Premier League Table: 2015 EPL Week 1 Standings and Sunday Results
The Premier League took no time in reclaiming its place as European domestic football's most exhilarating competition, with a clutch of surprise goals and results. The biggest shock came on Sunday, as Champions League contenders Arsenal were put to the sword by a dogged West Ham side, losing 2-0 at the Emirates.
The defeat leaves the Gunners rooted to the bottom of the table after Sunday's results.
Liverpool stunned Stoke City at the Britannia as the two sides contested a poor match, but the Reds gained the three points after a stunning 30-yard strike from Philippe Coutinho in the dying embers of the game.
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In Sunday's other match, Newcastle United and Southampton played out a dramatic 2-2 draw in front of a packed St. James' Park. Graziano Pelle gave the visitors the lead, only for Papiss Cisse and debutante Georginio Wijnaldum to strike back for the hosts, before substitute Shane Long grabbed a point for the Saints.
Here are the latest results for the opening weekend of the league, with current standings:
| Saturday, August 8 | Manchester United | 1-0 | Tottenham |
| Saturday, August 8 | Norwich | 1-3 | Crystal Palace |
| Saturday, August 8 | Bournemouth | 0-1 | Aston Villa |
| Saturday, August 8 | Everton | 2-2 | Watford |
| Saturday, August 8 | Leicester City | 4-2 | Sunderland |
| Saturday, August 8 | Chelsea | 2-2 | Swansea |
| Sunday, August 9 | Newcastle United | 2-2 | Southampton |
| Sunday, August 9 | Arsenal | 0-2 | West Ham |
| Sunday, August 9 | Stoke | 0-1 | Liverpool |
| Monday, August 10 | WBA | TBD | Manchester City |
| 1 | Leicester City | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | +2 | 3 |
| 2 | Crystal Palace | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | +2 | 3 |
| 3 | West Ham | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | +2 | 3 |
| 4 | Aston Villa | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | +1 | 3 |
| 5 | Liverpool | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | +1 | 3 |
| 6 | Manchester United | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | +1 | 3 |
| 7 | Chelsea | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| 8 | Everton | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| 9 | Newcastle United | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| 10 | Southampton | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| 11 | Swansea City | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| 12 | Watford Town | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| 13 | Manchester City | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 14 | West Bromwich Albion | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 15 | Bournemouth | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 0 |
| 16 | Tottenham Hotspur | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 0 |
| 17 | Stoke City | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 0 |
| 18 | Sunderland | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | -2 | 0 |
| 19 | Norwich City | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | -2 | 0 |
| 20 | Arsenal | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -2 | 0 |
Hammers Nail Arsenal at the Emirates
After West Ham were eliminated against inferior opposition in the Europa League, you would have been forgiven for believing Arsenal would stroll to the three points in their opening clash of the Premier League season.
However, as we see from this wonderful division time and again—the Gunners were shocked by their London rivals, with Slaven Bilic claiming a 2-0 victory in his first English league game as West Ham manager.
Bilic gave a debut to 16-year-old Reece Oxford, who impressed in the Hammers' midfield against Arsenal's world-class central operators, with Radio 5 Live highlighting his inclusion:
"Reece Oxford was 12 days old when Slaven Bilic played his last game for West Ham pic.twitter.com/z9GhMV7121
— BBC 606 (@bbc606) August 9, 2015"
As expected, the Gunners controlled most of the proceedings, but they failed to utilise Olivier Giroud, who was preferred to Theo Walcott in the striker's position.
The home team dominated the game with 58 percent possession, per Squawka.com, but could not find a way to get past West Ham goalkeeper Adrian.
Bilic's side stunned the Arsenal home support a minute before half-time, as Cheikhou Kouyate beat Petr Cech in the air to give the Hammers a precious lead.
A free kick was swung into the box and Cech fluffed his lines, allowing Kouyate to beat his punch of the ball.
And things were to get worse for the Gunners just 12 minutes into the second half as Mauro Zarate's snap shot caught Cech on the wrong foot, giving West Ham a two-goal advantage.
The diminutive Argentinian checked in on his right foot and fired low past the former Chelsea stopper as he misjudged the accuracy of the shot.
Arsenal huffed and puffed for the rest of the contest but left room in behind their defence—which Bilic's attack constantly exploited.
Sky Sports' Niall Quinn said his former side were shocked by West Ham's excellent play and were nowhere near their best:
The defeat once again underpins Arsene Wenger's lack of a world-class centre-back, and many teams will be noting West Ham's approach when they visit the Gunners in the coming weeks.
Coutinho the Difference as Liverpool Edge out Stoke
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers was desperate to avenge his team's shock 6-1 defeat against Stoke from last season, and he unexpectedly got his wish as Philippe Coutinho's late wonder strike collected the points.
The Reds were on the back foot for most of the match, with Stoke comfortable to turn the game into a physical battle that it appeared Liverpool would not win.
Rodgers gave debuts to Nathaniel Clyne, James Milner and star striker Christian Benteke—but the cohesion was clearly lacking in his side's play.
The game was devoid of many goalscoring opportunities—with neither team effective in the final third—but Coutinho came up with a bit of magic as the dying minutes of the game ticked away.
The Brazilian, who has missed most of pre-season training, cut in on his favoured right foot from the left, and hit a thunderbolt of a shot from 30 yards past the flailing Jack Butland.
Rodgers was delighted that his team came through a tough test and congratulated his new players, per BBC Sport:
"It will take time for all the signings to settle in, but a victory helps and I was delighted with the all round team performance. Benteke showed his quality, Milner was so energetic in midfielder and Gomez is only 18 but stood up well to Jon Walters. Clyne just cruises through games.
Always felt last season's result at Stoke was a one off. The players can put that behind them now and focus on moving forward.
"
In reality, it was a game Liverpool were very lucky to win, but the emerging class of Coutinho will prove to be one of Rodgers' most potent weapons in the next year.
The Reds look like a side who might not fire for a few weeks yet, but if they can pick up wins against opponents as good as Stoke, they will be well placed in their opening gambit.
It is back to the drawing board for Wenger as he looks to find a way of turning his talented bunch into title contenders.
Cech had a nightmare start to his Arsenal career, but goalkeepers always have their reputations on the line when they are under the microscope—as the Czech Republic player currently is.
However, he is certainly an upgrade on the Gunners' recent stoppers, and will surely prove to be an influential signing.
