Chelsea, Liverpool post wins; man u draws to open English premier league season

The English Premier League soccer season got underway this weekend with all of the top three teams earning points. Chelsea routed Portsmouth 4-0; Liverpool posted a workmanlike 1-0 victory over Sunderland while defending champs Manchester United had to settle for a 1-1 draw at home against Newcastle. Always competitive Arsenal also took 3 points with a 1-0 victory over West Brom.

Chelsea looked primed to make a statement in their first game under the helm of new manager Luiz Felipe Scolari, and did so emphatically. Chelsea had a reputation for being tentative and cautious (read ‘boring’) under Jose Mourinho, but that was eradicated quickly in the first game of the Scolari era. Joe Cole scored in the 12th minute and Chelsea went on to demolish Portsmouth 4-0, peppering goaltender David James with 20 shots.

It was also apparent that a new era was underway off the pitch, as Scolari’s passion and energy was a marked contrast to the cool and reserved—his critics would say “aloof”-- manner of Mourinho. He received a huge ovation when introduced to the Stamford Bridge crowd and saluted them with a wave and a “thumbs up” gesture, something Mourinho would have never done. With only one game under the belt it looks like Scolari may be a perfect fit for this job—Mourinho, despite all of his success at Chelsea—never really endeared himself to the fans. Scolari shouldn’t have that problem, and particularly if the Chelsea side keeps up this kind of performance on the pitch.

Over at Old Trafford, Manchester United’s lack of depth at the forward positions was apparent as they could only muster a 1-1 opening day draw with Newcastle United. Newcastle, who hasn’t won on Man U’s home turf since 1972, really never threatened to pull off the upset but earning a point in this setting has to be considered something of a ‘moral victory’. Man U definitely got their looks at the opposing goal, getting off 21 shots, but their need for a top level striker up front was underscored by the fact that only 7 of these were ‘on goal’. The London press is suggesting that a move by team manager Sir Alex Ferguson is all but certain before the transfer window closes in approximately two weeks.

Newcastle’s Obafemi Martins scored the first goal at the 22 minute mark, but the Toon lead was short lived as Darren Fletcher answered for Man U at 24 minutes. Though Man U remained on attack for most of the game after that, they were content to settle for longrange shots that Newcastle netminder Shay Given handled easily.

Despite the lackluster opening to their title defense, Man U team manager Ferguson appeared unconcerned. The team has been battling a number of nagging injuries to key players, and Ferguson is also quick to point out that last year’s championship team began slowly with only two draws in their opening three games.

The other likely contenders for the top of the EPL standings, Liverpool and Arsenal, both earned 1-0 victories. The Gunners’ Samir Nasri scored 4 minutes in, and that held up the rest of the way against a West Brom side that was only able to get off 5 shots (2 on goal). Liverpool’s Fernado Torres decided to make things dramatic, breaking a 0-0 draw in the 83rd minute to give his side the win at Sunderland.

The first “marquee matchup” among the top of the sheet teams will take place on September 13th, when Liverpool hosts Manchester United.