It’s the best league in the world and it can be the most unforgiving but, for the three newly promoted teams, the Premier League is the only place to be.
Burnley, Sheffield United and Luton Town all took their top flight bows this weekend and they all came crashing down as the reality hit. But while the Clarets showed enough to suggest they will be fine, the Blades and Hatters endured a chastening first match.
Burnley are regulars at the top table, embarking on their seventh campaign among the elite in the last eight seasons, and they started against a familiar foe with a defeat at home to Manchester City in the Friday night curtain-raiser. Sky Blues manager Pep Guardiola has recently said that to repeat his side’s treble winning season is impossible.
Who is he kidding?!
The Premier League 2023 betting odds reckon City will make it four domestic titles on the bounce for starters and the way they schooled Vincent Kompany’s Burnley at a packed Turf Moor suggests they are right. It took the Sky Blues only 185 seconds to go ahead when Erling Braut Haaland found half a yard of space from a corner and finished brilliantly. The big Norwegian’s second, on 35 minutes, was a stunning strike from 12 yards which crashed in off the underside of the crossbar.
When Rodri poked home after a goalmouth scramble on 77 minutes the game was up for the Clarets, who also saw Anass Zaroury sent off for a late tackle on Kyle Walker.
City were at their clinical best; but what of Burnley?
Well, Kompany has things to work on; conceding from two set pieces will have irritated the former centre back, but there was much from the Clarets’ play to be optimistic about. His young team kept their shape throughout and played some quick and neat football, even stretching the Sky Blues defence during bright spells in either half. Their heads didn’t drop after going behind so early and losing a second goal when they were on top, and they have already taken strides since they lost 6-0 to Manchester City in the FA Cup quarter final last term.
Burnley limited their illustrious opponents to very few clear cut chances (though they took all three) with defenders Jordan Beyer and Ameen Al Dakhil particularly impressive, and they showed plenty of invention up front with Lyle Foster, Manuel Benson and the 18 year old winger Luca Koleosho all very lively.
Manchester City have won the previous 12 meetings between these two teams, and scored 45 of the last 46 goals in this fixture. Add to that the fact that City’s current defensive unit costs more than Burnley have spent in their entire 140 year history and you can see why this was as tough a start as you could encounter.
And the Clarets will only have to face Haaland once more this season!
While the early evidence suggests that Burnley’s Premier League 2023 results will pick up pretty soon I fear for Sheffield United and Luton Town as they succumbed, rather meekly, to Crystal Palace and Brighton and Hove Albion. The Blades spent two years in the top flight recently, but second season syndrome saw them relegated in 2021 having won just one of the opening 18 games. Crystal Palace at home was a chance to get a point or three on the board, but Roy Hodgson’s Eagles dominated throughout, with 68 per cent possession and eight shots on target to one. Odsonne Edouard scored the Palace winner while the Eagles had a goal disallowed either side of the break.
Unlike Burnley, Paul Heckingbottom’s Sheffield United has a workmanlike look about it and they will leave everything on the pitch, but whether they have enough quality to score goals is another question.
Meanwhile Luton, first Premier League match in 30 years ended in a rather predictable 4-1 beating away to buoyant Brighton, who have established themselves as a free-flowing top ten side under Roberto de Zerbi. After the Seagulls had gone two goals up Carlton Morris halved the deficit from the penalty spot, but two late strikes saw off Rob Edwards’ brave Hatters.
Yet to get off the mark, Luton and Burnley were scheduled to meet next Saturday but the game has been postponed due to ongoing work at Kenilworth Road. That won’t faze Kompany or Burnley who are used to being in the top flight and have a home match against Aston Villa the following week. The Villains were thrashed 5-1 by Newcastle United on Saturday; they looked dangerous in attack but were all at sea in defence. Luton will be desperate to get a point on the board but their next game is away to Chelsea and the SBOTOP odds will only point to another defeat.
Sheffield United have a chance to get off the mark when they make the short trip to the City Ground to face Nottingham Forest who are in their second season in the Premier League.
That game looks like a six-pointer already.
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