There were five games in the Premier League at 3pm today.
Here’s a brief lowdown of all five.
Sunderland 1 Norwich 3
TWEET OF THE MATCH
I was a little optimistic before the season started but now I'm lost for words 😶 oh I've got 1.... #shocking #safcvncfc
— michael gray (@mickygray33) August 15, 2015
PLAYER RATINGS
Sunderland
Costel Pantilimon: 5 (Out of 10)
Billy Jones: 6
Patrick van Aanholt: 4
Younes Kaboul: 5
Sebastian Coates: 5
Lee Cattermole: 6
Sebastian Larsson: 6
Yann M’Vila: 6
Jeremain Lens: 7
Jermain Defoe: 6
Steven Fletcher: 6
Subs
Danny Graham: 6
Duncan Watmore: 7
Norwich
John Ruddy: 6
Steven Whittaker: 7
Robbie Brady: 7
Russell Martin: 6
Sebastien Bassong: 6
Nathan Redmond: 7
Alex Tettey: 7
Graham Dorrans: 6
Jonny Howson: 7
Wes Hoolahan: 8
Cameron Jerome: 7
Subs
Bradley Johnson: 6
Lewis Grabban: 6
Gary O’Neil: 6
STAR PLAYER
Wes Hoolahan was at the centre of all Norwich’s best work, playing the pivotal role in both the second and third goals and causing the Sunderland defence problems all afternoon.
MOMENT OF THE MATCH
Hoolahan’s delightful lay-off from Nathan Redmond’s pass to allow the winger to slot past keeper Costel Pantilimon and make it 3-0.
VIEW FROM THE BENCH
Another video nasty for Dick Advocaat’s collection. The veteran Dutchman was parachuted in for a nine-game survival mission last season and pulled it off to earn the offer of an extended stay which he initially rejected. He may wish he had stuck to his original decision.
MOAN OF THE MATCH
Sunderland left-back Patrick van Aanholt had another day to forget as he was repeatedly caught out of position with Norwich targetting the space behind him, but remained on the field for the full 90 minutes.
WHO’S UP NEXT
Sunderland v Swansea (Premier League, Saturday August 22)
Norwich v Stoke (Premier League, Saturday August 22)
Swansea 2 Newcastle 0
TWEET OF THE MATCH
Steve McClaren's come down to the touchline. No need for a brolly though, lovely day at the Liberty.
— Phil Blanche (@philblanche) August 15, 2015
PLAYER RATINGS
Swansea
Lukasz Fabianski: 7 (out of 10)
Kyle Naughton: 7
Federico Fernandez: 7
Ashley Williams: 7
Neil Taylor: 7
Jack Cork: 7
Jonjo Shelvey: 8
Gylfi Sigurdsson: 7
Jefferson Montero: 9
Andre Ayew: 7
Bafetimbi Gomis: 8
Subs
Nathan Dyer: 6
Wayne Routledge: 6
Leon Britton: 6
Newcastle
Tim Krul: 6
Daryl Janmaat: 3
Fabricio Coloccini: 6
Chancel Mbema: 7
Massaido Haidara: 6
Jack Colback: 5
Vurnon Anita: 5
Moussa Sissoko: 6
Gabriel Obertan: 6
Georginio Wijnaldum: 5
Papiss Cisse: 5
Subs
Steven Taylor: 6
Rolando Aarons: 5
Aleksandar Mitrovic: 5
STAR PLAYER
Jefferson Montero: Started where he had left off at Chelsea, namely terrorising full-backs. Newcastle right-back Daryl Janmaat saw red before half-time after stopping the Ecuadorian illegally for the third time and no alternative marker could get close to him. Hit the post from 20 yards and capped another impressive show by setting up Andre Ayew’s header which made it 2-0.
MOMENT OF THE MATCH
Andre Ayew: Has needed no time to settle in English football since his summer move from Marseille. The Ghanaian showed wonderful composure to score on his debut against Chelsea last week after a delicious drag-back and here he revealed his aerial ability. Excellent power and direction from Montero cross saw off Newcastle early in the second half.
