Arne slot's in nicely at Liverpool, as Gunners shoot for title

LONDON, England — Liverpool kicked off the Arne Slot era in style with a 2-0 win at Ipswich Town in its opening Premier League game on Saturday, its first competitive match without Jurgen Klopp at the helm in nine years.

Dutchman Slot will be expected to lead a title challenge, as will Arsenal's Mikel Arteta whose side opened with a 2-0 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Also celebrating an encouraging start to his reign is Brighton and Hove Albion's 31-year-old Fabian Hurzeler, the Premier League's youngest ever permanent manager, as his team enjoyed a convincing 3-0 win against 10-man Everton.

Klopp may be gone, but the key components of his Liverpool team remain, including Mohamed Salah who sealed the points at Portman Road on his 350th appearance for the club.

The 32-year-old Egyptian's close-range finish off the back of a Dominik Szoboszlai pass, five minutes after Diogo Jota's opener, was his ninth goal on the opening weekend of a Premier League season, more than any other player.

"I see what he does to keep his body as it is, and to be ready to play every game, and I think there are many more years inside of him to play," Slot said of Liverpool's talismanic winger.

When asked about his hopes for the coming months, he told reporters: "I am looking at Brentford and not at the end of the season!"

Ipswich was playing its first topflight game since 2002 after back-to-back promotions, and held its own for an hour in front of a vociferous Portman Road crowd.

"I am proud. I think there are so many positives that we can build on for the season," manager Kieran McKenna said. "Of course, most of those positives were in the first half, where there was so much to like about us."

Long wait

Arsenal ended last season on 89 points, one shy of the club's record, but still couldn't land a first league title in 20 years.

The Gunners, tipped to be City's biggest rivals again this season, began with a rather labored 2-0 win against Wolves, with Bukayo Saka assisting the opener for Kai Havertz and then wrapping up the points late on.

"I think we had certain problems, especially in the second half. It's part of the game," manager Mikel Arteta said.

"We will be better.

"Bukayo scored an unbelievable goal to make it 2-0. With good players, it's like that. With (Lionel) Messi, I know he's going to come here, and put the ball there, but he does it all the time, and you can't stop him," Arteta said of Saka's eye-catching goal.

It was exactly the kind of statement Arsenal needed after Arteta admitted his team will have to be almost perfect to end Manchester City's four-year reign as champion.

"First half we were really good," Arteta said. "Really aggressive, really intense. A lot of purpose to our attack. A lot of threat in the box.

"We generated a lot. We probably should have scored two or three. Second half, we became a bit sloppy. But, I see the willingness.

"With the first game, you have some uncertainty against a really difficult opponent. Score two, clean sheet, win."

Onana inspires Villa

Aston Villa opened its campaign with a 2-1 victory at West Ham United with Amadou Onana scoring four minutes into his Villa debut and Jhon Duran netting the late winner.

"He was very mature, responsible and intelligent," Villa manager Unai Emery said of Onana. "I think this is the first step we need. The adaptation is going to be long, because there are a lot of things we want to get out of him, but his potential is most important."

West Ham's Lucas Paqueta scored from the penalty spot in the first half, before Duran's 79th-minute goal sent the Hammers to their 16th opening-day loss — four more than any other club.

Everton's final season at its 132-year-old Goodison Park stadium began in woeful fashion, as Brighton took the points thanks to goals from Kaoru Mitoma, Danny Welbeck and Simon Adingra.

Everton defender Ashley Young made the host's task even more difficult, after bringing down Mitoma who was through on goal in the 66th minute, earning Young a red card and an early bath.

Newcastle United, too, was forced to play with 10 men after Fabian Schar was sent off for violent conduct in the 17th minute against newly promoted Southampton. It still managed a 1-0 win, though, thanks to a Joelinton goal.

The decision to send off Schar was confirmed by VAR with the explanation posted on the Premier League's Match Centre feed on X — a new feature this season.

Nottingham Forest drew 1-1 at home to Bournemouth as it conceded an 86th-minute leveler scored by Antoine Semenyo.

Forest also suffered an injury blow with midfielder Danilo taken off on a stretcher with a suspected broken ankle.

Zirkzee's big debut

Manchester United opened the new season on Friday with a 1-0 home win over Fulham.

New signing Joshua Zirkzee admitted it was an "unbelievable "feeling to mark his Manchester United debut with the late goal that clinched a dramatic 1-0 win.

The Netherlands striker completed his switch from Bologna a month ago, but was among several United players to get an extended break after Euro 2024.

He missed all of United's friendlies, and was an unused substitute in last weekend's Community Shield loss to City.

"It was a great feeling, it couldn't be any better. What can I say? Debut, winning, scoring in front of the Stretford End, so yeah, it's unbelievable," he said.

Agencies