Back in August, on the opening day of the season, Rudy Gestede leapt above the Bournemouth defence to head in the only goal of the game to kickstart Aston Villa’s campaign under Tim Sherwood. The future looked bright. Over in London José Mourinho railed at his medical staff as Chelsea drew 2-2 with Swansea – surely only a blip – while Sunderland’s Dick Advocaat called for more signings after going 3-0 down at a high-tempo Leicester within 25 minutes. With the opening day fixtures reversed this weekend, we look back at the mood at the 20 Premier League clubs back in sunny August. A lot has happened since then …
ARSENAL V WEST HAM UNITED
Start of season shape
Arsenal: After Arsène Wenger finally got the better of José Mourinho with a win in the Community Shield, his team looked ready to push on and establish themselves as proper title contenders. Petr Cech brought a wealth of experience and quality with him from Chelsea yet Wenger had decided not to make any outfield signings.
West Ham: The combination of a new, inexperienced manager, injuries to key attackers, unfinished transfer business and losing their Europa League qualifier to Astra Giurgiu three days before their first Premier League game meant that Slaven Bilic's side were hardly brimming with optimism as they arrived in north London.
Opening day odds: Arsenal 3-10, West Ham 12-1, Draw 12-5.
What happened
Arsenal 0-2 West Ham: The visitors sealed a stunning win with a clinical counterattacking performance. Dimitri Payet and Reece Oxford, 16, were the stars and a deflating day for Wenger's men was summed up by the mistakes from Cech that led to goals for Cheikhou Kouyaté and Mauro Zárate.
What the managers said
Arsène Wenger: "I haven't spoken to Cech. I can't see many convincing individual performances today. It's difficult to single one player out. We were not good enough, we were not convincing and that's basically it."
Slaven Bilic: "It's a great result, a great performance. This is the best proof that we are doing something right – to get something on paper, three points. It's a great start but it's only a start."
Where are they now?
Arsenal: Clinging on – just – to fading title hopes.
West Ham: Dreaming of an FA Cup and Champions League qualification double.
BOURNEMOUTH V ASTON VILLA
Start of season shape
Bournemouth: There was a mood of rare excitement as Bournemouth approached their first-ever season in the top flight. Despite – or perhaps because of – the lack of eye-catching signings, there was cautious optimism that the managerial excellence of Eddie Howe would enable an intrepid side to avoid relegation.
Aston Villa: They lost Fabian Delph and Christian Benteke, but Tim Sherwood's breezy motivational skills had got them to the FA Cup final and kept them up the season before. He had bought almost an entirely new team, and the most common view that they would finish safely in the bottom half.
Opening day odds: Bournemouth 10-11, Aston Villa 3-1, Draw 5-2.
What happened
Bournemouth 0-1 Aston Villa: The away side drew Bournemouth's sting in the first half and nicked the points when Rudy Gestede, the big striker signed from Blackburn to replace Benteke, came off the bench to head the only goal.
What the managers said
Eddie Howe: "In the first half we were outstanding. I was very pleased. We got hit with a sucker punch but we learnt what the Premier League is all about. I think our style of football can be successful in the Premier League."
Tim Sherwood: "I'm delighted. They are going to beat teams at this place, let me tell you. Rudy is like a moving car. You don't mind standing in front of a parked one but you want to move out the way when it is coming at 30mph."
Where are they now?
Bournemouth: Sitting comfortably in 13th place, 11 points above the relegation zone, and without compromising their style.
Aston Villa: In a league of their own – at the bottom. Including caretakers, they've had more managers than Premier League wins.
CHELSEA V SWANSEA
Start of season shape
Chelsea: The reigning champions, last term's dominant force, and apparently in rude health to retain their trophy. José Mourinho's side had not added extensively to their squad, and there had been Petr Cech's surprise departure for Arsenal, but there was faith in the players who had finished eight points clear of the rest in the spring.
Swansea: Hugely encouraged after finishing eighth in May, and hopeful with their summer transfer business focusing on the arrival of Andre Ayew from Marseille on a free transfer. A potential coup in the making. Another season of progression beckoned.
Opening day odds: Chelsea 3-8, Swansea 11-1, Draw 4-1.
What happened
Chelsea 2-2 Swansea: Chelsea led at the break, had Thibaut Courtois sent off early in the second half and were pegged back by Bafetimbi Gomis' penalty. At the time, an away draw at Stamford Bridge felt like a triumph for the visitors. More significantly for Chelsea, Dr Eva Carneiro and the physio, Jon Fearn, treated Eden Hazard for an on-field injury in stoppage time having been waved on by the referee, but much to Mourinho's frustration. They were barred from first-team duties in the days to come and the first obvious crack in Chelsea's collective demeanour had been exposed.
