World champions saved by VAR twice in the opening game

Eberechi Eze and Marc Guehi are both linked with a move to other clubs (Eze to Tottenham, Guehi to Liverpool) but both players started that game against all odds. They were to valuable first-team members during the last season for Oliver Glasner to exclude them and the players themselves wanted to play until they are transferred unlike for example Alexandar Isak of Newcastle. In the end, in a game against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge both men were the main actors even thou the game finished 0-0. It was Eze who scored a goal which would have been a winner and it was Guehi who denied him of that goal.

VAR was again the main actor in this game and there will be debates again. This was not the situation when the referees in the room missed completely, but it was a situation in which they were zealously checking the rules and disallowed the only goal of the game quite harshly. And then, on another situation, in which Guehi was again the main actor, VAR never bother to check the possibly penalty.

What happened? In the 13th minute we saw a goal which was somehow harshly overturned. Palace got the free kick at the edge of the penalty area and Eze took the ball. He smashed it almost directly at Sanchez who reacted horribly, but after a lengthy VAR check, the referee explained: "After review, the Crystal Palace no. 6 is less than one metre into the wall as the shot is taken”. From this season, referees will explain their VAR decisions publicly and this time the stadium cheered when they heard the explanation, but the general feeling is that this was a harsh decision. Sanchez made a good save a couple of minutes later to make up for the funny goal he received, but he was the main actor in the stoppage time again. He went for the ball but hit Guehi in the head instead. This time, VAR thought that it wasn’t worth a penalty, which also seems as a mistake as it was a clear hit to the head by fist.

More or less that was basically all from this rather boring game. It was boring mainly due to the fact that Chelsea against spent hundreds of millions of pounds on new players but couldn’t even score against Crystal Palace, who showed a firm defense and quick counter attack. In fact, the Eagles looked like a better team after 90 minutes and not the Blues, who are world champions by the way. Cole Palmer and Joao Pedro, considering their quality were the worst players on the pitch, not included keeper Sanchez, who is the worst player in almost every Chelsea game, including this one. The only Blues footballer worth mentioning is young Brazilian Estevao, who will soon take his place in the starting line-up if he continues to play like this.

ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE - MATCHDAY 1

Friday

Liverpool - Bournemouth 4-2 (1-0)

/Ekitike 37, Gakpo 49, Chiesa 88, Salah 90+4 - Semenyo 64,76/

Saturday

Aston Villa - Newcastle 0-0

Brighton - Fulham 1-1 (0-0)

/O'Riley 55 pen - Muniz 90+6/

Sunderland - West Ham 3-0 (0-0)

/Mayenda 61, Ballard 73, Isidor 90+2/

Tottenham - Burnley 3-0 (1-0)

/Richarlison 10,60 Johnson 66/

Wolverhampton - Manchester City 0-4 (0-2)

/Haaland 34,61 Reijnders 37, Cherki 81/

Sunday

Chelsea - Crystal Palace 0-0

Nott.Forest - Brentford 3-1 (3-0)

/Wood 5, 45+2, Ndoye 42 - Thiago 78(p)

18.30: (3.60) Man.Utd. (3.50) Arsenal (2.15)

Monday

22.00: (2.50) Leeds (3.25) Everton (2.90)

***odds are subject to change***