they came from behind to win 3-2, as Birmingham goalkeeper Colin Doyle endured an afternoon best resigned to the scrapbook.

With Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea having all tasted sweet opening day success, the pressure was on Manchester United to do likewise.

Thankfully, after all the excitement that had passed before it, United and Reading produced a sober snooze-fest that was ideal for a pleasant Sunday afternoon nap.

Although, Rooney's injury woke even the neutral, as Sir Alex Ferguson's woes at a lack of a breakthrough were exacerbated by the news his attacking talisman now faces up to two months on the sidelines.

Honourable mentions must also go to Martin Laursen, who scored the season's first own goal, and Dave Kitson, who got himself a red card just 37 seconds after entering the field as a second half substitute at Old Trafford.

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