What the managers said
José Mourinho: "Fundamentally, I am happy with the quality in the first half and the spirit in the second half. We are in peace. But I wasn't happy with my medical staff because, even if you are a medical doctor or secretary on the bench you have to understand the game. You have to know that you have one player less and if you go to the pitch to assist a player then you must be sure that a player has a serious problem. I was sure that Eden didn't have a serious problem. My medical department left me with eight fit [OUTFIELD]players in a counterattack after a set piece and we were worried we didn't have enough players left."
Gary Monk: "Jonjo Shelvey's vision, his technical ability is excellent and it's just trying to get him to a level where he can perform to that for every single 90 minutes. I spoke to him, his father and his agent and he realises how serious it is at this level and what type of player he can be. He is maturing but we need to push him and make him the best player he can be. He has the right attitude now and hopefully that performance can give him the confidence to go on and be even better."
Where are they now?
Chelsea: Mourinho out, Hiddink's interim stewardship winding down, and Antonio Conte coming in with a hefty task ahead. And Carneiro's full employment tribunal – she is suing for constructive dismissal – is scheduled to be heard in June.
Swansea: Monk out, Alan Curtis' spell as a No1 swiftly curtailed and Francesco Guidolin in but not necessarily for the long-term. A summer of change awaits.
EVERTON V WATFORD
Start of season shape
Everton: An 11th-place finish the previous season, the club's lowest for nine years, combined with only two new arrivals before the opening game ensured there was discontent and pressure around Roberto Martínez from the very start. Talk of the rich potential in the Everton ranks needed to be backed up by results and performances, with the manager adamant that: "Without the distraction of Europe, we will find it very different."
Watford: The abrupt departure of Slavisa Jokanovic after guiding the club to an impressive promotion campaign, followed by Quique Sánchez Flores' first managerial appointment in English football, created an air of uncertainty around the newcomers. A raft of new signings also invited questions over how quickly Watford could adapt on their return to the top flight.
Opening day odds: Everton 8-11, Watford 9-2, Draw 3-1.
What happened
Everton 2-2 Watford: Watford twice took the lead through Miguel Layún and Odion Ighalo but were pegged back each time by Ross Barkley's fine strike and the substitute Arouna Koné's late equaliser.
What the managers said
Roberto Martinez: "We never accepted defeat and it is fair to say we deserved the equaliser. Barkley's strike was world class, and forget about his age - he has matured immensely."
Quique Sánchez Flores: "My targets are the same as the club and the players. We have to be competitive and we will try and offer something different to the fans every week."
Where are they now?
Everton: Floundering in mid-table again but with hope of salvation in the FA Cup.
Watford: In the lower reaches but Premier League safety has never been in doubt.
LEICESTER CITY V SUNDERLAND
Start of season shape
Leicester City: The loss of Nigel Pearson and their 2014-15 player of the season, Esteban Cambiasso, pointed towards another difficult campaign for the Foxes, especially as the new man in charge, Claudio Ranieri, arrived on the back of being sacked by Greece.
Sunderland: Having retained Dick Advocaat as manager and made a host of shrewd-looking signings, among them the Holland international Jeremain Lens, the north-east club had their sights set on stopping their run of relegation scraps.
Opening day: odds Leicester 10-11, Sunderland 7-2, Draw 5-2.
What happened
Leicester 4-2 Sunderland: Jamie Vardy's early strike and two goals from Riyad Mahrez gave the hosts a 3-0 lead inside 25 minutes. Sunderland fought back in the second half, and scored via Jermain Defoe and Steven Fletcher either side of a goal from Marc Albrighton, but it was not enough.
What the managers said
Claudio Ranieri: "I ask my players – you finished well last season and I want to see you restart at the same level. The first half was outstanding, the second half we made mistakes. But it is OK."
Dick Advocaat: "You have to show every minute away from home and we didn't see that in the first half. We struggled again. Everybody can see that we need more."
Where are they now?
Leicester: On the verge of the most remarkable Premier League title triumph ever seen.
Sunderland: Mired in relegation trouble.
MANCHESTER UNITED V TOTTENHAM
Start of season shape
Manchester United: After backing Louis van Gaal to the extent of £83m shelled out over the summer, there was considerable anticipation over how Memphis Depay and Bastian Schweinsteiger would fit in. Anthony Martial, who would cost another £36m potentially rising to £58m, had yet to be captured from Monaco. United had managed a fourth-place finish the previous season and Van Gaal was demanding improvement, though the manager decided David de Gea was not in the right place to play as he was supposedly close to agreeing a move to Real Madrid.
