Talking Points from opening weekend, Manchester United horror loss, Arsenal team to beat, Man City question, news, highlights, analysis

He’s just one game into his Premier League career, but Lucas Herrington is already making the world sit up and take notice.

Watch the biggest Aussie sports & the best from overseas LIVE on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1.

Just weeks after a blockbuster $33 million move to Hull City, the 18-year old prodigy needed just 26 minutes to help his new team to a famous 2-0 victory over a stunned Manchester United.

The fallout for the Tigers’ opponents has been brutal, with a bitter reality facing Michael Carrick in his first full season at the helm; though it seems 19 teams in the Premier League are just playing for second.

Scroll down for the biggest talking points from the opening weekend’s English Premier League action!

‘AT HOME’ AUSSIE DAZZLES IN ‘SPECIAL’ WIN … AS UNLIKELY FAIRYTALE FUSE LIT

As the only Australian playing in the top flight this season, all eyes were on MKM Stadium for the teenage sensation’s first appearance in black and amber.

Named on the bench for Hull City’s opening match against Manchester United, he became the fourth-youngest Australian to feature in the Premier League, and a few weeks shy of his 19th birthday, the youngest since Harry Kewell.

Fans had to wait until the 64th minute for the new recruit, whose transfer from MLS club Colorado Rapids is one of the biggest for an Australian player in history, to be injected into the game, by which point the Tigers had set up a shock 2-0 lead.

But needing some defensive steel to hang on, Herrington delivered in spades, wowing with his calm composure and efficiency at the back.

All up, he finished with a 100 per cent passing accuracy from his nine passes, four clearances and a perfect record in aerial duels – and most importantly of all, sealing a clean sheet.

Socceroos great Craig Foster couldn’t have been more impressed with the youngster’s debut.

“Lucas came on in the back 3 with United pushing (ineffectively),” he wrote on X.

“Lot of defending balls to feet in box, crosses, especially aerial balls.

“Showed personality, organisation of others, very strong aerially.

“In all, very much at home.”

Among the favourites to be relegated at season’s end in their first campaign back in the top flight, the stunning upset has left Hull fans daring to dream of a second season in the Premier League – and maybe just survival isn’t all this team is capable of.

“We are trying to prove people wrong,” manager Sergej Jakirovic told BBC Sport.

“I know there are 37 games to go but this is a good base for the future.”

However, the club knows it can’t afford to get swept up in the excitement, as a 2-0 start looms with a winnable match against fellow EFL-promoted club Coventry next week.

“It’s just one game, I don’t think we’ve shut everyone up yet,” centre back Semi Ajayi said post-match.

But a winning start in front of a packed crowd at Kingston upon Hull is the perfect way to kick off a season whichever way you slice it – and Herrington admitted post-game he was “buzzing” with excitement.

“I’ve been watching the Premier League since I was five years old, waking up at all hours of the morning,” he told Hull’s media arm.

“To be out there with some of these lads against Manchester United was a great moment for me, and something I’ll never forget.

“Obviously a Premier League debut, a win, clean sheet against Manchester United. It doesn’t get much better than that.

“Just hearing the fans so happy, singing their songs and the boys putting in 100 per cent, it was just a great event to be apart of.

“And it’s just the start of something special here.”

‘I CAN’T ANSWER’: STAR’S UGLY SPLIT WITH VILLA MANAGER LAID BARE

England international Ollie Watkins appears to have played his last match for Aston Villa, with manager Unai Emery calling him out after an ugly loss to Brighton and Hove Albion.

Villa slumped to a 4-0 defeat after conceding four times in the first half, with midfielder Joao Gomes sent off just before the break for a petulant kick at Brighton striker Georginio Rutter in further insult.

Attention quickly turned to Watkins’ absence from the team, with the forward having been strongly linked to a transfer only for four bids from Saudi Pro League club Al-Hilal to be rejected.

His unavailability was a major blow for Villa, who were already without Brian Madjo and Tammy Abraham due to injury, forcing them to play with midfielder Emiliano Buendia as a last resort striker.

Speaking after the match, Emery refused to speak up on Watkins’ behalf or explain his absence, saying missing the match was a question “for him”.

“I can’t answer. I can answer only by silence,” he said.

“I think you can call him. You can call his agent and he can respond.

“It’s not my responsibility.”

