MX23RW : Sunday, January 12 10:58:14| >> :600:107827519:107827519:

Five memorable opening day Premier League matches

Olivier Giroud grabbed Arsenal's winner in a 4-3 thriller against Leicester in 2017.

The Premier League is set to return and so are fans in what promises to be a season to savour on and off the field.

There are some mouth-watering clashes on the opening weekend of the 2021-22 campaign with champions Manchester City travelling to Tottenham, Manchester United hosting old foes Leeds and newly-promoted Brentford tackling Arsenal.

Here, the PA news agency look at five memorable  opening-day fixtures from previous seasons.

1994: Sheffield Wednesday 3 Tottenham 4

Soccer – FA Carling Premiership – Tottenham Hotspur v Leeds United – White Hart Lane
Jurgen Klinsmann went on to score 20 Premier League goals for Spurs in the 1994/95 season (Christine Boyd/PA).

This launched what was meant to be a continental new era for Spurs, with Jurgen Klinsmann leading the line after a move from Monaco. He delivered too, scoring and then performing one of the Premier League's most memorable celebrations – a dive to live up to his reputation. Despite the German's 20 goals, Spurs could only finish the season seventh.

1996: Wimbledon 0 Manchester United 3

David Beckham's majestic lob from his own half triggered one of the English game's most celebrated and high-profile careers. Beckham was a well-established prospect before he caught Neil Sullivan napping – but this goal certainly helped him make a name for himself.

2016: Hull 2 Leicester 1

Soccer – Pre-Season Friendly – York City v Hull City – Bootham Crescent
Robert Snodgrass scored the winner for Hull in their opening game against Leicester in 2016 (Nigel French/PA)

Leicester became the first reigning Premier League champions to lose their opening game. Newly-promoted Hull suffered a chaotic summer, losing boss Steve Bruce and seeing fans protest at the Allam family's ownership of the club – but they won with goals from Adama Diomande and Robert Snodgrass, either side of Riyad Mahrez's penalty.

2017: Arsenal 4 Leicester 3

The night started perfectly for Arsenal as new signing Alexandre Lacazette marked his league debut with a goal after just 94 seconds, only for Shinji Okazaki to level three minutes later. Jamie Vardy then capitalised on poor defending to twice put the Foxes ahead either side of Danny Welbeck's equaliser. However Aaron Ramsey levelled  before fellow substitute Olivier Giroud's 85th-minute goal settled a breathless encounter in Arsenal's favour.

2020: Liverpool 4 Leeds 3

Champions Liverpool were given a scare by a fired-up Leeds side playing their first top-flight match in 16 years but ultimately a Salah hat-trick proved decisive. Three times the Reds were pegged back after taking the lead with a Salah penalty, Virgil Van Dijk header and another strike from the Egyptian, with equalisers coming from Jack Harrison, Patrick Bamford and Mateusz Klich. Salah finally settled the contest with a second spot-kick two minutes from time.

ID:459214:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect7790:
Written by
P A
Collect / Create New Data
Share this article now:
Newcastle United's Joseph Willock celebrates scoring against Sheffield United in the Premier League on May 19, 2021
Read Next:
Joe Willock undergoes medical as Newcastle close in on first summer signing
>
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free match previews newsletter! Updates are sent twice a week.
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
FT
Steelers
14-28
Ravens
6pm
Broncos
@
Bills
9.30pm
Packers
@
Eagles
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool19144147192846
2Arsenal20117239182140
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest20124429191040
4Chelsea20106439241536
5Newcastle UnitedNewcastle20105534221235
6Manchester CityMan City2010463627934
7Bournemouth209653023733
8Aston Villa209563032-232
9Fulham207943027330
10Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2061043029128
11Brentford208393835327
12Tottenham HotspurSpurs20731042301224
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd206592328-523
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham206592439-1523
15Crystal Palace204972128-721
16Everton193881525-1017
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves2044123145-1416
18Ipswich TownIpswich2037102035-1516
19Leicester CityLeicester2035122344-2114
20Southampton2013161244-326


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!