Video: The award for best goal on the Premier League opening day goes to… Zoltan Gera

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xNbP5sr1sNk

It wasn’t an established star or a new signing that scored the best goal on the Premier League’s opening day, it was a journeyman midfielder who hadn’t scored in four years.

As they do every August, Liverpool fans were looking forward to the new season with renewed hope, but it soon went Pete Tong for the Reds when Gera rifled West Brom in front with a belter from the edge of the box near the end of the first half.

It went from bad to worse for Liverpool, who had Daniel Agger sent off for a foul on Shane Long in the box just after the hour. The Irish striker picked himself up and promptly took possibly the worst penalty you’ll see in the Premier League this season, an effort that Trap himself might call idiotic.

Long atoned for the miss by immediately earning another penalty that Peter Odemwingie converted and the Baggies went on to win comfortably.

Elsewhere, Damien Duff was on the mark as Fulham hammered Norwich, Swansea showed little signs of second season syndrome by battering QPR at Loftus Road, Reading snatched a last-gasp draw at home to Stoke, West Ham had a narrow win over Aston Villa and there were no goals at the Emirates.

Good to have you back, Premier League.

Premier League results:

Arsenal 0-0 Sunderland

Fulham 5-0 Norwich

QPR 0-5 Swansea

Reading 1-1 Stoke

West Brom 3-0 Liverpool

West Ham 1-0 Aston Villa