City off to winning start with victory at Wolves
WOLVERHAMPTON - Manchester City got their Premier League campaign off to a flying start with a 3-1 win at Wolverhampton Wanderers on Monday.
Wolves beat City home and away last season but Pep Guardiola's side were full value for their victory despite a strong response from the home side after they went 2-0 down.
PFA Player of the Year, Kevin De Bruyne put City in front with a penalty in the 20th minute. The Belgian broke into the box and was brought down by Romain Saiss before getting up to convert the spot-kick himself.
City's trademark passing game was at its very best for their second goal juwt past the half-hour, Phil Foden ending a fine move with a clinical finish from a low Raheem Sterling cross.
Wolves goalkeeper Rui Patricio did well to keep out a De Bruyne effort as City threatened to put the game beyond them before the break but it was a different story after the interval.
Wolves' Daniel Podence broke goalwards but his attempted chip went over the bar and Raul Jimenez was then picked out by a low cross from Adama Traore but the Mexican side-footed wide from inside the box.
The home side finally gained some reward in the 78th minute when Jimenez headed home a Podence cross, but in stoppage time Gabriel Jesus made sure of the win for the visitors with a shot which deflected off Conor Coady.
The result means there has not been a single drawn match in the opening two rounds of Premier League fixtures and the 44 goals over a single 'game week' is a record for the 20-team era.
Konsa seals Villa win over 10-man Sheffield United
BIRMINGHAM - Aston Villa got their season up and running with a laboured 1-0 home win against 10-man Sheffield United on Monday as Ezri Konsa's second-half header proved enough to settle a dour game.
All eyes were on Villa's new record signing Ollie Watkins but it was defender Konsa, a former team mate of Watkins' at Brentford, and debutant goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez who earned their side three points.
Sheffield United had defender John Egan sent off after 12 minutes for pulling back Watkins but wasted a great chance to take the lead before halftime when John Lundstrum's penalty was saved by Martinez, signed from Arsenal last week.
Even with an extra man Villa struggled to create chances against a well-organised United side, but Konsa's 63rd minute header ensured a positive start for Dean Smith's side who last season escaped relegation by the skin of their teeth.
It has been a disappointing start to the campaign for Chris Wilder's United side who have lost two from two without scoring.
Leicester fight back to give Rodgers milestone win
LEICESTER - Leicester City went top of the standings after they came from behind to secure a 4-2 home win over Burnley on Sunday which was also a milestone 100th Premier League victory for their manager Brendan Rodgers.
It was Leicester's second successive league win after the opening 3-0 success at promoted West Bromwich Albion as they recovered from falling behind to an early Chris Wood strike.
Harvey Barnes equalised in the 20th minute after some good work from Jamie Vardy and Timothy Castagne, who also had a hand in Leicester's second as his 50th-minute cross to Vardy led to an Erik Pieters own goal.
James Justin, who was at fault for Burnley's opening goal, made amends when he made it 3-1 around the hour mark as he turned an Ayoze Perez cross into the net at the far post before Jimmy Dunne pulled one back.
The central defender beat his marker to the ball and headed in a long Dwight McNeil free kick past Leicester goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel before Dennis Praet secured the win with the best goal of the match.
The Belgian midfielder unleashed an unstoppable shot past Burnley keeper Nick Pope from 18 metres before Wood hit the post for the visitors in the dying minutes of an action-packed clash at King Power stadium.
