Ten players who caught the eye on opening weekend

The opening weekend of the 2024/25 season saw a number of players stand out. Here, Adrian Kajumba picks out 10 players who caught the eye.

Noussair Mazraoui (Manchester United)

Mazraoui was thrust in against Fulham for a full Man Utd debut just a few days after joining from Bayern Munich - and he made a strong case to stay in Erik ten Hag’s side.

The Moroccan full-back looked a shrewd addition, as solid in his basic defensive work as he was willing to invert and contribute further forward.

Mazraoui's highlights v Fulham

Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)

Liverpool kept looking for him down the right-hand side against Ipswich Town, Salah kept making his runs in behind - and eventually the persistence paid off. His second-half goal and assist at Ipswich took Salah to 300 goal contributions in 350 Liverpool matches.

Meanwhile his ominous opening-weekend display, which included a league high three shots on target, suggested the now 32 year-old remains as sharp and dangerous as ever.

Salah's goal v Ipswich

Joelinton (Newcastle United)

A mammoth shift was needed from Eddie Howe’s players after Newcastle went down to 10 men in the opening half against Southampton. And under intense second-half pressure, Joelinton was among those who dug deepest to try and make up for their numerical disadvantage.

Joelinton's tireless tracking back v Southampton

He was second highest for distance covered, 10.4km, sprints, with 15, and his total of 10 for tackles, interceptions, clearances and blocks was only topped by Dan Burn. Joelinton also capped his tireless, all-action performance with the winning goal.

Joelinton's winner v Southampton

Jacob Greaves (Ipswich)

Greaves’s ability to sense and snuff out danger was one of the notable features of his Ipswich and Premier League debut against Liverpool. The left-sided centre-back, a summer signing from Hull City, was a big reason why Liverpool were limited to only two goals as he so often got himself in the right place at the right time. Indeed, no player made more than his eight clearances.

He won all three of his ground duels, three of his five aerial contests, and also showed glimpses of the threat he can pose in the opposition box, plus his passing range and comfort in possession.

Bukayo Saka (Arsenal)

Just over a month since the UEFA EURO 2024 final, Saka was back on Arsenal duty, as if he had never been away and enjoyed a far longer rest than he had.

After 34 goal contributions in all competitions last season, it was business as usual for Saka on Saturday. He was typically influential in Arsenal’s 2-0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers with a goal and an assist.

His opening weekend, division-high figures for touches in the opposition box, with 15 and 10 direct involvement in shots were further proof of the persistent threat he posed.

Saka's stunner v Wolves

Yankuba Minteh (Brighton & Hove Albion)

Winger Minteh delivered a hugely promising debut at Everton that will have left Brighton fans wanting more. Injury cut short his involvement, but in the half that he did play, Minteh showcased his direct dribbling and skill, combined with an endearing willingness to do his defensive work too.

His assist for Kaoru Mitoma’s goal contributed to Minteh posting the highest goal-creating actions per 90 minutes figure (4.09) in the Premier League across the opening weekend.

Minteh's debut showreel v Everton

Amadou Onana (Aston Villa)

Onana caught the eye mainly with his debut goal after only four minutes, plus an all-round midfield performance in which he dominated in all metrics. He was first for passing accuracy, duels, duels won and possession won.

Onana's stats v West Ham

The way Onana led the post-match celebrations after their 2-1 victory at West Ham United suggests Villa’s supporters have a new instant favourite too.

Onana's debut goal v West Ham

Yoane Wissa (Brentford)

Wissa underlined his effectiveness as a creator as well as scorer in Brentford’s 2-1 win against Crystal Palace, becoming the first player to score and assist in three consecutive Premier League matches since Riyad Mahrez in December 2021. He now has the chance to become the first to achieve the feat in four matches running against Liverpool on Sunday.

Wissa's run of assists and goals

Savinho (Manchester City)

A FA Community Shield cameo against Man Utd and 45 minutes at Chelsea, before succumbing to injury, have been enough for Savinho to show his intent to replicate in England his creativity and dribbling skills from Spain, where he played for Girona last season.

Savinho successfully completed all three of his attempted dribbles at Chelsea and only Liverpool’s Luis Diaz achieved the same 100 per cent feat with more attempts, five, on the opening weekend.

Meanwhile no Premier League player recorded a better shot-creating actions per 90 minutes rating than his 12, which Savinho managed from one half, making it an exciting prospect to see what he is capable of when he does get more minutes.

Savinho's promising debut v Chelsea

Jamie Vardy (Leicester City)

Leicester needed a saviour to step forward amid their striker crisis and who else would it be other than Vardy?

Even though he barely had a pre-season due to injury and was expected to miss the match, Vardy made himself available to play - and inspired an unlikely comeback against Tottenham Hotspur with a trademark Vardy display. His second-half equaliser was Vardy's 137th goal in 308 Premier League appearances, and 103rd strike since he turned 30.

Vardy's equaliser v Spurs