As the new Premier League season kicks off with Leicester taking on Manchester United at Old Trafford, excitement for things to come is at an all-time high. This year, we have an exceptional opening set of fixtures as champions Manchester City travel to the Emirates for a cracking game.
In this list, we will rank the top five opening day Premier League Matches:
#5 Everton 1-6 Arsenal (2009-10)
Under David Moyes, Everton were a solid, unexciting team that didn’t let in very many. They had a strong back four and Goodison Park was considered to be one of the toughest places to go. When the fixture list was drawn for the 2009-10 season, the Everton-Arsenal game was highlighted as the one that would be the tightest.
That wasn’t the case. Everton fielded Joleon Lescott, who was trying to engineer a move to Manchester City and looked like relegation fodder as they were ripped apart by a rampant Arsenal side.
Cesc Fabregas played the role of chief tormentor. He scored two, teed up Denilson for an absolute screamer and there was a rebound scored by Eduardo.
The other two goals were headed in by the imperious Thomas Vermaelen and William Gallas, who were as good going forward as they were at the back. Everton’s goal was the very definition of a consolation, as they netted in stoppage time through Louis Saha to reduce the deficit from six goals to five.
#4 Coventry City 3-2 Chelsea (1997-98)
It must be acknowledged that while Chelsea wasn’t yet near the standard that they are today, but they still had a very talented team. The likes of Italians Gianfranco Zola and Roberto Di Matteo and the Uruguayan Gus Poyet were already established at Stamford Bridge.
On the day, they came up against a Coventry side that not many fancied, despite the presence of former Manchester United striker, Dion Dublin.
Things were going according to the script when Chelsea took the lead, a goal from Frank Sinclair, five minutes before half-time. However, the talismanic Dublin immediately equalised with a header from a long throw.
The next goal-related action came in the 70th minute as Tore Andre Flo, one of Chelsea’s great bargain signings, restored their lead.
But, the night wasn’t over. An inspired Dion Dublin scored twice more to complete a gritty hattrick and an unexpected turnaround. Chelsea was shellshocked, and on the Coventry had their day in the sun.
#3 Arsenal 3-4 Liverpool (2016-17)
The most recent entry on this list is up there in terms of entertainment. As Liverpool traveled to the Emirates, the Gunners fielded a depleted backline, with Rob Holding and Calum Chambers as the centre-back pairing.
This, combined with the uber-attacking philosophy embodied by Jurgen Klopp’s teams meant that it promised to be a mouthwatering encounter. Boy, did it live up to expectations!
Theo Walcott opened the scoring, giving Arsenal the lead just moments after he had missed a penalty.
Liverpool’s response was deadly. Phillipe Coutinho equalised at the brink of half-time, always an excellent time to score and Liverpool proceeded to take the lead through Adam Lallana.
Coutinho added a second to his tally before Mane made it 4-1 in what can only be described as a Liverpool blitzkrieg as Arsenal struggled to hold onto the ball.
However, in a remarkable show of resilience, Alex-Oxlade Chamberlain scored a terrific individual effort, within a minute of Mane scoring and Calum Chambers made it 3-4 with 15 minutes to play. Chamber’s header set up a cracking finale, but Liverpool held on for a famous win.
#2 Aston Villa 4-2 Manchester City (2008-09)
When the Villains welcomed the Citizens to Villa Park, it certainly felt as if a change was in the air. At the time, Villa was an impressive side with some quality players like Gareth Barry and Ashley Young in their prime, whilst Manchester City were on the verge of announcing themselves as the noisiest of neighbours.
At halftime, the score was 0-0 and the football was ordinary. John Carew gave Villa the lead before City’s pre-Mansour Brazilian maestro, Elano, equalised from the spot with 25 minutes remaining.
What followed was a masterclass from Gabriel Agbonlahor as he tore a relatively young and inexperienced City side apart with a ruthless streak.
He volleyed his first one in from close range, before heading in a cross from future City player Barry and then side-footed for an insanely fast, seven-minute ‘perfect’ hattrick.
City did score a late consolation to add some drama to the game before they embarked on a road to success that has led them to today.
Just a few days later, Mansour would complete his takeover and Mark Hughes would unveil Robinho.
#1 Arsenal 2-4 Norwich City (1992-93)
For No.1, we will go to the inaugural season of the Premier League, one full of surprises, starting with Norwich’s stunning defeat of Arsenal at Highbury.
The Canaries were a struggling team that had barely staved of relegation the year before, finishing three points above the drop zone.
Meanwhile, the Gunners were First Divison champions two years ago and had just won the FA Cup and League Cup in the previous season.
As expected, the Gunners took a two-goal lead into halftime, with the goals coming from Kevin Campbell and Steve Bould. Just as it looked to be a routine outing for Arsenal, Norwich’s stunning comeback began.
Mark Robins pulled the first back before David Phillips pounced on an error by the England Goalkeeper David Seaman. Ruel Fox gave Norwich the lead, before Robins once again scored, this time chipping Seaman from 30 yards.
The game was a sight to behold and one that truly captured the spirit of what the Premier League has come to embody today, an unpredictable league where anything can happen and anyone can win.
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