Football transfer news

There’s nothing quite like Premier League football, eh?

We’re not even two weeks into the season yet and we’ve seen Arsenal crumble under the lights against newly-promoted Brentford, as well as watching Manchester City slip up at the first sign of trouble.

Gameweek two is, and was, an opportunity for some sides to prove their opening defeats were nothing but blips, and that’s something City were keen to prove as they comfortably dispatched of Norwich at the Etihad.

There were three other winners in Saturday’s five other games, while there was an early contender for goal of the month at Villa Park.

But the fun isn’t over yet and there’s still plenty of 90min predictions to play out before the weekend is over…

Liverpool vs Burnley

The opening game of the weekend saw Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool exact revenge over Burnley with a 2-0 win at Anfield.

The Clarets were one of six teams to visit Merseyside last season and emerge victorious, but there was to be no repeat on this occasion. Liverpool started the game brightly and were rewarded with the game’s opening goal within 20 minutes; Diogo Jota escaping his marker to glance home Konstantinos Tsimikas’ superb cross

Mohamed Salah had a goal ruled out for offside towards the end of the half, but Liverpool were never really threatened by Burnley and sealed the points through Sadio Mane’s goal 20 minutes from time – laid on by a tidy assist from Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Liverpool player ratings

90min prediction: Liverpool 3-0 Burnley
Final score: Liverpool 2-0 Burnley

Aston Villa vs Newcastle

Aston Villa responded to an opening weekend defeat to earn their first points of the new Premier League season with a 2-0 victory at home to Newcastle United on Saturday.

A boisterous start to the match from those in the crowd and on the pitch soon descended into an infuriatingly staccato first half that was heavy with rain but light on quality.

That is until Danny Ings produced an early contender for goal of the season with a blistering overhead kick, before the game was settled by an Anwar El Ghazi penalty in the second half.

Aston Villa vs Newcastle player ratings

90min prediction: Aston Villa 2-1 Newcastle United
Final score: Aston Villa 2-0 Newcastle United

Crystal Palace vs Brentford

Patrick Vieira’s wait for a first win as Crystal Palace boss goes on after his side were held to a 0-0 draw by Brentford at Selhurst Park.

Chelsea loanee Conor Gallagher rattled the frame of the Brentford goal before Ivan Toney struck a drilled effort just wide soon after. There wasn’t much to write home about in truth, but the Bees’ unbeaten start to the season continues – while Palace are now without a goal in two.

Crystal Palace vs Brentford player ratings

90min prediction: Crystal Palace 2-2 Brentford
Final score: Crystal Palace 0-0 Brentford

Leeds vs Everton

Leeds United and Everton played out an entertaining 2-2 draw on Saturday afternoon, as the two sides put on a show for the returning Elland Road crowd.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin stepped up to give the visitors the lead from the penalty spot, before Leeds hit back through Mateusz Klich after some great work from Raphinha and Patrick Bamford. Demarai Gray restored Everton’s lead after half-time, but the hosts clawed their way back into the game through a fine Raphinha finish with just under 20 minutes remaining.

Leeds vs Everton player ratings

90min prediction: Leeds 1-1 Everton
Final score: Leeds 2-2 Everton

Manchester City vs Norwich

Manchester City put consecutive defeats behind them to claim a comfortable first win of the season, thumping Norwich 5-0 at the Etihad Stadium.

An own goal from Tim Krul and a first for the club for £100m record-signing Jack Grealish got City off to the perfect start, and it was a routine afternoon thereafter for Pep Guardiola’s side.

Gabriel Jesus was in top form all afternoon, but it was left to Aymeric Laporte, Raheem Sterling and Riyad Mahrez to round off the scoring in a routine victory.

Manchester City vs Norwich player ratings

90min prediction: Manchester City 4-0 Norwich City
Final score: Manchester City 5-0 Norwich City

Brighton vs Watford

Brighton made it two wins out of two as they comfortably dispatched another of the Premier League’s new boys, Watford, 2-0 at the Amex Stadium.

Forgotten man Shane Duffy opened the scoring for the Seagulls with a powerful header from a corner, before the impressive Yves Bissouma seized upon a mistake in the Hornets defence to set Neal Maupay free on goal.

He finished with aplomb, wrapping up all three points for a Brighton side who look more comfortable playing the brand of football Graham Potter wants to see.

