ERLING Haaland scored twice and Tijjani Reijnders shone on his English Premier League debut as Manchester City began the season by thrashing Wolves 4-0 at Molineux tonight.
Box-to-box midfielder Reijnders joined City from AC Milan in the summer and showcased his talent by contributing to three goals in City’s victory.
Pep Guardiola’s side ended last season in disappointing fashion, without winning a major trophy for the first time in eight years, but started this campaign with a statement victory.
Talisman Haaland had nodded over on the stretch early on but converted from close range following Rico Lewis’ low cross.
Dutchman Reijnders was heavily involved in the opening goal and doubled City’s lead on the break just four minutes later with an unerring finish low into the bottom corner.
The game was over as a contest on the hour mark as Reijnders pulled the ball back for the onrushing Haaland to drill in an emphatic finish, while Rayan Cherki came off the bench to convert late on.
Wolves did cause the City backline some issues but Marshall Munetsi’s powerful header was ruled out for offside, while Jorgen Strand Larsen poked an effort into the side-netting.
Rayan Ait-Nouri flashed over a volley against his old club, while goalkeeper James Trafford impressed on his City debut in the absence of Ederson – an assured first start with a clean sheet and three points.
Earlier today, a convincing three-goal home win in their opener against Burnley seemed the perfect start to Thomas Frank’s Premier League reign at Tottenham – but one factor disappointed the Dane.
Such was the beauty of Spurs’ second goal, with Richarlison scoring a sensational scissor kick from Mohammed Kudus’ cross after a wonderful passing move that swept up the pitch, manager Frank fears nothing will top it this season.
“For the second goal we had 17 passes and every player in the team touched the ball and then an exceptional finish. I’m a bit disappointed as so early on we’ve had the goal of the season,” joked Frank.
He had every reason to be in a jovial mood as Spurs and Richarlison were in excellent form for Frank’s first home game since he replaced the sacked Ange Postecoglou, who was dismissed 16 days after guiding the club to Europa League glory.
Spurs only needed 10 minutes to grab their first league goal of the season as Richarlison swept home on the turn with a fine finish after good work from Kudus, who has made a promising start following his £55m move from West Ham.
After Richarlison’s acrobatics for goal number two, he was then involved in the build-up to the third, before Pape Matar Sarr released Brennan Johnson whose clinical finish made it 3-0 and sealed Frank’s winning start.
When the Brazil striker was replaced after 71 minutes, with England striker Dominic Solanke coming on, Richarlison was afforded a standing ovation.
Also today, Sunderland made a winning start to their first Premier League campaign since 2016-2017 as they deservedly beat West Ham 3-0 at a raucous Stadium of Light.
Eliezer Mayenda, who scored in the Championship play-off final in May, nodded substitute Omar Alderete’s delivery into the corner shortly after the hour mark to spark wild scenes of jubilation among the home supporters.
It was another play-off hero who doubled Sunderland’s lead as Dan Ballard – who rescued Regis le Bris’ team in the semi-final first leg against Coventry – guided his header into the corner.
And Wilson Isidor put the icing on the cake in added time, beating Hermansen with a well-placed shot into the far corner.
The two teams were welcomed by a cauldron of noise before Sunderland’s first top-flight game in eight years, and fans had plenty to shout about after kick-off as both teams went close in a lively opening.
Sunderland goalkeeper Robin Roefs did well to save West Ham captain Jarrod Bowen’s shot from a tight angle, while Mads Hermansen deflected a fierce Habib Diarra drive over the crossbar at the other end not long afterwards.
The Hammers sought to turn the screw as the first half progressed and were denied an opener when Ballard produced a magnificent sliding clearance from El Hadji Malick Diouf’s goal-bound shot.
The early stages of the second half were more subdued, but with the Hammers struggling to pose a threat in the final third, the hosts began to grow in confidence and the lively Diarra sent a powerful shot over the bar from just outside the area.
It was a warning West Ham failed to heed, as Mayenda steered a well-placed header past Hammers debutant Hermansen to open the scoring, before Ballard and Isidor added gloss to the scoreline on a memorable afternoon for Le Bris and his players.
RESULTS
Wolves 0-4 Manchester City
Tottenham 3-0 Burnley
Sunderland 3-0 West Ham
Brighton 1-1 Fulham
Aston Villa 0-0 Newcastle United
BBC Sport