“As is so often the case, it’s been a long, old wait to get to this morning…The stories are all set and so are we.” – Rebecca Lowe
“I think we might just see the tightest title race between more than two clubs than we’ve seen for a long time.” – Robbie Mustoe
“It’s a great day, it’s one to enjoy, but it’s very much getting down to business at the start.” – Robbie Earle
Coverage Continues Tomorrow at 7 a.m. ET with Premier League Live Followed by Arsenal v. West Ham on NBCSN
STAMFORD, Conn. – August 8, 2015 – NBC Sports Group kicked off the 2015-16 Premier League season today with Premier League Live on NBCSN at 7 a.m. ET, followed by Manchester United v. Tottenham on NBCSN and NBC UNIVERSO, Bournemouth v. Aston Villa on NBCSN, Everton v. Watford on USA Network, and Chelsea v. Swansea City on NBC and NBC UNIVERSO.
Rebecca Lowe hosted Premier League Live alongside former Jamaican National Team Player Robbie Earle and former English footballer Robbie Mustoe.
The results of today’s four matches on networks of NBCUniversal:
| Time | Match | Network |
| 7:45 a.m. | Manchester United 1-0 Tottenham | NBCSN, NBC UNIVERSO |
| 10 a.m. | Bournemouth 0-1 Aston Villa | NBCSN |
| 10 a.m. | Everton 2-2 Watford | USA |
| 12:30 p.m. | Chelsea 2-2 Swansea City | NBC, NBC UNIVERSO |
Premier League Live (7-7:45 a.m. ET)
Rebecca Lowe: “As is so often the case, it’s been a long, old wait to get to this morning…The stories are all set and so are we.”
Predictions for the season:
Robbie Mustoe: “We saw Chelsea dominate last season, that’s not going to be the case this season: [Manchester] City, [Manchester] United, Arsenal and Liverpool, they’ve all gotten better, and Chelsea haven’t brought anybody in. You marry that to the fact that a lot of money have been spent by the lower teams, and I think this year is going to be even harder for the big boys to win that many games. I think we might just see the tightest title race between more than two clubs than we’ve seen for a long time.”
Robbie Earle: “There are 20 teams in the Barclays Premier League and there must be 20 different ambitions. Some want to win it, some think mid-table security would be great, then there’s a battle at the bottom. The problem isn’t where you’re ambitions lie, what the Barclays Premier League has told us is that you have to get a good start. Look at Chelsea, unbeaten in 14 games, they win the league. Look at Burnley, didn’t win in 10 games, they get relegated. It’s a great day, it’s one to enjoy, but it’s very much getting down to business at the start.”
On Tottenham:
Earle: “Now is the chance for this young team to show that they can take this club and mold themselves into this kind of personality of playing good football.”
Mustoe: “They need more players if they want to have ambitions to get into the top four. I think they’ve addressed situation defensively – 54 goals last year which is not good enough. They’re better at the back, but Harry Kane needs some support and Soldado is not the guy. They need to bring some more attacking players in as the transfer window closes.”
Earle on Tottenham’s new signing Toby Alderweireld: “He was part of one of the best defensive units at Southampton. Good age at 26, good experience, knows the leagues, very little risk.”
Earle on Tottenham’s Harry Kane: “Everything about him still impresses me. He’s still hungry, he’s down to earth, he’s humble. He’s got so many facets to his game, he doesn’t just rely on any one part. I think if he gets the right kind of service he will continue to score goals, maybe not as many as 21 as he did last year, but he will get goals.”
Earle: “For Spurs, it’s about their youthful enthusiasm. Spurs play with two modes, high-pressure, lots of energy, and then the quiet club that’s sitting back.”
On Manchester United:
Mustoe: “I think it starts with the goalkeeper [Sergio] Romero. It’s a big game for him. De Gea looks like he’s going out of the football club, so that’s a big-game situation right there. I think they’re in control this game, I think midfield will be better…Wayne Rooney and Memphis Depay have the possibility of being creative and being really good as the front two.”
Mustoe on Manchester United’s new signing Morgan Schneiderlin: “He’s got good legs, he’s got good energy. I think he’s needed because [Michael] Carrick doesn’t, [Bastian] Schweinsteiger doesn’t, so that’s important. But I think if there’s one player to get forward in attack and help out, it will be this guy…I think he’s a really, really good player.”
Mustoe on Manchester United’s new signing Memphis Depay: “He’s really young. He’s 21, but he’s creative. The word I would describe him as – unpredictable. That’s what you need to be as a front player. He’s got good awareness, he’s got good speed, good acceleration, and I think the understanding with Wayne Rooney is something very exciting and we should watch out for him. They’re similar players, but Memphis is more skilled than Rooney.”
On Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal replacing goalkeeper David De Gea (who is being pursued by Real Madrid) with new signing Sergio Romero for the match:
Mustoe: “Yes, De Gea hasn’t looked great in preseason, but when you consider the option in youngster Sergio Romero, who hasn’t done hardly anything in preseason, it’s a big call. I have to think that De Gea is doing the right things in preseason…If he’s going to be at Real Madrid or Manchester United, he’s got to be in tip-top condition. He’s got to be ready to go. Preseason is very important for that…I’m still surprised that van Gaal made that call, I think he should be playing.”