Brighton vs Watford player ratings

90min prediction: Brighton 0-0 Watford
Final score: Brighton 2-0 Watford

Southampton vs Manchester United

What time is kick off? 14:00 (BST)
Where is it being played? St Mary’s
TV channel? Sky Sports Main Event/Sky Sports Premier League (UK), fuboTV (US)

Are Man Utd really back? The Red Devils dismantled Leeds with frightening ease at Old Trafford, but then again, they did that last year, too. There’s something different about this Paul Pogba and Bruno Fernandes link-up though, and we fancy them to run riot at St Mary’s.

Southampton crumbled at Goodison Park on Saturday, conceding three to throw away their early advantage. The loss of centre-back Jannik Vestergaard to Leicester City makes them even more vulnerable, and we can’t see the Saints going marching to victory on Sunday.

It won’t be as straight-forward for Man Utd this weekend, but if they play to their best, it should be fairly routine.

Full match preview
Southampton predicted lineup
Manchester United predicted lineup

Prediction: Southampton 1-3 Manchester United

Wolves vs Tottenham Hotspur

What time is kick off? 14:00 (BST)
Where is it being played? Molineux
TV channel? fuboTV (US)

Who saw this one coming? After all the talk about Spurs’ crisis, they only went and beat the champions! It was more perfect than any supporter would have dared imagine, but it’s time to get feet back on the ground for the next battle.

Patrick Vieira’s wait for a first win as Crystal Palace boss goes on after his side were held to a 0-0 draw by Brentford at Selhurst Park.

A draw wouldn’t be a bad result for either team, especially given Spurs’ European duties in midweek.

Full match preview
Wolves predicted lineup
Tottenham predicted lineup

Prediction: Wolves 0-0 Tottenham Hotspur

Arsenal vs Chelsea

What time is kick off? 16:30 (BST)
Where is it being played? Emirates stadium
TV channel?  Sky Sports Main Event (UK), fuboTV (US)

Are there any Arsenal fans in the world that are feeling confident ahead of this one? The Gunners’ campaign kicked off in the worst possible fashion, and surely, it won’t get any better against Chelsea.

The Blues were all business as usual in their win over Palace, and that was without Lukaku on the pitch. The Belgian is expected to feature on Sunday, meaning Ben White will already be having nightmares. Christian Pulisic has tested positive for COVID, however, and will miss out.

It could be another afternoon to forget for Arsenal, and another victory on the march towards a title battle for Thomas Tuchel and his slick Chelsea machine. Make your predictions for how quickly #ArtetaOut will begin trending on Sunday.

Full match preview
Arsenal predicted lineup
Chelsea predicted lineup

Prediction: Arsenal 0-2 Chelsea

West Ham vs Leicester City

What time is kick off? 20:00 (BST)
Where is it being played? London stadium
TV channel? Sky Sports Main Event (UK), fuboTV (US)

Finally, we’ve got the Monday night kickoff, where two Gameweek 1 winners go head to head in East London. West Ham and Leicester put in impressive displays against Newcastle and Wolves, and neither will want to fall off the winning trail.

David Moyes’ men showed plenty of spirit and character to come from behind twice to beat the Magpies, but the Foxes are a much sterner opposition. Both proved they know where the goal is, and we expect them to strike gold on Monday.

But Leicester are the stronger of the two clubs, and they should have just enough to return home with all three points.

Prediction: West Ham 1-2 Leicester City

Brighton cruised to a second successive victory to begin the new Premier League campaign with a 2-0 win over an outclassed Watford.

In a sign of what was to come, Brighton began the game in commanding style, dominating possession and territory in open play. However, it was from a simple but brilliantly executed corner kick from which Shane Duffy opened the scoring ten minutes into the match.

#BHAFC have the lead and it’s a magnificent header from the returning Duffy ? pic.twitter.com/ZhigvJifCt

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) August 21, 2021

The Seagulls passed around Watford with such speed and precision they left the visitors looking like red training cones placed deliberately around the pitch by Graham Potter. Outnumbered in midfield and swarmed upon after each turnover, Watford looked very much like the bookmaker’s favourites to be relegated.

