Nicolas Anelka Scroed a Hatt-Trick to Defeat Sunderland 5-0

Chelsea 5-0 Sunderland

Nicolas Anelka scored a hat-trick as Chelsea cut loose against Sunderland at Stamford Bridge.

Frank Lampard also netted to record the 100th league goal of his career.

Alex was the other Blues player to strike in a match which saw Sunderland manager Roy Keane sent to the stands after clashing with officials.

Sunderland 1-1 Arsenal

Arsenal left it late to earn a point at the Stadium of Light on Saturday afternoon.

Arsenal's bid to go top of the Barclays Premier League foundered at Sunderland but they were lucky to escape defeat as Cesc Fabregas' 93rd-minute header salvaged a 1-1 draw.

Having been beaten by Hull City last week, the Gunners have now dropped five points in two matches.

Arsene Wenger's side appeared to have been beaten by Grant Leadbitter's stunning 86th-minute strike. The midfielder picked the ball up 25 yards out and smashed a shot in off the underside of the crossbar.

Spain midfielder Fabregas rescued the Gunners with a close-range header from a corner in the third minute of added time.

Texas Businessman Ellis Short Buys Stake in Sunderland

Texas businessman Ellis Short bought a significant stake in Sunderland, the English Premier League told The Associated Press on Friday.

Short is co-founder of Dallas-based private equity group Lone Star Funds. In August, he acquired more than 30 percent of the consortium that owns the club in northeast England.

Premier League clubs Manchester United, Liverpool, Aston Villa are also owned by Americans.

League spokesman Dan Johnson said Short has bought a stake above 30 percent. If he is deemed not suitable as an owner, he will have to take his investment below 30 percent. Britain's Daily Telegraph said Short is now the biggest shareholder.

"Sunderland AFC is unable to comment on any matters relating to the Drumaville Consortium or investment in the club except to thank them for their continued support," the club said.

The eight-person Drumaville company, chaired by former Sunderland striker Niall Quinn, bought Sunderland in 2006 for $18.4 million.

Members of the mainly Irish consortium contacted by the AP refused to comment, as did people connected with Short in the United States. Short has had no previous involvement in the sports industry.

Prosecutors in South Korea last year issued arrest warrants for Short on allegations of stock manipulation and tax evasion over the sale of Korea Exchange Bank to Lone Star Funds, of which he was vice chairman. No charges were brought.

Michael Chopra Earned Sunderland Three Points

Substitute Michael Chopra earned Sunderland all three points by scoring two goals in Sunderland's 2-0 derby victory over Middlesbrough in the Barclays Premier League.

The former Newcastle United striker came off the bench to slot home an 81st-minute shot, and then added a second in injury time to seal the win.

England winger Stewart Downing had fired a 75th-minute penalty over the bar to let the Wearsiders off the hook.

The midfielder, who thumped his last spot-kick against the bar, blasted over to give Sunderland the impetus to go on and win the spoils in front of a crowd of 38,388.

Gareth Southgate would have been the happier manager at the break having seen his side limit their hosts to a series of long-range efforts which never really troubled keeper Ross Turnbull, while at the same time forcing Craig Gordon to make two excellent saves.

Boro controlled much of the first half because they were able to dictate the pace in the middle of the park through Gary O'Neil and the excellent Didier Digard.

Indeed, it was not until Steed Malbranque started to come inside and pull the strings that the Wearsiders made an impression.

Southgate's men were even able to survive the loss of striker Mido to a groin injury in the warm-up as record signing Afonso Alves, originally reduced to the rank of substitute, was handed a late reprieve.

They would have taken the lead with 19 minutes gone had Gordon not reacted to smartly to Downing's snapshot after Alves' free-kick had been blocked into his path.

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

Michael Chopra to Miss First Three Games of the Season

Sunderland striker Michael Chopra has been ruled out for first three games of the season, Roy Keane confirmed today. The decision to ban the Sunderland striker after he picked up a red card in a pre-season friendly only came through yesterday and Keane said: "It didn't put me in the best of moods, but, to be honest, I had expected it."

Chopra received a straight red for a mistimed challenge in the game against Sporting Lisbon in Portugal last month. Keane was also sent to the stands in the incident, complaining about the injustice of the decision.

Referee Bruno Paixao has taken no action against the Sunderland manager but has enforced the ban against Chopra which means that not only will he miss his side's opening game against Liverpool but will be out of contention in the following matches against Tottenham and Manchester City.

It is a major blow to Sunderland who now find themselves without their two leading goalscorers from last season, with Kenwyne Jones currently side-lined for six to eight weeks with knee damage. Keane, though, is content that he now has the squad strength to ensure Liverpool are given a stern examination this Saturday.

Roy Keane told the Echo: "We've brought in some quality players this summer and they give us a few more options when it comes to who we might put out. On the injury front, Pascal Chimbonda, Kieran Richardson, Danny Higginbotham and Phil Bardsley have all shaken off niggly injuries and the only one who will definitely miss the start of the season with a knock is Dwight Yorke. I haven't finalised what my selection will be for Saturday's game, but the lads have been in great form in training and there's real competition for places. Of course, there are a few areas where we want to strengthen and I think those have been well documented. But I don't expect to have any new faces in by the weekend. That of course can change by the hour, and I know Niall Quinn and Peter Walker are working very hard in that direction. But I have to say that I am happy with the squad I'm taking into the new season. Every manager would like to have more and I am no different but I can't complain."