VIEW FROM THE BENCH
This was the first time Garry Monk and Steve McClaren had crossed managerial swords and it was the younger man who was smiling as his side dominated almost from start to finish. Monk has his cut work out for Swansea to end higher than last season’s eighth-placed finish but the early signs are good with plenty of fluid football in a disciplined team framework. McClaren’s plan to stifle Swansea were undone by an early Gomis goal and Janmaat’s red card – and there was no way back after the latter.
MOAN OF THE MATCH
McClaren must have wondered what his right-back Janmaat was doing to get sent off close to half-time. Facing Swansea flier Montero is not the easiest task in the Premier League and the Dutchman was booked after clattering into him twice early on. But what he was thinking tugging back Montero little more than 30 yards from Swansea’s goal, well, heaven only knows but it probably brought a good moan from McClaren at half-time.
WHO’S UP NEXT
Sunderland v Swansea (Premier League, Saturday August 22)
Manchester United v Newcastle (Premier League, Saturday August 22)
Tottenham 2 Stoke 2
TWEET OF THE MATCH
Stoke to win in last 3 mins same old Spurs
— Lord Sugar (@Lord_Sugar) August 15, 2015
PLAYER RATINGS
Tottenham
Hugo Lloris: 7 (out of 10)
Kyle Walker: 6
Toby Alderweireld: 6
Jan Vertonghen: 6
Ben Davies: 7
Eric Dier: 8
Ryan Mason: 7
Mousa Dembele: 7
Christian Eriksen: 8
Nacer Chadli: 8
Harry Kane: 7
Subs
Erik Lamela: 6
Nabil Bentaleb: 6
Stoke
Jack Butland: 8
Glen Johnson: 6
Geoff Cameron: 6
Marc Muniesa: 6
Erik Pieters: 7
Glenn Whelan: 7
Marco van Ginkel: 5
Jonathan Walters: 6
Ibrahim Afellay: 6
Marko Arnautovic: 8
Mame Biram Diouf: 7
Subs
Stephen Ireland: 7
Joselu: 7
Charlie Adam: 6
STAR PLAYER
Marko Arnautovic: Arnautovic caused problems for Tottenham right back Kyle Walker throughout the match and he was involved in both of Stoke’s goals, coolly converting a penalty in the 78th minute before playing in Stephen Ireland, who assisted Diouf’s all-important equaliser.
MOMENT OF THE MATCH
Mame Biram Diouf: Diouf had to wait for his moment of glory as he had seen a number of efforts saved by Lloris but the Spurs keeper could do nothing to prevent the Senegalese nodding home with seven minutes to play, completing a remarkable comeback for the visitors.
VIEW FROM THE BENCH
Mauricio Pochettino will perhaps look back and regret taking off both Kane and Mason, which seemed to knock the momentum out of his players and remove all the hosts’ confidence. Mark Hughes, in contrast, will be delighted with his replacements as Joselu won the penalty and Ireland provided the cross for the equaliser.
MOAN OF THE MATCH
Tottenham fans had begun the afternoon full of optimism, peaking in at the work on the new stadium next door and cheering the five summer signings, who were presented on the pitch before kick-off. There was, however, a smattering of boos at the full-time whistle, marking the home support’s disappointment with their side’s capitulation.