When asked if he felt let down by Watkins, Emery answered: “He can only explain his answer. I can’t.”

The blunt response leaves it all but certain that Watkins’ departure is imminent.

“It doesn’t feel right,” pundit Micah Richards said on Sky Sports.

“Watkins shouldn’t want to leave Aston Villa, because the club is in a really good position.”

‘DREADFUL … OFFERED NOTHING’: WOLVES COME OUT AS BRUTAL UNITED REALITY LOOMS

On the other side of the pitch, Manchester United’s season could scarcely have started worse.

Having appointed interim manager Michael Carrick to the job permanently after a strong back half to last season secured third spot and Champions League qualification, losing to the freshly promoted Hull was the last thing the doctor ordered.

The 2-0 loss is the first time in Premier League history the fallen giants, who last won the title in 2012/13, had been defeated by a newly promoted club in their opening game.

To make matters worse for travelling fans, a late-game announcement that several trains back to Manchester had been cancelled prompted even more glee from Hull City supporters, who taunted them with a “You should have come in a taxi” chant.

Already the knives are coming out, with former great Alan Shearer blasting the team’s lack of fitness and hunger.

“They didn’t look fit, they didn’t look ready to play 90 minutes of intense, high pressure, high-energy football,” he told BBC Sport.

“United were dreadful in all positions, particularly up front. They offered nothing.”

The loss leaves United 16th on the Premier League table, and after 13 seasons in the wilderness, a 14th could have major ramifications for Carrick just months after signing on.

However, speaking after the match, the manager remained defiant.

“It is one game. First game of the season,” he said.

“It is disappointing enough. It hurts. Of course it does.

“But it doesn’t change the whole course of direction the team is going in, or the football club.

“We will stay calm, stay in the bubble and focus on next week.

“Just because we lose one game doesn’t mean that everything needs dissecting and it’s wrong from our point of view.”

CAUSE FOR ‘ALARM’ AS GUNNERS RUN RIOT

After 22 long years, Arsenal have started a season as champions at last.

And Friday’s 3-0 win over promoted Coventry suggested they have no desire to relinquish the title anytime soon.

The weight of so many past failures has finally been removed from Arsenal’s shoulders and the freedom in their play was clear to see as Mikel Arteta’s men ripped Coventry to shreds in a significant statement of intent.

The victory over Frank Lampard’s side at the Emirates Stadium featured signs that should alarm any team hoping to take the title from them.

Arsenal looked more vibrant than in their tension-filled march to the trophy last term, and with new Greek winger Christos Tzolis providing a jolt of energy, they were able to rely on far more than their vaunted set pieces to dismantle Coventry.

Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard were the scorers, with England defender Ezri Konsa’s pre-match unveiling after his move from Aston Villa providing another ominous signal of Arsenal’s dynastic ambitions.

CITY, REDS BREATHE SIGH OF RELIEF

With just moments left to play at the Etihad and St James’ Park on Sunday, it seemed Manchester City’s new manager Enzo Maresca and Liverpool’s debutant boss Andoni Iraola were destined for disappointment.

City were being held to a 1-1 draw by Bournemouth after Marc Guehi’s 84th minute header cancelled out Marcus Tavernier’s opener for the Cherries.

Liverpool were in dire straits, trailing 2-1 after Joe Willock’s goal restored Newcastle’s lead following a Cody Gakpo equaliser of Anthony Elanga’s early strike.

In Manchester, Maresca’s decision to send on France playmaker Rayan Cherki paid dividends as he set up Guehi’s equaliser before providing the pass for Josko Gvardiol’s stoppage-time winner.

Maresca’s side were fortunate to escape with three points after a mediocre display.

Replacing Pep Guardiola is a daunting task for former Chelsea boss Maresca, but he will have noted the Spaniard also needed a late goal against Sunderland to make a winning start to his reign 10 years ago.

Around 106 miles to the north of Manchester, Iraola was seconds away from defeat when Newcastle defender Lewis Hall made a clumsy challenge on Liverpool substitute Victor Munoz, conceding a penalty that Dominik Szoboszlai lashed into the top corner.

Former Bournemouth boss Iraola has been hired to start a Liverpool revamp after Arne Slot’s sacking in the close-season and the departures of Mohamed Salah, Andrew Robertson and Ibrahima Konate.

The Reds remain a work in progress but the Spaniard can take heart from their gritty escape act.