As the first half drew to a close, the brilliant Yves Bissouma pounced upon a sluggish pass from William Troost-Ekong to a dozing Tom Cleverley, teeing Neal Maupay up to make it 2-0 with Brighton’s second chance of note on an uncharacteristically clinical afternoon for the hosts.

Watford certainly improved in the second half – ending the contest with more centre-forwards than natural centre-backs – but their starting standard was so far below that of their hosts it wasn’t enough to turn the tide.

7 – Among central defenders since the start of the 2018-19 season, only Lewis Dunk and Virgil van Dijk (both 10) have scored more Premier League goals than Shane Duffy (7). Source. #BHAWAT pic.twitter.com/no9WJgxqIQ

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) August 21, 2021

Robert Sanchez (GK) – 6/10 – Flashes of fear with the ball at his feet but hardly required to use his hands.

Adam Webster (CB) – 8/10 – Carried out a complex shifting role comfortably.

Shane Duffy (CB) – 7/10 – Marked his return in front of the Brighton crowd with an excellent goal but was perhaps fortunate to escape with a yellow card for a risky tackle in the second half.

Lewis Dunk (CB) – 8/10 – Shifted across to the left hand side of Brighton’s back-three, no doubt with Ismaila Sarr’s potential threat in mind. Dunk was scarcely troubled and utterly composed throughout.

Pascal Groß (RWB) – 7/10 – Delivered the set piece for Duffy’s delicious opener, the natural playmaker ensured his creative influence was as prevalent even from out wide in open play as well.

Yves Bissouma (CM) – 9/10 – Wherever you looked, the blur of Brighton’s number eight was practically omnipresent; snapping into tackles, reading the play effortless and building from deep.

Adam Lallana (CM) – 7/10 – Restored to the starting XI, Lallana littered the match with delicate touches and flicks to knit Brighton’s play together.

Solly March (LWB) – 7/10 – Tirelessly trawling up and down the left hand side, March emerged largely unscathed from his tussle with Sarr.

Leandro Trossard (RW) – 7/10 – Heavily involved as he dovetailed menacingly with Groß down Brighton’s right but faded after the break.

Neal Maupay (ST) – 8/10 – A sharp finish took his scoring tally after two games a quarter of the way to his final total last season (eight). Although, worryingly, his afternoon was curtailed by injury.

Alexis Mac Allister (LW) – 6/10 – Trying to pick up threatening positions between the lines, the former Boca Juniors forward was the least threatening of Brighton’s front line.

46′: Back out for the second half with one change for the Albion. Aaron Connolly replaces Neal Maupay.

[2-0] ? https://t.co/S3j1TIedJv ? #BHAFC ??? pic.twitter.com/X2rsR0GwSm

— Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) August 21, 2021

Aaron Connolly (ST) – 6/10 – Missed a glorious chance shortly after coming on following more superb play from Bissouma in the build up.

Enoch Mwepu (CM) – 6/10 – Brought on to stiffen up the midfield with mixed results.

Jakub Moder (CM) – N/A

Daniel Bachmann (GK) – 5/10 – Unlike many opposition keepers Brighton faced last season, Bachmann wasn’t presented with a slew of missed chances, but rather left helpless in the face of clinical finishing.

Craig Cathcart (RB) – 4/10 – Laboured at right-back and was unsurprisingly the defender sacrificed as Xisco Munoz tried to overhaul a two-goal deficit.

William Troost-Ekong (CB) – 4/10 – Guilty of a weak and perilous hospital pass in the build up to Brighton’s second goal.

Christian Kabasele (CB) – 5/10 – Bypassed almost entirely by Brighton’s rotating blend of forwards.

Adam Masina (LB) – 4/10 – Overrun down his flank with as many as three Brighton players floating in his zone at times.

Tom Cleverley (CM) – 4/10 – For a player with as much Premier League experience as the former Manchester United midfielder, Cleverley looked disappointingly off the pace, particularly in the first half.

Peter Etebo (CM) – 4/10 – Dropping slightly behind his other midfielders, Etebo was left drowning as Brighton overloaded the centre.

Imran Louza (CM) – 2/10 – On a debut to forget, Louza was so infrequently involved he was, almost mercifully, hooked off at half-time.

Ismaila Sarr (RW) – 4/10 – A marked man from the off, Sarr was starved of the ball and crowded out when he did receive it.

