Premier League history was made before a ball was even kicked this season as a record nine clubs started the season with new managers. The post-Pep Guardiola era has begun at Manchester City under Enzo Maresca, while Andoni Iraola got his first taste of action as Liverpool manager after succeeding sacked Arne Slot. Xabi Alonso is the latest with his foot in the revolving door of managers at Chelsea.
So how did the new faces fare after an eventful first weekend of the new campaign? The German successor to Iraola came within six minutes of starting his Premier League career with a statement win at Manchester City, only to concede two late goals to suffer a heartbreaking loss. He will be frustrated at the manner of City's goals, with Marc Guehi unmarked at a corner for the equaliser then a slow reaction for Josko Gvardiol's stoppage time winner, but Rose was also shown in those first 84 minutes that he has plenty of materials to work with in a Cherries side that finished sixth last season.
Rose will have seen enough to deliver early signs of encouragement amid the disappointment of such a painful late loss. Not a bad start to take the lead after 31 seconds and a satisfactory start to Alonso's reign, but there was obvious good and obvious bad in what he watched at Craven Cottage. The attacking triumvirate of Cole Palmer, Joao Pedro and newcomer Morgan Rogers hit the ground running, all scoring and combining to devastating effect.
Equally devastating to Chelsea's Premier League chances and the Alonso revival could be the failure to find a better goalkeeper than the unreliable Robert Sanchez, who was at fault for both Fulham goals. Alonso must find an answer quickly otherwise what Palmer, Joao Pedro and Rogers give with one hand Sanchez could take away with both hands. Tactically Alonso used a back three with Reece James operating in midfield but also dropping back into defence.
Disappointing start for the highly-regarded Sage, who did such an outstanding job at Lens, with defeat at Everton but he also knows the outcome could have been a much more satisfactory one. Palace's second half display will have disappointed him, but they had chances in the opening period to set up their first win at Everton since 2014. They hit the woodwork twice, while Jean-Phillipe Mateta was wasteful.
Sage and his team paid a heavy price. Sage's unhappy opening weekend will not have been helped by a contract row surrounding striker Mateta that puts his future in question, while he will want more numbers and quality to add to his squad. Next up Manchester City at Selhurst Park, where Sage will sample the superb night game atmosphere as he searches for his first league win.
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