Twenty minutes was all it took
Manchester City were 1-0 down at the hour mark. Bournemouth had struck first through Marcus Tavernier in the 26th minute, finishing off a well-worked move that Citys back line never really got under control. The Cherries thought they had their opening day statement.
Then Enzo Maresca threw on Rayan Cherki. And within about 20 minutes, the Frenchman had flipped the match on its head. He first set up Marc Guehi for the equaliser in the 84th minute. Then, deep into stoppage time, he did it again for Josko Gvardiol, who snatched the win for the Skyblues in the 90th+1. Two assists, two goals, game turned.
City escape with three points from what looked a lot like a trap. But the performance still leaves plenty of questions.
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Maresca breathes out, just about
The pressure was already there. In his first competitive match in charge of City, the Italian had just taken a 3-0 hit from Arsenal in the Community Shield. Another flat start would have kicked off the post-Guardiola inquest straight away.
Cherki has given him a bit of breathing room. The former Lyon man had been talked about in recent days as one of the possible losers under the new boss, with a starting spot far from guaranteed and Phil Foden breathing down his neck on the flank. This cameo on Sunday has blown that debate wide open again.
Still, City spent an hour on the back foot. Against a promoted side, or even just a team clinging to survival, that sort of first half can come back to bite you over the course of a season.
Brighton gave Aston Villa no mercy
In the other 3pm kickoff, the much-hyped contest between Brighton and Aston Villa was over almost before it had begun. The Seagulls scored twice in 18 minutes, then Jack Hinshelwood grabbed a double in quick succession to make it 4-0 by the 31st minute.
Joao Gomes was sent off in the 40th minute and that was that for Villa. They begin their campaign with a battering on the south coast and barely had a sniff.
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