🔬 The Debrief as Liverpool and Arsenal throw down the gauntlet

On the first Saturday of the Premier League season there was plenty of drama to enjoy.

Let’s take a look at what went on.

What happened?

Liverpool delivered a 2-0 win over newly-promoted Ipswich Town, with a vastly improved second-half performance.

Arsenal began their challenge for the title with a 2-0 win over Wolves, with goals from Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka.

It was an utterly miserable day for Everton as they succumbed to a 3-0 defeat at home to Brighton, with veteran Ashley Young receiving a red card.

Meanwhile, Newcastle kicked off their season with a win at home to Southampton, and a late equaliser handed Bournemouth a point with a 1-1 draw away at Forest.

Player of the day

New haircut, same old Salah.

The Egyptian star netted in Liverpool’s opening day game with Ipswich, making him the outright top scorer in Premier League opening day history with a total of nine goals.

His previous tally of eight tied the record with Premier League legends Frank Lampard, Alan Shearer and Wayne Rooney.

And now he has surpassed them.

In fact, Salah has never failed to score or provide an assist on the first day of the season, going right back to a goal against Watford in 2017, with his assist total now standing at four in Premier League openers.

Liverpool’s star winger now has now scored and assisted in 32 Premier League games, and is closing in on Wayne Rooney’s record of 35.

That one will surely be next to fall.

Stat of the day

With a 3-0 defeat at Goodison Park in what will be the final season at the famous old ground, uncertainty over ownership and potential points deductions, things couldn’t really be much worse for Everton fans right now.

To compound that misery, veteran Ashley Young made an unwanted entry into the record books when he was sent off against Brighton.

At 39 years and 39 days old, the full-back became the oldest player ever to be sent off in the history of the Premier League.

That’s eight years younger than Brighton’s new boss, Fabian Hürzeler.

One to forget for the Toffees.

What this means

Liverpool and Arsenal have thrown down the gauntlet to Manchester City by both recording straightforward wins.

Though Chelsea have struggled in pre-season, City do have the tougher test on Sunday.

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Aston Villa have shown that they will be a formidable side once again this season, and Brighton look like the real deal under the Premier League’s youngest ever boss Fabian Hürzeler.

Meanwhile, it’s pretty obvious that Everton are in real trouble, with so many issues facing them both on and off the field.

What they said

After an anxious few minutes at the City Ground, Forest boss Nuno Espírito Santo revealed more about the injury to Danilo. “It was a horrible moment for everybody, he is at the hospital now, we have just got the report of the doctor, still some exams, but he has broken his ankle. It is serious but the good news is he is stable, he is speaking, he is aware so just needs time.”

It was a game of two halves for new Liverpool boss Arne Slot who said “I didn’t see them fighting for it in the first half, we lost almost every long ball. In the second half they were ready and then gas opened up and you could see we can play quite good football.”

And Mikel Arteta allayed Arsenal fans’ fears over Declan Rice after he was taken off in the 85th minute. “He was cramping a bit. He has not had the longest pre-season ever. He was really trying and put in an unbelievable performance today.”