Emmanuel Dennis (ST) – 5/10 – Painfully isolated from the rest of his teammates throughout the first half, the former Champions League goalscorer could only get the ball in the back of the net from an offside position.

Ken Sema (LW) – 5/10 – Left Masina all too exposed behind him but improved in a more central position after the break.

One change at the break…#BHAWAT pic.twitter.com/svgYJNY0nQ

— Watford Football Club (@WatfordFC) August 21, 2021

Cucho Hernandez (LW) – 6/10 – Buzzing around the final third, his arrival coincided with Watford’s uptick without being the sole cause of their improvement.

Josh King (ST) – 5/10

Troy Deeney (ST) – N/A

Manchester City put consecutive defeats behind them to claim a comfortable first win of the season, thumping Norwich 5-0 at the Etihad Stadium.

Jack Grealish scored his first City goal following his £100m record transfer from Aston Villa, a scruffy goal he appeared to know little about as it ricocheted off his leg into the net at the far post.

The reigning champions, who were beaten by Leicester in the Community Shield and then lost their Premier League opener against Tottenham last week, were dominant from the start against a Canaries side that were their own worst enemy by naively playing far too open.

Rigidly sticking to their philosophy, Norwich were determined to a play possession-based game and were swarmed by sky blue shirts, who easily won the ball back and kept it far better.

City zipped the ball about with ease throughout the 90 minutes and Grealish and Gabriel Jesus, operating on the flanks, were always sources of danger.

An early own goal from Tim Krul started the scoring and the game was effectively over a contest within half an hour. After Grealish had doubled the advantage, Aymeric Laporte, Raheem Sterling and Riyad Mahrez all scored in the second half to wrap up the 5-0 win.

Here’s a closer look at how both sets of players performed…

Ederson (GK) 6/10: Alert when he needed to be but mostly a spectator.

Kyle Walker (RB) 7/10: Split the Norwich defence with an incisive pass to create City’s fourth goal.

Ruben Dias (CB) 7/10: Not tasked with anything noteworthy defensively but deserves credit for the vision to assist City’s fifth goal with a measured long pass over the top.

Aymeric Laporte (CB) 7/10: Handed a start in place of the rested John Stones and got on the scoresheet early in the second half with a tidy reactive finish.

Joao Cancelo (LB) 6/10: Looked sharp with his movement in the first half in particular.

Rodri (DM) 7/10: Patrolled the base of midfield and ensured Norwich couldn’t create anything.

Ilkay Gundgan (CM) 6/10: Played just under 70 minutes and will have much tougher challenges ahead.

Bernardo Silva (CM) 6/10: Relatively quiet compared to City’s other creative talents.

Gabriel Jesus (RW) 9/10: Very effective from his role on the right flank and looked really up for the game. Caused the own goal to open the scoring and got two more assists. Later switched to the left.

Ferran Torres (ST) 6/10: Posed a threat as City’s ‘number nine’ and had a sharp and clinical finish ruled out by VAR for an incident earlier in the passage of play.

Jack Grealish (LW) 7/10:  His first goal for his new club wasn’t pretty but it will take a weight off his shoulders. Saw plenty of the ball and this will have boosted his confidence.

Raheem Sterling (ST) 7/10: Replaced Torres in a central role after an hour and was rewarded with a goal. His clever movement also dragged the Norwich defence out of position for City’s fifth.

Cole Palmer (CM) 7/10: Handed a Premier League debut for the final 25 minutes and looked at ease knocking the ball about and creating openings.

Riyad Mahrez (RW) 7/10: A darting run in from the right was rewarded with a pinpoint long pass and the Algerian duly obliged with City’s fifth goal of the day.

Tim Krul (GK) 5/10: Arguably unlucky to have turned the ball into his own net for the opener but looked shaky in a number of situations after that.

Max Aarons (RB) 5/10: Struggled to contain Grealish. Did drive forward on occasion.

Grant Hanley (CB) 4/10: A very difficult afternoon started early when his attempted clearance ricocheted off Krul into the net.

Ben Gibson (CB) 4/10: Too easily outsmarted by Sterling when City scored the fifth goal and generally struggled against rapid movement.

Dimitris Giannoulis (LB) 4/10: Willing to get forward when Norwich did have the ball but was given a torrid time by Jesus. Withdrawn at half-time.