Tottenham: A fifth-place finish the previous season was encouraging, but most people shared Mauricio Pochettino's belief that if Harry Kane could keep supplying the goals Spurs could do even better. The visitors gave a debut to £12m summer capture Toby Alderweireld in defence, though Dele Alli only came on for the last 13 minutes. Pochettino had gone with Nacer Chadli in the startling lineup, perhaps unaware that the pace and directness many critics felt they lacked was available in the form of a substitute who also made his first Spurs appearance at Old Trafford, having been loaned back to MK Dons the season before.
Opening day odds: Manchester United 4-7, Tottenham 5-1, Draw 3-1.
What happened
Manchester United 1-0 Tottenham: An underwhelming home performance was rescued by Kyle Walker putting through his own net for the only goal, though it was probable Wayne Rooney would have scored anyway. Significantly for the way the rest of the season would shape up, United did not manage a shot on target until the 65th minute. Depay and Schweinsteiger made unremarkable debuts, with Morgan Schneiderlin winning most of the new-boy plaudits. Spurs looked sharp and confident and in control for much of the game, without making enough chances.
What the managers said
Louis van Gaal: "We had a lot of players playing for the first time at Old Trafford, and that is always difficult. I said to Memphis that he doesn't have to play too eagerly and with too much passion and that counts for the whole team. I like the performance, and I was pleased with the debut Matteo Darmian made."
Mauricio Pochettino: "We played well and I thought we deserved more, at least a draw, because we dominated the game and we were clearly the better team when United scored. We found it difficult to get back into the game after that, but we should not be too disappointed. We played as a team, we can still be optimistic."
Where are they now?
Manchester United: Stuck in the same rut.
Tottenham: Much improved, another excellent season from Kane and a bonus in the form of Alli, mean they still retain a chance of the title.
NEWCASTLE V SOUTHAMPTON
Start of season shape
Newcastle: The mood on Tyneside was one of cautious optimism. If Newcastle fans were slightly underwhelmed by the choice of Steve McClaren as the new manager he at least seemed a definite upgrade on the recently dismissed John Carver and £50m had just been spent on four new players – Gini Wijnaldum, Aleksandar Mitrovic, Chancel Mbemba and Florian Thauvin. McClaren publicly targeted a top-eight finish and also talked about winning a cup. There could surely be no repeat of the previous season's dalliance with relegation.
Southampton: The south coast seemed quietly contented – not to mention confident Ronald Koeman's slick side were capable of at least repeating the previous season's seventh-placed finish. Slight disappointment surrounded the departures of Morgan Scheniderlin and Nathaniel Clyne to Manchester United and Liverpool respectively, not to mention Koeman seeing his bid to sign the Atlético Madrid centre-half Toby Aldeweild gazumped by Tottenham. Virgil van Dijk, another centre half, was yet to join Southampton from Celtic for a reported £13m and Fraser Forster, the team's England goakeeper, was still recovering from a serious knee injury.
Opening day odds: Newcastle 7-4, Southampton 8-5, Draw 9-4.
What happened
Newcastle 2-2 Southampton: Graziano Pellè showed off immense skill to direct a glancing header beyond Tim Krul and give Southampton a slightly underserved lead but Papiss Cissé chested in an equaliser before half-time. Early in the second period Wijnaldum headed Newcastle in front only for yet another header, from Shane Long this time, to ensure it ended 2-2. Mitrovic was lucky to be merely booked rather than sent off for a blood-curdling challenge on Matt Targett made shortly after McClaren introduced him as a substitute.
What the managers said
Steve McClaren: "I appreciated the crowd's reaction at the end. For 75 minutes we were excellent. We didn't play smart after that but I think fatigue set in. Can we get better? Most definitely."
Ronald Koeman: Was not at the match. Southampton's manager had just had surgery to repair a torn achilles tendon and remained at home.
Where are they now?
Newcastle: Second bottom and staring relegation in the face after leaving it too late to sack McClaren and replace him with Rafael Benítez.
Southampton: Sitting comfortably in seventh place and seemingly set fair for a bright future.
NORWICH V CRYSTAL PALACE
Start of season shape
Norwich City: After a rousing play-off promotion, fans expressed frustration pre-season over the summer transfer activity, with a lack of serious quality added to a squad which finished third in the Championship. It looked like being a struggle.
Crystal Palace: In buoyant mood. Eyeing Europe after a 10th-place finish, Palace made among the summer's most eye-catching signings in Paris Saint-Germain's Yohan Cabaye. The only real worries were the lack of a 15-goal-a-season striker and the prospect of Alan Pardew being poached.
