TOP 10: Premier League Opening Day dismissals
13/08/2011 Premier League football. Newcastle United v Arsenal. Stephen Taylor tries to separate Gervinho and Joey Barton. Photo: Mark Leech.
It’s one of the most anticipated weekends of the football calendar, as the Premier League gets under way for another action packed and exciting season.
Every side wants to get off to the best of starts, but it’s not possible for all. Like any game, the opening day is filled with all the drama you’d expect from top-flight fixtures. Goals, controversies and, in some cases, sendings off.
Defending champions Chelsea felt the full brunt of this on the first day of the new campaign three days ago as their goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois saw red for bringing down Swansea’s Bafetimbi Gomis in the penalty area.
With the Belgium international set to miss a crucial game for Jose Mourinho’s side against Manchester City next weekend, we’ve looked at ten other players who found themselves facing the earliest of baths over the past 20 years.