WHO’S UP NEXT
Leicester v Tottenham (Premier League, Saturday August 22)
Norwich v Stoke (Premier League, Saturday August 22)
Watford 0 West Brom 0
TWEET OF THE MATCH
Who said Watford don't have many 0 0 draws?! #commentatorscurse 😂 #wfc #wba
— Alan Shearer (@alanshearer) August 15, 2015
PLAYER RATINGS
Watford
Heurelho Gomes 6 (Out of 10)
Allan Nyom 7
Sebastian Prodl 6
Jose Manuel Jurado 7
Valon Behrami 6
Troy Deeney 7
Craig Cathcart 6
Miguel Layun 6
Ikechi Anya 6
Odion Ighalo 6
Etienne Capoue 7
Subs
Almen Abdi 6
Stephen Berghuis 5
West Brom
Boaz Myhill 7
Jonas Olsson 6
Claudio Yacob 6
James Morrison 6
Craig Gardner 5
Chris Brunt 6
Rickie Lambert 5
Saido Berahinho 6
Gareth McAuley 6
Darren Fletcher 6
Craig Dawson 6
Subs
Salomon Rondon 6
James McClean 5
Callum McManaman 5
STAR PLAYER
Allan Nyom: The Cameroon right-back was always a handful going forward and came closest to breaking the deadlock in the first half with one lung-busting run and shot. Set to become a big crown favourite at Vicarage Road.
MOMENT OF THE MATCH
Miguel Layun’s backheel on the touchline, keeping the ball in play, hoodwinking James Morrison and sending Etienne Capoue on a free run up the wing all with one clever touch.
VIEW FROM THE BENCH
Watford attacked with pace down both flanks but too often the final ball let them down. The Baggies were happy sitting back and soaking up the pressure, but Saido Berahino and Rickie Lambert saw too little of the ball.
MOAN OF THE MATCH
Albion’s mantra seemed to be ’keep things tight and maybe nick a goal from a set-piece’. It did not make for great viewing, and unfortunately Watford lacked the nous to do anything about it.
WHO’S UP NEXT?
Watford v Southampton (Premier League, Sunday August 23)
West Brom v Chelsea (Premier League, Sunday August 23)
West Ham 1 Leicester 2
TWEET OF THE MATCH
Leicester lead at West Ham through Okazaxi. The Japanese forward scores from an assist by Vardy... Oh the irony.
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) August 15, 2015
PLAYER RATINGS
West Ham
Adrian: (out of 10) 5
Carl Jenkinson: 5
Angelo Ogbonna: 5
Winston Reid: 6
Aaron Cresswell: 5
Reece Oxford: 6
Mark Noble: 6
Cheikhou Kouyate: 6
Dimitri Payet: 7
Diafra Sakho: 6
Mauro Zarate: 5
Subs
Pedro Obiang: 7
Manuel Lanzini: 6
Modibo Maiga: 5
Leicester
Kasper Schmeichel: 6
Ritchie De Laet: 6
Wes Morgan: 6
Robert Huth: 6
Jeff Schlupp: 6
Riyad Mahrez: 8
Andy King: 6
Danny Drinkwater: 7
Marc Albrighton: 7
Jamie Vardy: 7
Shinji Okazaki: 8
Subs
N’Golo Kante: 6
Yohan Benalouane: 6
Christian Fuchs: 5
STAR PLAYER
Riyad Mahrez: The Leicester winger scored twice in the opening day win over Sunderland and was a class act again here. Scored the important second goal and gave Aaron Cresswell the run-around for much of the afternoon. A real asset to Claudio Ranieri’s side.
MOMENT OF THE MATCH
Shinji Okazaki: A first goal for Leicester following his big-money summer move from Mainz, the Japan forward linked up well with strike partner Jamie Vardy to open the scoring. His initial well-stuck volley was saved but he was alert enough to header in the rebound and set the Foxes on their way to three points.
VIEW FROM THE BENCH
Both Ranieri and Bilic spent much of the game in their respective technical areas but Bilic will be left wondering where the team that beat Arsenal so convincingly last week disappeared to. Ranieri was not a popular appointment among the Foxes fans but will be winning them over having started with consecutive wins.
MOAN OF THE MATCH
West Ham plan to have several themed days at Upton Park as they bid farewell at the end of the season. The theme on their opening home game of a memorable campaign? Claret and blue day. Hopefully all future themes will be a little more imaginative…
WHO’S UP NEXT
Who’s up next?
West Ham v Bournemouth (Premier League, Saturday August 22)
Leicester v Tottenham (Premier League, Saturday August 22)