Earle: “The most important thing I’ve learned about [Sergio Romero] is he’s not had a kick in preseason. There’s a special relationship between the defenders and the goalkeeper. We’ve seen Manchester United over the years struggle with goalkeepers, people who have come in, and even David De Gea struggled in his first season. It’s a big call to play Romero and giving him his debut today…the situation must be that bad with De Gea that van Gaal doesn’t think he’s ready.”
Halftime: Manchester United v. Tottenham (NBCSN)
Manchester United lead 1-0
Earle on Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal: “The reason he wasn’t happy is because he talked all last year about controlling the game, and feeling the temperature. His team weren’t in control for 22 minutes until that giveaway. Spurs look better, they look sharper…until that mistake [an own goal from Kyle Walker]. I’m disappointed for Spurs because it’s kind of changed the momentum of the game.”
Mustoe on the importance of momentum: “It’s the psychology of footballers. There are 20 guys out there that are running around, and we saw that Spurs were controlling the game, they were enjoying the game. As soon as the goal goes in – totally different. Manchester United are like, ‘oh, we’re winning this game, we should be playing better,’ and they feel good about themselves…Whereas Spurs going into the shut off a little bit, where they’ve conceded a bad goal.”
Earle on Manchester United’s new signing Memphis Depay: “Memphis has been safe, I think he’s going to feel his way into the game.”
Mustoe on Manchester United’s new signing Matteo Darmian: “I think Darmian looks like he’s been at Manchester United for a while. We’ve seen him very good in preseason, and for him it’s just another game.”
Postgame: Manchester United v. Tottenham
Manchester United win 1-0
Rebecca Lowe: “This one seems to have all of the marks of an opening day game.”
Mustoe: “Particularly the first part of the game, they were feeling it out a little bit. You maybe not to full speed, you’re a little bit rusty. But, I think from Man United’s point of view, they can be encouraged by [Matteo] Darmian, [Chris] Smalling was very good, and the goalkeeper [Sergio Romero] was very good as well. So they have some good bits, but they can certainly play a lot better than that.”
Earle on why Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal won’t be satisfied with the match despite the win: “A year down the road, it’s a little bit more controlled of a game. He’ll expect his team to be more attacking throughout from different areas of the pitch. But, he’s brought in some good individuals, so that may take time to get the chemistry right.”
Mustoe on Tottenham: “Spurs had some good moments in the game, just the one error. They were really good, they deserved more than that. Manchester United have one shot on goal in the whole game, Spurs have more opportunities, [Sergio] Romero was a busier goalkeeper.”
Halftime: Bournemouth v. Aston Villa (NBCSN), Everton v. Watford (USA)
Bournemouth 0-0 Aston Villa; Everton 0-1 Watford
Earle on Everton v. Watford: “They [Watford] got themselves off to a great start, plenty of confidence on the ball…this is an Everton team who last season struggled with defending.”
Mustoe on Bournemouth v. Aston Villa: “They [Bournemouth] got better as the half went on…[Aston Villa] are lucky to be 0-0.”
Postgame: Bournemouth v. Aston Villa (NBCSN), Everton v. Watford (USA)
Aston Villa win 1-0; Everton and Watford draw 2-2
Earle on Watford: “I just think that Watford believe in themselves – the chemistry looked good.”
Mustoe on Bournemouth: “It was good until the final third, they missed some chances in this league you have to take…it’s that final detail and quality they need to find quickly.”
Chelsea v. Swansea City (NBC)
Chelsea and Swansea City Draw 2-2
Arlo White from Stamford Bridge: “Super atmosphere developing in a gorgeous afternoon at the home of the champions.”
White from Stamford Bridge: “The Barclays Premier League is back on NBC, hello from Stamford Bridge, the home of the reigning champions.”
White on Oscar’s 23rd-minute goal: “No touch required – into the back of the net – the champions are up and running in defense of their Premier League title.”
White as Chelsea takes 2-1 lead: “They were level for nary a minute!”
White as Swansea City equalize 2-2: “What a test for the champions on opening day – pegged back to 2-2 at home against an enterprising visiting side.”
Opening weekend coverage continues Sunday at 7 a.m. ET with Premier League Live, followed by Arsenal v. West Ham at 8:30 a.m. ET and Stoke City v. Liverpool at 11 a.m. ET on NBCSN. This week’s live match coverage wraps up on Monday with Premier League Live at 2 p.m. ET followed by West Bromwich Albion v. Manchester City at 3 p.m. ET on NBCSN. Click here for a full schedule of Premier League programming this weekend.
NBC Sports Group will once again make all 380 games from the Premier League available in the United States on the networks of NBCUniversal, on the Premier League Extra Time bonus TV package, and streamed live on NBC Sports Live Extra.
–NBC Sports Group–
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