Pierre Lees-Melou (CM) 5/10: Off the pace in midfield as City dominated.

Billy Gilmour (CM) 5/10: Would have preferred more time on the ball but it was always going to be a very difficult afternoon against the quality of the champions.

Lukas Rupp (CM) 4/10: Really struggled to gain a foothold in midfield and only lasted 45 minutes.

Todd Cantwell (RW) 5/10: Skilful on the ball when he had it but City’s intense pressing meant he was always under pressure when trying to make something happen for his team.

Teemu Pukki (ST) 5/10: Spent most of his time without the ball and was completely starved of meaningful service.

Milot Rashica (LW) 4/10: Disappointing performance. Poor in the first half and anonymous in the second.

Bali Mumba (LB) 5/10: Brought on at half-time to try and stem the flow from City’s right flank better than Giannoulis. Did okay but was too slow to react to Mahrez’s run for the fifth goal.

Kenny McLean (CM) 4/10: Did no better than Rupp, who he replaced at half-time.

Josh Sargent (ST) N/A: Had a thankless task of leading the line in the final stages when his team were already 4-0 down.

For more from Jamie Spencer, follow him on Twitter and Facebook!

Aston Villa responded to an opening weekend defeat to earn their first points of the new Premier League season with a 2-0 victory at home to Newcastle United on Saturday.

A boisterous start to the match from those in the crowd and on the pitch soon descended into an infuriatingly staccato first half that was heavy with rain but light on quality.

That is until Danny Ings produced an early contender for goal of the season with a blistering overhead kick on the cusp of half-time to open the scoring. Villa came out after the break playing with a fresh sense of calm and composure as Newcastle were restricted to infrequent bursts forward on the counter.

Danny Ings introducing himself to the Villa fans in style! ? pic.twitter.com/eJLl0F8JAA

— 90min (@90min_Football) August 21, 2021

Approaching the hour mark, the two captains combined to give Villa a penalty as Mings had his header blocked by Jamaal Lascelles outstretched arm. Anwar El Ghazi coolly converted to make it 2-0.

Emiliano Martinez’s blushes were spared after a tight offside VAR call cancelled out a Newcastle penalty Callum Wilson earned for beating the Villa keeper to a ball over the top with fifteen minutes to go before Villa saw out the contest.

Emiliano Martinez (GK) – 5/10 – Scarcely tested before misjudging race to bouncing ball with Wilson.

Matty Cash (RB) – 6/10 – Always eager to raid forward and provide width for Villa down the right hand side though lacked quality with his final pass.

Ezri Konsa (CB) – 6/10 – Reluctant to get touch-tight to the physically imposing Callum Wilson but ensured he never got a clear sight of goal.

Tyrone Mings (CB) – 7/10 – Surprisingly more influential in the opposition penalty area than his own but solid nonetheless.

Ashley Young (LB) – 7/10 – Back in front of the Villa Park faithful for the first time in more than a decade, Young was sloppy on the ball but used the full width and breadth of his experience at fullback (accrued after leaving Villa) for a composed display.

John McGinn (CM) – 6/10 – Pushing forward from midfield, McGinn’s involvement waned in the second half.

Douglas Luiz (CM) – 6/10 – Dropping between the centre backs to try and dictate play, the tough-tackling Brazilian showed the sluggishness a summer of Copa America and Olympic football will bring.

Jacob Ramsey (CM) – 7/10 – Flittering around the fringes of the contest to begin with, Ramsey grew into the game, dropping deep and popping up around the edge of the area as he tried to bridge the gap between midfield and attack.

Poetry in motion. ? @IngsDanny pic.twitter.com/15GsVsTyxa

— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) August 21, 2021

Emi Buendia (RW) – 6/10 – Drifting in off the right, Villa’s marquee signing peppered the first half with flashes of cool-headed quality but faded.

Danny Ings (ST) – 8/10 – His goal will invariably grab the headlines (see above) but Ings’ willingness to drop deep and press the opposition proved the makings of a successful home debut.

Anwar El Ghazi (LW) – 7/10 – Worked doggedly off the ball in an attempt to replicate a fraction of the industry brought by the absence of Ollie Watkins and made it six successful Premier League penalties out of six.

