Written By Cy Brown - English Premier League club Chelsea F.C. has been banned by FIFA from making new signings in the next two transfer windows after the club was found guilty of breaking rules regarding foreign players under the age of 18. The Blues will not be able to sign players again until the 2020 summer window, however, they can still sign players on free transfers and recall players from loan.

English Premier League leaders - Chelsea - secured the coveted PL title with a late winner over West Bromwich Albion on Friday night.

Leicester City have sacked manager Claude Puel after 16 months in charge.

Liverpool continued their historic quest for the 2019/20 English Premier League title this Saturday; dicing and slicing their way through an unyielding Tottenham Spurs side for a lone goal victory and 17 points advantage at the helm over third placed defending Champions – Manchester City – who will be in action on Sunday at Aston Villa.

Manchester City’s faint title hopes were dealt another blow on Saturday after being held to a 2-2 tie by a resolute Crystal Palace side ahead of Premier League leaders, Liverpool, home game against Manchester United on Sunday.

Liverpool continued their ruthless breakaway run for the 2019/20 English Premier League title with an emphatic 4-0 thumping of rejuvenated Southampton for a record twenty-two points advantage at the top - the biggest lead by any team at the end of a day in English top-flight history – on Saturday, as distant second-placed Champions – Manchester City – await their turn on the field on Sunday, as guests of struggling Tottenham Spurs.

There was no comeback or heroics for Premier League leaders and title-hopeful side Liverpool at relegation-threatened Watford on Saturday as they were handed their first defeat of the season - a 3-0 shutout – that ended their hopes of remaining unbeaten for the entire season.  The Reds had won their past 18 Premier League games and another at Vicarage Road would have made history as the longest winning run in the English top flight.

English Premier League champions Manchester City have been banned from playing in the Champions League, European soccer’s premier competition, for two seasons.

The first week of the 2018/19 English Premier League season got underway this past Friday, with Paul Pogba captaining and getting Manchester United off to a flying start in a thrilling 2-1 win over Leicester City at home.

Premier League champions Manchester City and runner-ups from last year Liverpool got their season underway with blistering performances that saw the former overwhelm West Ham by five goals to nothing and the latter demolish newly-promoted Norwich City by four goals to one on Friday at Anfield.

The 2020/21 English Premier League season got underway this afternoon after just a seven-week break following the conclusion of the 2019/20 campaign that was disrupted by coronavirus pandemic with Arsenal showcasing their offensive power in a 3-0 thrashing of newly promoted side Fulham in the first game of the season and Crystal Palace edging Southampton by a goal at home in the second game of the day.

It was an uncharacteristic start to the season for Defending Champions, Liverpool, at Anfield, as they had to wait till the final embers of the game to put newly promoted side, Leeds United, away in a seven-goal thriller that saw Mohammed Salah score the first hat-trick of the season.

In the final game of the day, Newcastle got their season off to a glorious start with a blistering performance that saw them down hosts, West Ham, by two goals to nothing.

Sunday

Leicester City’s Jamie Vardy got his Golden Boot title defense off to a great start as he netted two goals from the spot in his side’s 3-0 thumping of West Bromwich. And a poor Spurs display in their home opener saw an impressive Everton side bag all three points.

And on Monday, big-spending Chelsea and Wolves got their campaigns off to incredulous starts with respective victories against Brighton and Sheffield United.

EPL Week 01 Scores At A Glance

Saturday

Fulham 0-3 Arsenal

Crystal Palace 1-0 Southampton

Liverpool 4-3 Leeds United

West Ham 0-2 Newcastle

Sunday

West Bromwich 0-3 Leicester City

Tottenham 0-1 Everton

Monday

Brighton 1-3 Chelsea

Sheffield United 0-2 Wolves

Postponed

Manchester City vs. Aston Villa

Burnley vs. Manchester United

Saturday

Fulham 0-3 Arsenal

Arsenal's old and new faces starred as they beat newly-promoted Fulham 3-0 at Craven Cottage in the Premier League season opener.

Arsenal got Mikel Arteta's first full campaign up and running through Alexandre Lacazette's tap-in (9) as debutant Willian's shot was parried by Marek Rodak, before Willian hit the post with a free-kick.

