The United States has never had a strong foothold in European soccer, much less the English Premier League. However, this year has seen a bit of shift — a revolution if you will — with Americans playing in England's first division at a tremendous rate. No team has made more waves than Leeds United.
Following Manchester United’s dismal opening-day defeat at home to Brighton, United’s fans have made their frustration and anger known online. For quite some time the fanbase has been upset with the club's ownership, but a recent movement on Twitter is hoping to use social media to send a public message.
It has to happen. #EmptyOldTrafford pic.twitter.com/sIEK6EBTE3
As a soccer writer with a heavy focus on U.S. Soccer and American players abroad you would think that I knew all the details about the biggest players. I thought that was the case until I learned that a Christian Pulisic Mike Wazowski tattoo exists.
The American and Chelsea No. 10 has a nice sleeve of tattoos on his left arm filled with clues of his past and interests. I never knew that in Nov. 2021 Pulisic added "Monsters Inc." character Mike Wazowski dribbling a Champions League ball to his arm.
Soccer is ever-moving. Just as soon as one season end, the next begins, and with it comes an overwhelming supply of games, moments and, most importantly, memes from the past week. Here, we make sure that you never miss a moment of the greatness that goes on in just 280 characters. This is “This Weekend On Soccer Twitter.”
And so it begins. On Sunday, Erling Haaland made his Premier League debut for Manchester City and scored two goals during his 78 minutes on the pitch.
History says this is largely what we should expect from the 22-year-old. With Borussia Dortmund, Haaland averaged a goal every 86 minutes (62 in 5,388) while his career average in the Champions League is one every 77 (19 goals in 1,463 minutes).
Guardiola said it best after the match: "He was born to score goals."
With 37 matches still to play, it's time to bring the curtain down on the 2022-23 Premier League season. On the limited evidence of Matchday 1, here's how things are going to shake out over the next nine months, guaranteed.
#1. Manchester City's Going To Win The League
MANCHESTER, England - New manager Erik ten Hag saw the depth of the crisis at Manchester United when his side fell to a 2-1 Premier League defeat by Brighton & Hove Albion at Old Trafford on Sunday, with German Pascal Groß scoring twice.
United fans' hopes that the off-season would mark a turning point have faded, with the club failing to make major moves yet in the transfer market and there was a grim familiarity to the club's opening match.
Chelsea defeated Everton 1-0 in the Blues' Premier League opener, however a horrifying Ben Godfrey injury early in the first half dampened the mood in Goodison Park.
In the 18th minute of the game Godfrey had to be stretchered off the field, put on oxygen and taken to the hospital after a terrifying injury to his right ankle while trying to make a tackle on Kai Havertz.
Fans are furious at the linesman for not seeing that the ball had clearly gone out of play moments before the injury.
American and Leeds United fans couldn’t have had a better Saturday as USMNT forward Brenden Aaronson grabbed a game-winner, sort of, in a 2-1 victory vs. Wolves. He and Tyler Adams looked great in their first Premier League game.
With the score tied at 1-1 late in the second half and Wolves looking the more threatening side, Leeds and manager Jesse Marsch needed something special.
A dangerous and precise pass from Adams got the move started for Leeds and then a cross from Patrick Bamford found Aaronson for the winner in the 74th minute.
American Premier League fans who woke up early Saturday morning were treated to quite the entertaining fixture. Newly promoted Fulham hosted last season’s runners-up Liverpool at Craven Cottage and both sides shared the honors with a 2-2 draw after a back and forth affair.
Fulham played with guts and desire, and honestly, looked like the better side throughout the 90 minutes. A pair of goals from Aleksandar Mitrović gave Fulham every chance of leaving with all three points but Liverpool equalized on both occasions to secure the draw.