So with two new managers at the helm, one of which was facing his old club. It was Steve Clarke v Br...I mean West Brom v Liverpool. A game that would see a fresh new start. One which had seen Liverpool have good performances in pre season especially with many reserve players and youngsters. Naturally, West Brom were not going to lay down and let Liverpool play. They took it to Liverpool and took a 3-0 victory. Had Suarez been on form, it may have been a different story, but West Brom took their chances and took all three points. Liverpool have never really been great on opening day of the new season and so this adds to the book. Liverpool do tend to bounce back and this coming weekend the red half of Merseyside hosts the blue half of Manchester. These tend to produce good games and hope more of the same this Saturday with preferably 3 points to Liverpool.
The blue half of Merseyside had a more positive start to the season with a home win against Man United with the recently signed Robin Van Persie. Everton were all over United, so much in fact that had the previously criticised De Gea kept it to just the one goal. Fellaini was on form and ran the United ragged. The defeat must have really got to Sir Alex Ferguson as he poured out the insults and the standard bad loser lines.He said Everton just lumped the ball forward and that they were the better football team.
Some may have thought Everton maybe lacking having seen Rodwell and Cahill depart, but far from it. The Toffees looked like they hadnt finished the 4-4 draw which cost United the title last season. Everton finished 7th last season and if they play like they did against United, they could well push that further.
Newcastle United had the opening game against Tottenham on the Saturday tea time kick off. Both Spurs and Newcastle wanted to get off to good starts and when Demba struck for the first time in ages, it looked like that the home side would take all three points. Spurs though moved up a gear and eventually found an equaliser through Jermain Defoe and then it looked like it would be points shared but Aaron Lennon's foul on Ben Arfa saw a penalty awarded and converted by Ben Arfa. Both sides will no doubt be up there this season and if Ba has found his shooting boots again, it could well be Newcastle United's time for the Champions League.