Liverpool‘s much-anticipated return to a new-look Anfield did not disappoint with a
4-1 win over Premier League champions
Leicester.
It was a lively performance in the shadow of their gigantic, rebuilt £115million main stand as the early stages of the Foxes’ defence of their title continued to stutter.
A second defeat in four league matches, having lost just three times last season on the way to their unexpected trophy, was not the preparation they would have wanted heading into a Champions League debut against Club Brugge on Wednesday.
Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane gave the home side a deserved 2-0 lead before a shambolic moment of madness saw Lucas Leiva pass to Jamie Vardy in the six-yard box and briefly change the tone.
However, Adam Lallana’s third goal for club and country in six matches, having taken until January to reach that mark last season, and a late second for Firmino ensured the celebratory atmosphere did not fall flat.
LA LIGA
Antoine Griezmann kickstarted
Atletico Madrid‘s La Liga campaign with two goals and an assist as a
4-0 rout at
Celta Vigo gave them a much-needed boost on Saturday.
Atletico’s luck turned when Koke met Griezmann’s fine cross eight minutes into the second-half to give the visitors the lead before Euro 2016’s top scorer Griezmann headed home his first two goals of the season in the final 20 minutes.
Angel Correa added a fourth two minutes from time.
Cristiano Ronaldo took just five minutes to score on his return from a three-month injury layoff as
Real Madrid continued their 100 percent start to the season with a
5-2 rout of Osasuna on Saturday.
Ronaldo was making his first appearance since limping off in tears during the Euro 2016 final, but was handed the perfect return on a plate by Gareth Bale as the Welshman squared for Ronaldo to tap into an unguarded net.
Despite failing to hit top gear Real comfortably matched a club record of 15 straight La Liga wins as Danilo’s low drive and a towering header from Sergio Ramos extended the lead before half-time at the Bernabeu.
Osasuna goalkeeper Nauzet Perez meekly turned Pepe’s header into his own net for Real’s fourth before Luka Modric’s fiercely struck shot from outside the box made it 5-0.
However, Real’s defensive deficiencies were exposed in the second-half as Oriol Riera and David Garcia cut Osasuna’s deficit, whilst Roberto Torres saw a penalty saved by Kiko Casilla.
It was a nightmare evening for
Barcelona at Camp Nou as they were brushed aside by newly promoted
Alaves in a
2-1 defeat.
The away team took the lead on 39 minutes as Brazilian striker Deyverson stunned the home fans.
Barca were level shortly after the break thanks to France defender Jeremy Mathieu’s header from a corner but filed to capitalise on his leveller.
First, Mathieu missed a sitter from close range moments later, before Neymar was equally profligate.
Alaves made the champions pay, Ibai Gomez pouncing on some woeful defending to give his team an historic win.
SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE
In the Glasgow derby, the first since
Rangers gained promotion from the first division, saw
Celtic triumph 5-1.
Moussa Dembele scored a hat-trick for the hosts, Scott Sinclair and Stuart Armstrong adding the gloss for the hosts.
Joe Garner scored for Rangers who also had Philippe Senderos sent-off in a miserable day for the visitors.
SERIE A
Juventus made it three wins from three with a
3-1 win over
Sassuolo to remain top of Serie A on Saturday night.
Gonzalo Higuain struck twice in the first ten minutes for the hosts before Miralem Pjanic made it 3-0 in the 27th minute.
Luca Antei pulled one back for Sassuolo four minutes later but that was as good as it got for the visitors who dropped points for the first time this season in defeat.
BUNDESLIGA
Leipzig marked their first home game in the Bundesliga with a
1-0 win over
Borussia Dortmund.
Naby Keita scored a late winner for the hosts on their top-flight debut at the Zentralstadion, with Scotland’s Oliver Burke supplying the assist on his debut.
Chances were at a premium in an evenly-matched encounter, with Thomas Tuchel’s men unable to build on their win over Mainz a fortnight ago and Leipzig extending their unbeaten start to their first-ever season in Germany’s top flight with their first win.