Willian's corner was then nodded home by fellow debutant and man-of-the-match Gabriel Magalhaes after the break (49) before Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang curled home a beauty from just inside the box from another Willian assist (57) to hand Arsenal a dominant opening-day win.

Arsenal's momentum and belief was clear to see, with Arteta claiming his 18th win in the last 30 games.

Crystal Palace 1-0 Southampton

Wilfried Zaha's 50th goal in league football secured injury-hit Crystal Palace a 1-0 win over Southampton on the opening day of the Premier League season at Selhurst Park.

Zaha met Andros Townsend's cross to volley the hosts in front (13) against a lacklustre Saints, who failed to replicate the impressive form shown towards the end of last campaign.

Kyle Walker-Peters saw his red card for a foul on Tyrick Mitchell overturned by referee Jon Moss having consulted VAR Craig Pawson and his pitch-side monitor.

Palace, who had not won in eight games since last season's restart, were very nearly made to pay for Zaha's miss in stoppage time when Vicente Guaita saved brilliantly to deny Danny Ings during a frantic finish but they held on to secure all three points.

Liverpool 4-3 Leeds United

Leeds United returned to the Premier League with a bang but were beaten 4-3 by champions Liverpool in a thrilling encounter at Anfield.

Liverpool found themselves in front three times but were pegged back by a ruthless Leeds, who took the step up to the elite level in their stride. However, a late Mohamed Salah penalty - to seal his hat-trick - handed the hosts maximum points.

Salah also scored the first of his treble from the penalty spot after Leeds new-boy Robert Koch handled (4), but Jack Harrison scored an exquisite equaliser (12). Virgil van Dijk thumped home a header (20) only for Patrick Bamford to take advantage of a Van Dijk slip to level the game once again (30).

Salah then fired home a spectacular strike (32) as Liverpool took control, yet, Mateusz Klich equalised for the third time (66). The game looked to be drawing to a quiet conclusion but Leeds' new signing Rodrigo inexplicably fouled Fabinho inside the box and Salah stroked home from the spot.

West Ham 0-2 Newcastle

Callum Wilson and Jeff Hendrick scored on debut as Newcastle heaped more early-season misery on West Ham with a 2-0 victory at the London Stadium on Saturday.

Summer signing Wilson was a threat throughout Saturday's clash at the London Stadium and got his just rewards on 56 minutes when he got to fellow debutant Hendrick's flick ahead of Hammers goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski to bundle the Magpies' opener home.

Wilson's eighth goal in nine league appearances against West Ham looked to be enough for the victory but Hendrick made sure, adding a goal to his assist with an emphatic drive into the roof of the net four minutes from time to send the Magpies second in the table after their first winning start to a league season in eight years.

 Sunday

West Bromwich 0-3 Leicester City

A Timothy Castagne debut goal and two Jamie Vardy penalties helped Leicester to beat West Brom 3-0 on Sunday.

Leicester headed into the new season having dropped out of the top four and a Champions League qualification position in the final week of season - a position they had occupied since September 2019.

However, there was no signs of a hangover as Castagne - a £21.5million signing from Atalanta - headed home (56) before two Vardy penalties (74) and (84) wrapped up the points.

It was a toothless start to life back in the Premier League for the Baggies, who faded badly after a bright start and only registered one shot on goal in the second half.

Tottenham 0-1 Everton

Dominic Calvert-Lewin's superb second-half header gave Everton an impressive opening-day away win against a lifeless Tottenham on Super Sunday.

Jose Mourinho's Tottenham were "lifeless, flat" and "walking around the pitch sulking" for large chunks of the second half, said Sky Sports' Gary Neville on commentary, with Spurs registering just nine tackles to Everton's 18, and Harry Kane touching the ball only twice in the Everton box.

Both sides had chances in a goalless first half; Richarlison rounded Hugo Lloris but blazed over, before both Dele Alli and Matt Doherty were denied by Jordan Pickford at the other end.

Everton's winner was coming, and Calvert-Lewin rose brilliantly to power a header into the top corner from Lucas Digne's deep free-kick, with Spurs' efforts to form a comeback lacking as the visitors comfortably held on.

Monday

Brighton 1-3 Chelsea

Chelsea began their Premier League season with a 3-1 away win against Brighton as Timo Werner and Kai Havertz made their debuts.

