Arsenal's rivals seek to lay down markers after tough starts

LONDON, Aug 27 : If anything can be drawn from the results of the opening round of Premier League fixtures it was that champions Arsenal are categorically the team to beat and the those expected to challenge them must quickly get their acts together.

Manchester City, Liverpool and Manchester United endured difficult starts to varying degrees and will be keen to give Arsenal something to ponder before Mikel Arteta's side travel to troubled Aston Villa on Monday.

While City did begin the post Pep Guardiola era with a last-gasp 2-1 home victory against Bournemouth, it was hardly convincing. Enzo Maresca's side kick off the weekend's action with a Friday night assignment at Crystal Palace - a fixture that has been kind to City in recent years.

They are unbeaten in their last 11 Premier League games at Selhurst Park, winning eight and drawing three, and will be taking on a Palace team still adapting to life since the departure of coach Oliver Glasner at the end of last season.

City will be boosted by the availability of their new Morocco midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi who joined this week from Lille for a reported fee of £86 million ($117 million).

"He is ready, he was working with his former club so he is fit," Maresca said on Thursday.

Manchester United stalled on the grid in their season-opener as they went down 2-0 at promoted Hull City - a result that acted as reality check after a summer of optimism.

United will be keen to engage the gears as they host another promoted side, Ipswich Town, on Sunday.

LIVERPOOL SEEK FIRST WIN

Liverpool needed a stoppage-time penalty by Dominik Szoboszlai at Newcastle United to avoid a losing start to Andoni Iraola's reign and will seek their first win as they host Nottingham Forest in Saturday's