Nine new Premier League managers assessed after opening weekend
A record nine Premier League clubs began the season with new managers on the opening weekend, with Alvaro Arbeloa and Xabi Alonso taking charge for the first time when Fulham met Chelsea at Craven Cottage.
The new campaign also ushered in a post-Pep Guardiola era at Manchester City under Enzo Maresca and saw Andoni Iraola start as Liverpool manager after succeeding the sacked Arne Slot; Xabi Alonso is Chelsea's latest arrival amid ongoing turnover at Stamford Bridge. This piece reviews how those new faces fared during an eventful first weekend of the season.
The German successor to Iraola came within six minutes of starting his Premier League career with a statement win at Manchester City, only to concede two late goals and lose; he will be frustrated by the manner of the goals, with Marc Guehi unmarked at a corner for the equaliser and a slow reaction for Josko Gvardiol's stoppage-time winner, but Rose also saw in the first 84 minutes that he has plenty of material to work with in a Cherries side that finished sixth last season.
Xabi Alonso's reign began with Chelsea taking the lead after 31 seconds; the attacking trio of Cole Palmer, Joao Pedro and newcomer Morgan Rogers all scored and combined effectively, with Rogers described as Alonso's £117m summer signing who helped him get off to a winning start at Fulham. Alonso set up a back three with Reece James operating in midfield and dropping back into defence, but the goalkeeper Robert Sanchez was judged at fault for both Fulham goals.
Alvaro Arbeloa's debut at Fulham was disrupted by conceding within the first minute, though young debutant Gonzalo Garcia got off the mark; Arbeloa has singled out 19-year-old Josh King as "unbelievable". It was more of a struggle for another new arrival from Real Madrid, Cesar Palacios, as Arbeloa begins to shape his side.
Ipswich's incoming manager received heavy transfer backing—£150m spent on a dozen signings for the successor to Kieran McKenna—and Gary O'Neil was rewarded with a vital victory against Sunderland. Julio Enciso, who O'Neil previously worked with at Strasbourg, made a notable impact and combined with Brazilian striker Emersonn for the opening goal, and O'Neil was pictured enjoying a cup of tea and a bar of chocolate while watching Match Of The Day.
Andoni Iraola was spared a losing start at Anfield by Dominik Szoboszlai's 99th-minute penalty, but Liverpool's performance was a sobering fact-finding mission as Newcastle cashed in on a wide-open midfield; Anthony Elanga sliced through for the first goal and six of Iraola's players stood idle as Yoane Wissa and Joe Willock combined for the second. Iraola has suggested Liverpool will not strengthen in midfield with a 'number 6' type defensively-minded player, and Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz, players Liverpool paid £241m for, were described as poor again at St James' Park.
Disappointing starts elsewhere included Palace's new manager Sage losing at Everton despite early chances, Palace hitting the woodwork twice while Jean-Philippe Mateta was wasteful and a contract row around Mateta emerged as an additional distraction; Sage faces Manchester City next at Selhurst Park as he searches for his first league win. Nottingham Forest's new boss Glasner lost 1-0 to Leeds at The City Ground, said he "cannot simply lay hands on players and they perform like 'Real Madrid in the 70s'", had no new signings in his starting XI, and saw suggestions that striker Liam Delap might arrive from Chelsea.
