Fairy tales are great. Mythical stories filled with heroes and villains, they convey a message that gives us something to believe in — something to warm our hearts. Fairy tales can transport us from our normal reality to something far greater.
The 2015-16 Premier League was a fairy tale for Leicester City. Now, it’s back to reality.
Fernando Torres’ shock transfer to Chelsea in January of 2011 left Liverpool supporters so incensed that many took to the streets to burn their replica Torres jerseys on live television. Having scored 81 goals in 142 Liverpool appearances, Torres had provided Reds supporters a sense of false hope with regards to recapturing their former glories.
Not long ago, Aston Villa Chairman Dr. Tony Xia tweeted that he thinks Villa can be a top club in Europe and have the "highest number of fans all over the world."
Well, that's certainly a bold goal, but maybe it isn't as far-fetched as we think. After all, maybe this Dr. Tony guy really knows what he's doing, and maybe we should all just try to be optimistic and—
Paul Pogba's Manchester United introduction video was sweet when it was Pogba and "Stormzy", but it's even better when it's Pogba and Rick Astley.
This is a fine example of something we didn't know we needed until it existed.
Creators United. @PaulPogba x @rickastley : The new kings of @ManUtd. pic.twitter.com/Ntb07XT6mp
Football is back and, apparently, better than ever. Liverpool and Arsenal played out a seven goal thriller in London, the Merseyside club racing to a 4-1 lead before surrendering two late goals and giving Arsene Wenger’s men a brief moment of joy.
After a first half for Manchester United that could be described as "about as anonymous as is possible," Zlatan made good on his track record in major league debuts and scored from 25 yards out. He's now scored in every major league debut: La Liga, Serie A, Ligue 1, Champions League...and Premier League.
Here's his long shot at the 64' that managed to slip past Bournemouth keeper Artur Boruc:
In two seasons with Sunderland, Jermain Defoe has managed to save Sunderland from relegation twice. Goals are key to survival, and Defoe consistently provides them from the forward position. He’s been doing so for almost sixteen years — since his Premier League debut with West Ham United during the 2000-01 season.
Defoe’s greatest EPL return was 18 goals during the 2009-10 season. You’d expect, at 33 years of age, that his goalscoring ability would’ve plummeted since then. You’d be wrong.
Will Grigg shot to global prominence last year on the back of a fan chant turned dance remix that entered the top 10 of the UK Charts. He also scored 25 goals in 40 matches for English League One side Wigan Athletic — firing them to promotion into the Championship.
Leicester City opened their title defense in the worst possible fashion on Saturday, losing to a newly promoted Hull City side whose own preseason has bordered on the shambolic.
Leicester became the first ever reigning Premier League champions to lose their opening game, and they’ve been defeated by the early favorites for relegation, Hull City.
Leicester’s far-reaching preseason, including matches against Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain, doesn’t appear to have sufficiently readied the East Midlands club.