What we learned from EPL week 2

Sport360 staff 11:39 17/08/2015
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  • An eventful weekend of action in the Premier League.

    Football found solace with the return of the Premier League, and as we complete a second week of action, here's what we learned.

    Rooney is struggling at Manchester United


    Man United fans rejoiced when Louis van Gaal ditched the Rooney midfield experiment. Leading the line on his own he was supposed to thrive but his first touch has deserted him and he is yet to have a shot on target this season.

    The role also requires the Red Devils skipper to be more disciplined and he’s being asked to pin down centre-halves and make way for the midfielders running in behind him. Right now, Rooney looks lost.

    Newcastle must tame Mitrovic

    As the new man in the Premier League it’s understandable you want to make an impact. But someone should tell Aleksandar Mitrovic not to take that too literally. For the second week running the Newcastle United striker earned himself a booking just minutes after coming on as a late substitute.

    The Serbian international is yet to start for the Magpies but he must begin to show some restraint if he is the be trusted to lead the line.

    Montero’s a stand-out Swan

    The big question over Jefferson Montero this season was never about his quality but whether he could last the full 90. Yet again, he showed his class during Swansea’s 2-0 win over Newcastle on Saturday. The Ecuadorian is a classic winger in he likes to dribble and beat his man and is usually successful. Exceptional against Chelsea he built on that performance to whip in a cross for Andre Ayew to head Swansea’s second against the Toon.

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    Support brings the best out of Lukaku

    Arouna Kone has been derided for much of his time at Everton so it was a bold move by Roberto Martinez to start the Ivorian with Ross Barkley and Romelu Lukaku.

    But it was a move that paid off. Kone’s presence enlivened Lukaku and that extra body allowed the Belgian to be close to unplayable at Southampton. He was confident, aggressive and when presented with chances clinical. Much more like it from the Blues.

    Mahrez’s surprising start continues

    If Leicester are going to stay up this season then it’s likely Riyad Mahrez will be a significant reason why.

    The Algerian winger absolutely destroyed West Ham’s Aaron Cresswell; a nut-meg in the first-half testament to that. The Foxes kept their 100 per cent start to the season intact and in Mahrez they’ve got a player with a real Xfactor. He swept home the eventual winner against the Hammers but consistency will be the key for him.

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