Dean Smith makes his first change of the afternoon…

? 2-0 ? [86′] #AVLNEW pic.twitter.com/dWkPhpb1va

— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) August 21, 2021

Jaden Philogene-Bidace (RW) – N/A

Axel Tuanzebe (CM) – N/A

Wesley (ST) – N/A

Freddie Woodman (GK) – 5/10 – In only his second Premier League appearance, Woodman could do little about Ings’ wonder goal or the penalty. Infrequently troubled otherwise.

Fabian Schar (CB) – 5/10 – Only fleetingly demonstrated his superb distribution.

Jamaal Lascelles (CB) – 3/10 – In a groggy performance, Newcastle’s captain was left sprawled on the turf as Mings beat him to a header from a straightforward long-throw ahead of the opening goal and conceded the penalty.

Federico Fernandez (CB) – 5/10 – As the only returning member of the back-three that began the Premier League campaign by shipping four goals against West Ham, Fernandez was sacrificed as Steve Bruce flung Joelinton on.

Jacob Murphy (RWB) – 4/10 – Guilty of a blatant dive in the first half, Murphy didn’t provide much going forward and looked nervy at the back.

Joe Willock (CM) – 5/10 – Desperate to get into the opposition box at every opportunity but couldn’t trouble Martinez.

Isaac Hayden (CM) – 6/10 – Lumbered with a great deal of responsibility as the only starting midfielder with a hint of defensive responsibility, sat behind almost a square of teammates through the middle. Forced off with injury at half-time.

Miguel Almiron (CM) – 4/10 – Struggled to exert any real influence on proceedings.

Matt Ritchie (LWB) – 5/10 – Swung in a steady stream of crosses which scarcely found their target.

Allan Saint-Maximin (ST) – 5/10 – There is no question Saint-Maximin can beat one or two opponents but when he so regularly drops into his own half to begin ferreting forward he gives even himself too much to do.

Callum Wilson (ST) – 6/10 – Missed a gaping chance in the opening stages but battled gamely with Mings throughout.

? Change at the break for the Magpies.#AVLNEW // #NUFC pic.twitter.com/UW8AFY64lO

— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) August 21, 2021

Sean Longstaff (CM) – 5/10 – Increasingly outnumbered in midfield as Villa gained more and more control of proceedings.

Joelinton (ST) – N/A

Ryan Fraser (LW) – N/A

Leeds United and Everton played out an entertaining 2-2 draw on Saturday afternoon, as the two sides put on a show for the returning Elland Road crowd.

The first half got off to a quiet start, and it took a moment of madness from Whites captain Liam Cooper to separate the sides. The Scotsman dragged Dominic Calvert-Lewin down in the box on 26 minutes, and although the referee missed it at first viewing, he awarded the penalty after consulting the VAR screen on the touchline.

HALF TIME: #LUFC and Everton head into the break on level terms, after Mateusz Klich cancelled out Dominic Calvert Lewin’s opener. 1-1 pic.twitter.com/tU3jhxzF4r

— Leeds United (@LUFC) August 21, 2021

Calvert-Lewin stepped up and dispatched the penalty, putting Everton in front heading into the half-time break. But Leeds hit back on 40 minutes, after some great work from Raphinha and Patrick Bamford was rounded off by Mateusz Klich.

It took only five minutes of the second half for Everton to re-establish their lead, however, as new signing Demarai Gray announced himself on Merseyside with a neat finish past Illan Meslier.

Leeds survived a few scares in the second half as the Toffees looked to kill the game, but Meslier kept the hosts within one. That proved pivotal on 72 minutes, when Raphinha rifled a stunning strike from the edge of the box into the far corner, sending the Elland Road faithful wild.

Neither side could find that all-important fifth goal of the game, and the spoils were shared.

Let’s check out the player ratings.

Illan Meslier (GK) – 8/10 – Little to do until the penalty, but couldn’t keep out Calvert-Lewin’s spot-kick. Made a couple of important saves after Gray had put Everton ahead.

Luke Ayling (RB) – 7/10 – Occasionally tucked in as part of a back three, acting as a right-sided centre-back. Flexibility is key to Bielsa’s fluid system.

Pascal Struijk (CB) – 6/10 – A better display than the chaotic showing at Old Trafford, but still far from convincing. Diego Llorente is sorely missed.

