Which players made the best first impressions at their new clubs? Joseph Davies provides the answers
The opening weekend of the 2017/18 Premier League produced goals, goals and even more goals, to the delight or despair (depending on your team's result) of the watching public. All fans will have been excited by the chance to see some of their new signings in action, though.
In total, 45 players made Premier League debuts this gameweek - and we've boiled them down to the best 10.
10. Alvaro Morata (Chelsea)
Morata was a rare bright spot for the champions, managing to shake the memories of his missed penalty in the Community Shield
Had he started the game, Morata would likely have featured much higher on our list. As it was, the Spanish hitman came on in the second half for a disheveled Mitchy Batshuayi (the man he'll be competing with for the Chelsea No.9 spot this season) and was unable to rescue the game, despite a goal and an assist.
Chelsea’s surprise loss to Burnley will have left many fans lacking confidence about the prospect of a successful title defence, but Morata was a rare bright spot for the champions, managing to shake the memories of his missed penalty in the Community Shield shootout against Arsenal the week before. Expect more starts and more goals.
9. Jay Rodriguez (West Brom)
Although he didn’t bag a goal on his Baggies debut against Bournemouth, Rodriguez produced an assured performance as his side's line-leader. The former Southampton forward created five chances and could have netted a hat-trick in an outing that demonstrated why he earned an England call-up in 2013.
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West Brom fans will be hoping Rodriguez can continue this type of form as he looks to rebuild his injury-ravaged career at The Hawthorns.
8. Jack Cork (Burnley)
The Chelsea academy graduate’s transfer from Swansea to Burnley went under the radar this summer, but Clarets fans knew exactly what they were getting - the Englishman had a spell on loan at the club in 2010/11. Since then, Cork has quietly gone about his business at Southampton and Swansea, moulding himself into one of the most underrated defensive midfielders in the Premier League.
It’s little surprise, then, that Cork produced a confident performance in Burnley’s 3-2 victory over Chelsea on Saturday, looking calm on the ball and not putting a foot wrong throughout. An excellent signing at Turf Moor.
7. Jonas Lossl (Huddersfield)
The first new Terrier on our list, Lossl produced an excellent display against Crystal Palace. The Danish shot-stopper kept a clean sheet for his new side, organising the Huddersfield rearguard impressively and demonstrating an excellent command of his box.
The 28-year old said in pre-season that, although he has idols, he's "looking to make his own name" in the game. More performances like this and the comparisons with compatriot Peter Schmeichel will inevitably follow.
6. Ahmed Hegazy (West Brom)
Although only a loanee at the Hawthorns, Hegazy looked solid enough to become a Tony Pulis favourite. Not only did the Egyptian centre-back score the only goal in West Brom's meeting with Bournemouth, he also slotted seamlessly into the hosts' backline.
Interestingly, he’s the first Baggies player to have scored a debut goal since February 2014, and was one of two Egyptians to find the net on the opening weekend. More displays like this will prompt Pulis to try and turn his loan from Egyptian side Al Ahly into a permanent deal.
5. Alexandre Lacazette (Arsenal)
Arsenal’s record signing looked like the real deal in the Premier League season's curtain-raiser on Friday. The French forward scored with less than two minutes on the clock against Leicester, with his fine header suggesting he could become the latest in a long line of prolific Gallic strikers to have played for the club under Arsene Wenger.
His all-round technical play was very tidy, too, and he was part of many of the Gunners' attacking moves. The Arsenal faithful may still be fretting over Alexis Sanchez's future, but Lacazette looks like he can make up for at least some of the goals Wenger's men would lose should their prized asset depart.
4. Wayne Rooney (Everton)
A second debut, of course. Having won a Champions League, five Premier Leagues, a Europa League, an FA Cup and three League Cups at Manchester United, Rooney returned to Goodison Park a much more experienced and decorated player than the 18-year-old who left it in 2004. What he had left in the tank was a different matter.
Yet the boyhood Toffee scored the only game of the game against Stoke and looked reborn in a blue shirt. Rooney celebrated his terrific header with more passion than we've seen from him in a long time, and Everton supporters will hope he can continue to exert a positive influence over the team around him.
3. Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
Salah’s second Premier League debut promised much after a successful pre-season, and the tricky winger did not disappoint. The Egyptian earned his side an equalising penalty in the second half, which Roberto Firmino put away, before scoring what would have been the winning goal if Liverpool knew how to defend set pieces.
Salah grew into the game as it progressed and, in the second half, showed constant movement and great skill on the ball. We can expect the former Chelsea man to become a fan favourite at Anfield if he continues to perform at this level.
2. Romelu Lukaku (Manchester United)
The burly Belgian arrived at Old Trafford with a huge weight of expectation on his broad shoulders, tasked with replacing Zlatan Ibrahimovic and dealing with the pressure that comes with being the second-most expensive ever Premier League signing (after team-mate and dressing room ally Paul Pogba).
Lukaku looked every inch a future Manchester United star in Sunday’s 4-0 demolition of West Ham, becoming the fourth player to score a brace on their debut for the club and taking his tally against West Ham to 11 goals in 11 league appearances.
1. Steve Mounie (Huddersfield)
A relative unknown to football fans in England, Mounie said after Huddersfield's win at Crystal Palace on Saturday that "now people know who I am".
The striker's two goals and man-of-the-match display helped the Terriers to a memorable opening-day triumph at Selhurst Park, with Huddersfield fans hopeful that Mounie can provide the type of penalty box presence that they often lacked in the Championship last year.
The Benin international has said in the past that he idolises and bases his game on Chelsea legend Didier Drogba. If he can get anywhere near the Ivorian's productivity in the Premier League, the Yorkshire outfit will have got themselves an £11.5m bargain.