Chelsea have made a number of marquee signings so far this summer, although only the German pair were fit enough to feature at the Amex Stadium. Werner, in particular, was lively on his first competitive Chelsea appearance and won a penalty in the 21st minute as Mat Ryan swiped at his legs, which Jorginho dispatched (23).

But Brighton - having strengthened well themselves in the transfer window thus far - had their fair share of chances and deservedly levelled when Leandro Trossard (54) fired home, with Kepa Arrizabalaga's ability to deal with long-range strikes once again called into question.

But Chelsea restored their lead less than two minutes later when Reece James (56) drilled home his first Premier League goal in stunning fashion. Kurt Zouma then nabbed a goal himself with his shot diverting off the toe of Adam Webster, leaving Ryan rooted to the spot.

The victory marks a successful start for Frank Lampard's new-look side - whose last two title wins have started with victory on a Monday evening - while Brighton will feel like they deserved something from the encounter.

Sheffield United 0-2 Wolves

Wolves made a blistering start to their Premier League campaign with a 2-0 victory over Sheffield United at Bramall Lane.

Nuno Espirito Santo's side scored twice inside the first six minutes, man of the match Raul Jimenez (3) converting Daniel Podence's cross before Romain Saiss' header doubled the advantage.

After the break, Sheffield United were a different side as John Fleck hit the post and George Baldock saw a shot cleared off the line by Conor Coady, but Wolves should have made the game safe when Saiss' effort was tipped onto the post by Aaron Ramsdale and Jimenez steered the rebound wide.

The Blades continued to plug away right until the final whistle, but it was to no avail as Wolves held on for an opening weekend victory.

Game day reports from skysports.com was used in this compilation.

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The English Premier League continued this weekend with Chelsea, Tottenham and Bournemouth maintaining their perfect start to the season with victories over Arsenal, Fulham, and West Ham for a three-way tie at the summit.

Title contenders, Liverpool, maintained their perfect start to the season with a 2-1 win over Southampton for an 11^th successive top-flight victory dating back to last season, whilst champions, Manchester City, gave up the lead twice and settled for a 2-2 tie at the Etihad against Tottenham Spurs after Gabriel Jesus injury-time winner was ruled out by VAR.

Defending Premier League champions - Manchester United – had their stiffest test yet of the young season as they were forced to climb back from a goal down for a share of the spoils in a pulsating encounter with Championship winners - Wolverhampton Wolves.

Following an incredulous 4-0 thumping of Chelsea on opening day and a disappointing tie with Wolverhampton Wanderers in week 02, Manchester United, disappointed at Old Trafford, as Crystal Palace scored a late winner to stun them on Saturday.

Premier League leaders Liverpool and Champions Manchester City both stayed the winning course with a respective three and four to nothing walloping of Burnley FC and Brighton.

The English Premier League returned this Saturday following a week’s break with Norwich City producing a magnificent all-round display to hand champions, Manchester City, their first loss of the season.  There was no letup from leaders, Liverpool, as they took care of visiting Newcastle to maintain their perfect start to the season.

With Liverpool’s upcoming visit to Stamford Bridge on Sunday as the main headline of the week, Manchester City stole the headlines in sensational style on Saturday as they ripped apart a woeful Watford team by eight goals to naught to inch two points closer to Liverpool on the Premier League table on Saturday. Not to be outdone, Leicester City roared back from a goal down for a 2-1 victory to dampen Tottenham’s title hope in an absorbing thriller at the King Power Stadium.

It was just another easy day at the office for defending Premier League Champions – Manchester City and title hopeful side, Liverpool – as the former overwhelmed Cardiff City by a 5-0 margin and the latter held on to a 3-0 first half goal advantage over visiting Southampton for the top spot.

Sheffield United pushed title chasers, Liverpool, down to the wire on Saturday at a raucous Bramall Lane, but a Dean Henderson spill on the heels of a Georginio Wijnaldum volley from just outside the box earned Liverpool a fortunate win that saw them maintain their perfect start to the season. A spirited performance from Everton was not enough, as they succumbed to a 3-1 drubbing from Manchester City, who stay five points behind leaders Liverpool.