Barclays Premier League - Gameweek 1 Results

Arsenal		1 - 0		West Brom
Bolton		3 - 1		Stoke City
Everton		2 - 3		Blackburn
Hull City		2 - 1		Fulham
Middlesbrough		2 - 1		Tottenham
West Ham		2 - 1		Wigan
Sunderland		0 - 1		Liverpool
Chelsea		4 - 0		Portsmouth
Aston Villa		4 - 2		Man City
Man Utd		1 - 1		Newcastle

Manchester United Held 1 - 1 Draw by Newcastle United

Darren Fletcher salvaged a 1-1 draw for Manchester United on Sunday to prevent Newcastle inflicting an early blow to its Premier League title defense, but the Red Devils lost more players to injuries in its season opener.

Obafemi Martins then stunned the home crowd after scoring with a free header from a corner, but it took United just two minutes to reply through a Darren Fletcher strike.

United, which also won the Champions League in May, saw its pursuit of a winner denied by a number of saves from Newcastle goalkeeper Shay Given and injuries in midfield.

However, despite all their huffing and puffing, United seemed to lack the firepower and creative spark given to them by the injured Cristiano Ronaldo and the visitors held on reasonably comfortably to secure an excellent start to the season.

Chelsea Eyeing Robinho for £23 Million Pound

Chelsea are set to lodge a £23 million pound bid to sign Robhinio and the Brazilian has told Madrid 'I must go'. The Brazilian superstar is even ready to strike in a bid to engineer a move to Stamford Bridge.

The striker has told Real supremo Ramon Calderon he wants to join the Blues. And if he does not get his way, he will refuse to play in Real’s game with Valencia this weekend

His agent Wagner Ribeiro met Madrid officials yesterday. But Calderon rejected the 24-year-old’s plea, telling him he was a major part of their plans and that Chelsea must pay £30m if they want him.

Blues will only go up to £25m and hope to force through the move by early next week. The Londoners are ready to pay Robinho £5.4m a year on a five-year deal.

I feel Robinhio would make an excellent addition to Scolari's side and would definitely help them in their push for domestic and European glory this season.

Chelsea Defeated Portsmouth 4 - 0

The era of Luiz Felipe Scolari exploded into life at Stamford Bridge today with the merciless dismantling of a Portsmouth side with European aspirations of their own. Scolari conveyed a message of attacking intent to the rest of the Barclays Premier League.



Scolari's first match in charge suggested he wants style as well as substance, and they continued to push forward after Cole opened the scoring in the 12th minute.

Nicolas Anelka, Scolari's only senior forward available, headed in his first goal at home for Chelsea - before Frank Lampard put the result beyond doubt approaching half-time, scoring a penalty just five days after sealing his new five-year contract at the club. Deco, making his debut, added a late fourth from long range.

Liverpool Beat Sunderland 1 - 0 in their Premier League Opener

Fernando Torres fired Liverpool to victory over Sunderland in their Barclays Premier League opener at the Stadium of Light. The striker produced a vicious drive eight minutes from time to claim the points.

It was a bitter pill to swallow for a Sunderland side who had enjoyed the best of the play and all but negated the return of the Reds' fit-again captain Steven Gerrard.

The Spain international began the match alongside Robbie Keane but it was only after his strike partner was substituted that Torres found the net at the Stadium of Light.

Torres was picked out by Xabi Alonso and drilled a low shot from 25 yards which skidded past goalkeeper Craig Gordon and into the bottom left corner of the net.

The Black Cats immediately went on the attack, debutant El-Hadji Diouf powering straight into the Liverpool half before losing the ball at speed. New boy Steed Malbranque was also eager to make an impression, nimbly turning Yossi Benayoun but chipping his through-ball just too long.

The attendance of the match was 43259
Torres Scoring Goal against Sunderland - Watch This Video

Barclays Premier League Season 2008/09 - Opening Day Matches Results

1. Sunderland 0 - 1 Liverpool
2. Bolton Wanderers 3 - 1 Stoke City
3. Middlesbrough 2 - 1 Tottenham Hotspur
4. Everton 2 - 3 Blackburn Rovers
5. West Ham United 2 - 1 Wigan Athletic
6. Hull City 2 - 1 Fulham
7. Arsenal 1 - 0 West Bromwich Albion

Premier League Starting Weekend Matches, Time, Stadium, Match Referees

Saturday 16th August 2008
Team		Team			Time	Stadium	Match Referees
	Arsenal	VS	West Bromwich		12:45	Emirates Stadium	Howard Webb
	Bolton Wanderers	VS	Stoke City		15:00	Reebok Stadium	Chris Foy
	Everton	VS	Blackburn Rovers		15:00	Goodison Park	Andre Marriner
	Hull City	VS	Fulham		15:00	Kingston Comms Stadium	Peter Walton
	Middlesbrough	VS	Tottenham Hotspur		15:00	The Riverside Stadium	Martin Atkinson
	West Ham United	VS	Wigan Athletic		15:00	Boleyn Ground	Steve Bennett
	Sunderland	VS	Liverpool		17:30	Stadium of Light	Alan Wiley
Sunday 17th August 2008
	Chelsea	VS	Portsmouth		13:30	Stamford Bridge	Mike Dean
	Aston Villa	VS	Manchester City		15:00	Stanford Bridge	Villa Park
	Manchester United	VS	Newcastle United		16:00	Old Trafford	Mike Riley