Manchester City started their title defence with an easy victory over Burnley in the Premier League’s 2023/24 opening match on Friday night.If you had to predict which player would make the biggest impact on this match, you would probably say Erling Haaland. And you’d be right.Erling Haaland scores the opening goal of the Premier League season after 185 seconds 🧘 pic.twitter.com/5NpxlKhLB3— B/R Football (@brfootball) August 11, 2023 Last season, Haaland got 52 goals in 53 games. This time around, he wants to improve that ratio! The Norwegian star kicked off the new Premier League season with a bang, scoring inside the opening four minutes of his team’s victory at Burnley.Haaland gave the reigning champions the lead at Turf Moor by pinging in from close range after a great header from Rodri to set the Norwegian up. pic.twitter.com/qvuP5z755b— MATT 🅿️ (@PapaPincus) August 11, 2023 The second one was a lovely curling shot that found the top corner of James Trafford’s net. Playing against the last season’s EFL Championship winners, it looked like the Cityzens have done everything alright. But their perfectionist manager Pep Guardiola didn’t think so. He found so many problems in the Norwegian’s game that he had to start scolding him in front of the cameras just seconds after the half-time whistle.Vincent Kompany had a chance to manage Burnley against his former club last season in the FA Cup. The Clarets lost 6-0 that day and were given a painful lesson. Now back in the Premier League, facing the side which lifted three trophies last season wasn’t going to be easy, but the progress is there. The home team even had a penalty shout early in the game, but there were no VAR reviews.##NAJAVA_MECA_7424694##Manchester City strolled to their first points of the season with a confident display. They never let Kompany’s side come close – and Rodri scored a firm header to make it 3-0 with a quarter-hour left.Burnley’s Moroccan international Anass Zaroury earned an injury-time red card for a mindless tackle on Kyle Walker, which could have seriously injured the English defender. Zaroury has only been on the pitch for 30 minutes, having come as a second-half substitute.New City signing Josko Gvardiol made his competitive debut for the club in the final ten minutes. Manchester City fans were delighted with their team’s performance on the return of the EPL. And Pep? He’s never satisfied!PREMIER LEAGUE – MATCHDAY 1FridayBurnley – Manchester City 0-3 (0-2)/Haaland 4, 36, Rodri 76/Saturday14:30: (1.20) Arsenal (6.75) Nott.Forest (14.0)17:00: (2.35) Everton (3.40) Fulham (3.00)17:00: (1.38) Brighton (4.80) Luton (8.50)17:00: (3.00) Sheffield Utd (3.15) Crystal Palace (2.50)17:00: (2.75) Bournemouth (3.20) West Ham (2.65)19:30: (1.80) Newcastle (3.60) Aston Villa (4.60)Sunday16:00: (2.80) Brentford (3.40) Tottenham (2.50)18:30: (2.80) Chelsea (3.40) Liverpool (2.50)Monday22:00: (1.37) Man.Utd. (4.90) Wolverhampton (8.50)***odds are subject to change***