Liam Cooper (CB) – 6/10 – Absolutely ridiculous decision-making to pull Calvert-Lewin down in the box. No doubt it was a penalty. Made amends with the assist for Raphinha’s strike.

Junior Firpo (LB) – 6/10 – Not a bad full debut. Slotted in nicely on the left side, and didn’t allow Iwobi the space he needed to attack and cause problems.

? The Polish Prince strikes again! pic.twitter.com/DgyjKISu2N

— Leeds United (@LUFC) August 21, 2021

Mateusz Klich (CM) – 7/10 – A quiet first half, but came up with the goods towards the end of the first 45, rounding off an excellent move to draw Leeds level.

Kalvin Phillips (CM) – 7/10 – Helped Leeds dominate possession from the off, showing his steel and control in the centre of the park. Had a crack at goal which deflected wide. Great delivery for the second goal.

Stuart Dallas (CM) – 6/10 – Plenty of industry and worked hard to retrieve the ball for Phillips to distribute. Will be disappointed to have let Gray get his shot off from a tight angle.

Raphinha (RW) – 8/10 – Worked some smart shooting angles for himself in the first half, but couldn’t hit the target. Tucked in more centrally and looked dangerous. Great work for the first equaliser. Found his range with a stunning strike to draw Leeds level for a second time.

Patrick Bamford (ST) – 7/10 – Left one on Mina in the first half, and caused a mini brawl between the pair. Got his revenge by bagging the assist for Klich’s equaliser.

Jack Harrison (LW) – 6/10 – Excellent work-rate, tracking back and keeping a close eye on Coleman and his overlapping runs. Didn’t have the impact he’d have hoped in attack.

Tyler Roberts (AM) – 6/10

Jamie Shackleton (CM) – 7/10

Jordan Pickford (GK) – 6/10 – Could only watch as the defence parted like the red sea in front of him for Klich’s cheeky finish. No stopping Raphinha’s effort.

Seamus Coleman (RB) – 7/10 – Typically stoic and uncompromising on the right flank. Not easy against a winger as busy as Harrison but was never fazed. Picked up a yellow card.

Yerry Mina (CB) – 7/10 – Back in the team and tasked with challenging Bamford and his physical style of play. Sparks began to fly at the end of the first half. Left exposed by Keane for the first leveller.

Michael Keane (CB) – 6/10 – Another nervy display. Got in a bad position for Leeds’ equaliser, then missed the interception. Bailed out by his attacking teammates.

Lucas Digne (LB) – 7/10 – Put in a strong performance, whipping in plenty of crosses to try and find Calvert-Lewin in the area. A really impressive part of the defensive unit.

Allan (CM) – 7/10 – Bit into plenty of challenges, landing a hefty foul on Phillips. He loves a battle. The perfect man needed to combat the relentless Leeds midfield.

Abdoulaye Doucoure (CM) – 7/10 – Almost put Everton ahead immediately after Leeds’ equaliser with a long-range drive which Meslier spilled. Got the assist for the second.

Richarlison (AM) – 6/10 – Couldn’t get on the ball as much as he would have liked, but always posed a threat when his teammates did pick him out. A quieter afternoon than usual.

Spot on ?#LEEEVE ? @CalvertLewin14 pic.twitter.com/jtrfdoIWbq

— Everton (@Everton) August 21, 2021

Alex Iwobi (RW) – 6/10 – Extremely quiet in the first half, anonymous in the final third and lacking the killer touch to get Everton moving up the pitch. Floated wide as Richarlison moved into the middle.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin (ST) – 8/10 – Couldn’t quite reach a cross from wide to poke the ball home. Dragged down by Cooper, and won the penalty for his team. Took the spot-kick himself and tucked it away.

Demarai Gray (LW) – 8/10 – Grew into the game and threatened often, demonstrating lightning pace and trickery. Bagged the goal his display deserved with an excellent finish on his left foot. One to watch this season.

75′ Our first change of the afternoon:

?? Townsend
?? Iwobi

?? 2-2 ? pic.twitter.com/WXrRHuzR5t

— Everton (@Everton) August 21, 2021

Andros Townsend (RW) – 6/10

Fabian Delph (CM) – 6/10

Moise Kean (ST) – N/A