Pefect Starts For United And Chelsea

Arsenal, Liverpool and Spurs Stumble At The First Hurdle

In the opening game of this seasons EPL Liverpool needed a controversial second-half penalty to save a point against newly promoted Sheffield United. The Blades had stunned Rafael Benitez's side with a Rob Hulse goal early in the second half but Robbie Fowler secured a 1-1 draw after Chris Morgan was adjudged to have fouled Steven Gerrard. Replays suggested Morgan had not made contact.

Arsenal drew 1-1 with an Aston Villa side revitalized under new boss Martin O'Neill at the brand spanking new Emirates Stadium. Olof Mellberg headed Villa into a 53rd-minute lead when he rose to head home Sean Davis' free-kick. Arsenal responded well and Gilberto grabbed the equalizer at the far post after a cross from sub Theo Walcott.

EPL new boys Reading foughtback to beat Middlesbrough 3-2 in Gareth Southgate's first game in charge. Boro had gone 2-0 up at the Madejski Stadium with a Stewart Downing volley and a close-range Yakubu strike but the Royals were level before the break. Dave Kitson pulled one back when he scrambled the ball home after 43 minutes and Steve Sidwell turned in an equalizer almost immediately after. Leroy Lita then put the hosts ahead when he turned in the third after a goalmouth scramble.

Tottenham started their campaign badly with a 2-0 defeat at Bolton. Kevin Davies headed the Trotters in front from a corner on nine minutes, and Ivan Campo grabbed the second with a stunning 40-yard effort just four minutes later.

Everton saw off Watford 2-1 at Goodison Park after benefitting from a controversial penalty. Andrew Johnson gave Everton the lead on 15 minutes but it was Mikel Arteta's spot-kick in the 82nd minute, after a Chris Powell handball, which proved decisive. Watford pulled one back through Damien Francis late on but it was no more than consolation.

Scott Parker and Shola Ameobi were on target as Newcastle opened with a 2-1 win over Wigan at St James' Park. Parker's header from an Ameobi cross gave Newcastle a 38th-minute lead but Lee McCulloch curled in the equalizer on 59 minutes. The Latics were not level for long, however, as Ameobi turned in Newcastle's second just after the hour.

Portsmouth beat 10-man Blackburn 3-0 at Fratton Park after two goals from new signing Kanu and another from Svetoslav Todorov. Rovers had Lucas Neill sent off for a second bookable offence as Pompey eased to victory. Kanu could have had a hat-trick but saw a late penalty saved by Brad Friedel.

Darren Bent gave new Charlton manager Ian Dowie the perfect start with an 11th-minute opener against West Ham but things started to go wrong when new signing Djimi Traore was sent off for two bookable offences. Bobby Zamora equalized when he turned in Lee Bowyer's 52nd-minute cross and then put his side ahead when his shot hit the post and went past Scott Carson. Carlton Cole wrapped up the three points with a third goal in stoppage time.

On Sunday Wayne Rooney scored two as Man Utd beat Fulham 5-1. Louis Saha powerfully headed home Ryan Giggs' precise cross after seven minutes for Utd's first. Ian Pearce then slid Saha's cross through his own net under pressure from Rooney seven minutes later. Rooney got his first on 16 minutes when he hit home after Antti Niemi could not hold Saha's volley, before Ronaldo volleyed home the fourth with just 19 minutes on the clock. Fulham got on the scoresheet themselves five minutes before the break when Heidar Helguson's shot hit Rio Ferdinand's chest and dropped over the Edwin van der Sar. In the second half Utd added one further goal when Rooney hit a first-time effort low into the corner of Niemi's goal from a Wes Brown cross.

In Sunday's other game Chelsea thumped 10-man Man City 3-0 stroll at Stamford Bridge with goals from John Terry, Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba, who scored in the second half after Bernardo Corradi had been sent off for a second bookable offence on Michael Essien.