Premier League takeaways: Same old Salah, Saka has touch of Messi, Sterling's statement

We pick out the main talking points from the English top flight's opening weekend

Mohamed Salah began the new season with a goal and assist in Liverpool's win at Ipswich Town. EPA

The opening round of the 2024/25 Premier League season is in the books and there were no surprise results that could have triggered outraged responses from fans or sensational transfer gossip. Plenty of talking points were still created, though – most of it on the pitch, some of it not.

Here are the biggest takeaways from Matchweek 1.

Sterling ramps up early pressure on Maresca

The size of the challenge facing new Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca – on and off the pitch – has already become abundantly clear just one game into the new season.

It has been yet another summer of upheaval at Stamford Bridge following the exit of Mauricio Pochettino as coach. Around £185 million has been forked out on 11 new signings, leaving Maresca with a bloated squad of 42 senior players to try to keep happy.

Harmony had already been tested during the summer break when midfielder Enzo Fernandez posted a video on social media following Argentina's Copa America win. The footage showed Fernandez and his Argentina teammates singing a derogatory song about French players with African heritage that Chelsea teammate Wesley Fofana described as “uninhibited racism”.

Public and private apologies were made with Maresca confident enough that bridges had been sufficiently mended that he named Fernandez as captain for the opening weekend defeat to reigning champions Manchester City.

And before a ball had been kicked on Sunday, representatives of Raheem Sterling released a statement before asking for “clarity” on his future after Maresca left the winger out of the matchday squad.

“The manager has to take decisions that people and players doesn't like – it's normal,” said the Italian. “It's just a technical decision, no more than that.”

Manchester City's Mateo Kovacic scores his side's second goal in their 2-0 Premier League win over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, August 18, 2024. PA

Manchester City's Mateo Kovacic celebrates scoring their second goal with Bernardo Silva, Phil Foden and Kevin De Bruyne. Action Images

Mateo Kovacic, Erling Haaland, Bernardo Silva and Rico Lewis of Manchester City celebrate after winning the game. EPA

Erling Haaland of Manchester City celebrates with teammate Kevin De Bruyne after scoring the first goal. EPA

Manchester City's Erling Haaland scores their opener against Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez. EPA

Manchester City's Erling Haaland celebrates scoring their first goal with Bernardo Silva and Kevin De Bruyne. Action Images

Chelsea's Enzo Fernandez appeals for a penalty. AFP

Manchester City's Savinho in action with Chelsea's Cole Palmer. Reuters

Chelsea's Romeo Lavia is closed down by Manchester City's Bernardo Silva. Reuters

Same old Salah as Egyptian inspires Liverpool

Entering his eighth season wearing the red of Liverpool, Mohamed Salah continued his habit of starting the new campaign with a goal, producing a man-of-the-match performance that helped earn new manager Arne Slot a 2-0 win against promoted Ipswich Town.

The Egyptian striker grabbed his ninth goal in the opening round of a Premier League season, overtaking the record he held jointly with Frank Lampard, Wayne Rooney and Alan Shearer.

Salah has now scored 158 goals in 264 games for Liverpool, leaving him 10th in the all-time Premier League scoring charts. If he reaches the 20-goal mark this season, he will jump ahead of Jermain Defoe (162), Robbie Fowler (163), Thierry Henry (175) and Lampard (177) into sixth place, behind only Sergio Aguero (184), Andrew Cole (187), Rooney (208), Harry Kane (213) and Shearer (260).

It remains to be seen whether this will be his final season at Anfield as Salah becomes a free agent next summer with links to the Saudi Pro League persisting.

“If I see what he does to keep his body as it is and to be ready to play every game, there are many more years inside of him to play,” said Slot after the match, while refusing to go into detail about Salah's future.

Super Saka has touch of Messi

Bukayo Saka continued where he left off from last season by scoring one and assisting the other in Arsenal's comfortable 2-0 home win over Wolves on Saturday as he looks to maintain his record of improving his goals tally every year since making his senior debut.

The 22-year-old forward reached the 20-goal mark across all competitions for the first time last season having scored four, seven, 12 and then 15 the previous campaigns.

It was a trademark left-footed finish from Saka at the Emirates, with his ability to cut inside from the right to fire home now a reliable weapon for club and country. Ex-England manager Gareth Southgate described Saka as “a dream to work with” following a man-of-the-match performance against Switzerland at Euro 2024.

But his latest effort for the Gunners prompted the pinnacle of praise from manager Mikel Arteta – a comparison to Argentina legend and eight-time Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi.

“With good players it's like that, with Messi I know he's gonna come here and put the ball there,” said Arteta. “But he [Saka] does it all the time. You can't stop him. That's the quality of the player.”

Diaz scoops acting award for Saints

A bad-tempered game at St James' Park on Saturday saw 10-man Newcastle United secure a backs-to-the-wall 1-0 victory over Southampton – but it was the antics of Ben Brereton Diaz that provided one of the weekend's big talking points.

The game was 28-minutes old when Diaz barged into the back of Magpies defender Fabian Schar with the Swiss reacting angrily – and needlessly – by going head-to-head with the Saints forward who then threw himself to the ground after the most minimal of contact.

Referee Craig Pawson showed Schar a red card with VAR backing up the call, much to the fury of Newcastle players and fans.

Newcastle manager Eddie Howe felt the sending off was “harsh” but added: “We all know that you can't give the referee the possibility to even give the red card,” a view echoed by his Southampton counterpart Russell Martin. “You give someone an opportunity to make the most of it. I guarantee their players would have done the same,” he said. "It's a moment of madness from their player."