Opening day odds: Norwich 8-5 Palace 2-1 Draw 9-4.
What happened
Norwich 1-3 Palace: Cabaye stole the headlines by scoring Palace's third, sweeping in a James McArthur pass, following strikes from Wilfried Zaha and Damien Delaney. Nathan Redmond struck City's first goal of the season, and Cameron Jerome had another controversially ruled out. A sobering opening day for the newcomers.
What the managers said
Alex Neil on Jerome's disallowed goal: "When it affects the game and affects you getting a point, or maybe three points, then it's extremely frustrating. I don't think his studs or foot are in any danger of hitting the lad. As far as I'm concerned it's a perfectly good goal disallowed."
Alan Pardew: "I'd be disappointed with that, too. I understand Norwich's frustration for sure."
Where are they now?
Norwich: Edging ahead in the fight for survival.
Crystal Palace: In a horrendous run and looking rather nervously over their shoulders.
STOKE CITY V LIVERPOOL
Start of season shape
Stoke City: With Ibrahim Afellay and Marco van Ginkel having arrived in the summer there were expectations Mark Hughes' men would further their development as a technical, pleasing-on-the-eye side and possibly better the ninth-place finish they had achieved in each of the previous two campaigns.
Liverpool: Brendan Rodgers remained in charge despite a hugely disappointing 2014-15 campaign, and one that ended with his team suffering a 6-1 defeat – at Stoke. Some 77 days later he was under pressure, having made a raft of new signings, to leave the Britannia Stadium with a far more positive result.
Opening day odds: Stoke 5-2, Liverpool 5-4, Draw 12-5.
What happened
Stoke 0-1 Liverpool: A less-than-thrilling encounter was settled in thrilling style as Philippe Coutinho sealed all three points for the visitors with a powerful, dipping drive from long-range four minutes from full-time.
What the managers said
Mark Hughes: "Liverpool have invested a lot of money this summer but I did not see £80m worth of difference between the teams. We are at a good level without going into the transfer market too much."
Brendan Rodgers: "To get the win after what happened here last season was important. We showed great character and determination and our quality came through."
Where are they now?
Stoke City: Another season of superb progress.
Liverpool: Rodgers out, Klopp in, improvements in the team but still struggling to make the top four.
WEST BROM V MANCHESTER CITY
Start of season shape
West Brom: Already boosted by the capture of Rickie Lambert, an acquisition Tony Pulis likened to taking a new car out of the garage, West Brom announced the signing of Salomón Rondón just before the first game of the season. The Baggies had spent most of the previous season comfortably in mid-table before finishing 13th, more or less what was expected of a Pulis team, though the manager was trying to give the side more of a goal threat.
Manchester City: Runners-up to Chelsea the previous season by the considerable margin of eight points, City had splashed the cash in summer with a view to reclaiming the title in what was widely assumed to be Manuel Pellegrini's last season. Raheem Sterling, at £49m, was the headline capture, Kevin De Bruyne was still just a rumour, though almost as critical to City's hopes of success was Vincent Kompany's return to full fitness.
Opening day odds: West Brom 5-1, Manchester City 4-6, Draw 3-1.
What happened
West Brom 0-3 Manchester City: Goals from David Silva, Yaya Touré and Kompany inside an hour overshadowed Sterling's debut, although the former Liverpool player did add some pace and zip to City's often laboured style and would have ended up on the scoresheet had he made more of an opportunity when he only had Boaz Myhill to beat. Pulis played both Saido Berahino and Lambert up front, and accepted afterwards that left his side underpowered in midfield, with City dominating possession.
What the managers said
Tony Pulis: "I told the players I take responsibility for this one. Against the big teams you have to fill the midfield and make sure you don't get outnumbered. I was trying to be positive but that defeat has taught me a lesson."
Manuel Pellegrini: "It is important to start with a win. In the Premier League you are normally going to win or lose the title by one point, so it is vital to start strongly. Last season was a strange on for Yaya Touré, but he seems to be calm now and back to his best. Raheem Sterling will improve once he gets used to a new group of players."
Where are they now?
West Brom: Currently on 40 points and 11th in the table, between Chelsea and Everton, so Pulis will be pleased. Rondón turned out to be a decent signing too.
Manchester City: Not in any danger of missing out on the title by a single point. With Pellegrini on his way out, City need a few more wins to ensure Pep Guardiola does not walk in to the ignominy of Europa League football. Kompany is injured again, Sterling is not wholly convincing but De Bruyne is helping Silva and Sergio Agüero fly the last English flag in the Champions League.
(Guardian service)
