Tottenham showed there is life after Harry Kane with a 2-0 win over Manchester United as Liverpool shrugged off a red card for Alexis Mac Allister to beat Bournemouth 3-1.
Spurs were playing for the first time at home since record goalscorer Kane departed for Bayern Munich.
But in Ange Postecoglou’s first match at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, the home side showed promising signs of a new era as Pape Sarr’s strike and Lisandro Martinez’s own goal continued United’s sluggish start to the season.
Ange claims first EPL win against United | 02:46
Erik ten Hag’s men escaped with a 1-0 victory at home to Wolves on Monday despite being outplayed.
This time United were punished as they faded after a bright start. Bruno Fernandes should have headed the visitors in front midway through the first-half.
Spurs ended the opening period in the ascendency as Pedro Porro rattled the crossbar.
And the Postecoglou’s men got their reward when Sarr smashed home his first goal for the club on 49 minutes.
A comedy of errors summed up United’s day for the second goal as Ben Davies failed to connect with Ivan Perisic’s cross and Martinez could only turn it beyond the flat-footed Andre Onana.
United’s decision not to rival Bayern with a bid for Kane will now face more scrutiny as they looked toothless without new striker Rasmus Hojlund due to injury.
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LIVERPOOL OVERCOME HORROR START TO GET WIN
Liverpool recovered from a terrible start and the controversial loss of Alexis Mac Allister to get their frist win of the season.
Bournemouth had lost 9-0 on their visit to Anfield a year ago but led inside three minutes when Antoine Semenyo drilled into the far corner.
Liverpool needed some inspiration to kickstart their season after a 1-1 draw at Chelsea last weekend.
Luis Diaz provided it as he flicked up Diogo Jota’s cross and then acrobatically fired an overhead kick into the bottom corner.
Jurgen Klopp’s men led nine minutes before half-time, but Mohamed Salah needed a second opportunity to tap in the rebound after Neto had saved his penalty.
The Egyptian has now failed to score three of his last five penalties, but edged ahead of Steven Gerrard as Liverpool’s fifth highest scorer of all time on 187.
Momentum could have swung back Bournemouth’s way when Mac Allister was harshly shown a straight red card for leading with his studs on Ryan Christie, despite minimal contact with the Scotland international.
“I saw the red card back and for sure we have to talk about it. I understand 100 percent how it looks for a ref in that moment, but when you see it back it is the inside of the foot and no power behind it,” Klopp said.
Former Premier League referee Mike Dean defended the call on Sky Sports’ Soccer Saturday.
“His foot’s raised, the guys cleared the ball and the lads caught him,” Dean said.
“[He’s] probably caught him shin high, foots off the floor, I’ve got no issues with it. It was looked at by VAR, that’s been checked and cleared, it’s the right decision from Tom Bramall.”
Arsenal legend Paul Merson though disagreed.
“Because it’s slow motion and it hits his shin, when you look at it you go ‘ooh’. I see what Mac Allister was trying to do, he was trying to play a sidefoot pass but the lad was too quick for him,” he said in response.
“Sometimes that we have to understand, sometimes if someone is too quick for someone, he didn’t mean it. I’ve seen people do people, I didn’t think it was. Best move before Mike [Dean] says anything.”
BBC pundit and former Chelsea striker Chris Sutton said: “I thought the McAllister sending off was a shocking decision”.
A 10-man Liverpool added to their lead within four minutes when Jota pounced after Neto could only palm Dominik Szoboszlai’s effort into his path.
Japan captain Wataru Endo was then introduced after Liverpool finally landed a defensive midfielder on Friday after losing out on Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia to Chelsea.
HAALAND FIRES BLANKS BUT CITY STEP UP TO CHALLENGE
Meanwhile, Manchester City laid down an early-season marker in the Premier League title race as Julian Alvarez’s stunning strike earned a 1-0 win over Newcastle at the Etihad.
A club record 17th consecutive home victory for the treble winners was thoroughly deserved despite their exertions in lifting the UEFA Super Cup in midweek.
Newcastle’s 5-1 thrashing of Aston Villa last weekend had raised hopes on Tyneside they could be the pick of the challengers to City’s crown as English champions.
But on this evidence, Pep Guardiola’s men will take some stopping in their quest to become the first side to ever win four consecutive English top-flight titles.
Guardiola was furious at the Premier League for scheduling the game just three days after his side were forced to penalties to beat Sevilla under baking heat in Athens.
City’s squad has also been stretched early on in the campaign by the absence of Bernardo Silva and John Stones, while Kevin De Bruyne will be out for up to four months with a hamstring injury.
But dreams the Magpies could pose a challenge for their frist top-flight league title in 97 years were dampened by City’s dominance before tiredness crept in late on.
The visitors were happy to surrender possession before the break, but it took a moment of magic for City to find a way through.
Alvarez could be one of the benefactors of De Bruyne’s lengthy lay-off. The Argentine scored 17 goals in his debut season in Manchester despite having to play largely second fiddle to Erling Haaland.
Guardiola may now be forced to pair Alvarez with the Norwegian more often and he showed what he is capable of with a stunning finish into the top corner from Phil Foden’s pass on 31 minutes.
Haaland was not as accurate moments later as he dragged a shot inches wide when played in by another Foden through ball.
Newcastle’s more attacking intent in the second half only succeeded in leaving City more space to exploit in behind.
However, a rare off night for Haaland in front of goal continued. Foden stepped up in the absence of De Bruyne and Silva to be the creative spark in the City midfield.
The England international’s turn and pass picked out Haaland once more on his favoured left foot only for last season’s Golden Boot winner again fail to hit the target.
Haaland went for raw power with his next effort, but was repelled by the legs of Nick Pope as City were made to wait for a second goal to kill the game off.
The European champions were nearly made to pay when Rodri’s slack pass presented Callum Wilson with a huge opportunity.
But 90-million-euro ($99 million) defender Josko Gvardiol showed his worth on his home debut to hold up Wilson and Harvey Barnes’ shot was comfortably held by Ederson.
Despite his side’s fatigue, Guardiola refused to make a single substitution and told one City fan to take his place on the bench when urged to make some changes.
But it all ended in smiles for the home side as City maintained their perfect start to the Premier League season to sit second behind Brighton at the top of the table.
BRIGHTON, BRENTFORD BANK WINS
Brighton banked a British record transfer fee that could rise to £115 million ($146 million) for Caicedo.
But the Seagulls continue to soar under Roberto De Zerbi despite seeing their best players picked off by the Premier League’s elite.
Kaoru Mitoma may be the next big-money departure and the Japanese international opened the scoring in stunning style at Molineux as he slalomed past four Wolves defenders before producing a classy finish.
In stark contrast to their performance at Old Trafford, Wolves had no answer to Brighton’s speed of passing and movement as the visitors scored three times in the first 10 minutes of the second half.
Mitoma teed up Pervis Estupinan to smash home for 2-0 before Solly March scored twice from Julio Enciso assists.
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Wolves pulled a goal back through Hwang Hee-chan, but a chastening afternoon for Gary O’Neil’s men was rounded off by a red card for Matheus Nunes in stoppage time.
Brentford are also making light of the absence of the suspended Ivan Toney as they won 3-0 at Fulham.
Yoane Wissa opened the scoring before Bryan Mbuemo scored twice after Fulham captain Tim Ream was sent off for a second yellow card.