Righto then folks. After a very long summer without any decent football, most of us had been forced into watching the World Swimming Championships. Or maybe that was just me and my need for competitive sport action, because lets be honest, cricket wasnt an option.

But thank the heavens, the best league in the world finally kicks off. The start of the English Premier League.

First to step up to the plate where title contenders Chelsea FC, who were up against Hull at the Bridge. Last year Hull blasted out of the blocks like Usain Bolt and were occupying a Champions League spot for quite a while. They didn’t take long to get back to that type of start either, with new signing Hunt from Reading giving them the lead after only 28 minutes. Were they going to get off to a flyer for the 2nd consecutive season!? Drogba wasn’t about to let that happen though and a brace from him with the latter coming in the 92nd minute!!
Chelsea 2-1 Hull

So Chelsea got off to the start they needed, and with none of the other BIG 4 playing till the evening or the following day, we were left with the new big gun…Manchester City.

Blackburn played host to the billionaires. They got off to the worst possible start however with new signing Adebayor getting a goal after only 3 minutes. Ireland rapped up the win with another stoppage time goal but Blackburn had little to offer and never looked like scoring throughout the game.
Blackburn 0-2 Manchester City

Last year’s somewhat surprise package Aston Villa never had such good fortune though. They played host to Wigan this week, and Rodallega scored what is bound to be up there for goal of the season come May. Next up was Jason Koumas the dead ball specialist collecting nicely on the left before slotting into the corner. 2-0 Wigan and game over for Villa.

Sunderland also got off to a winning start beating Bolton away from home with new signing Bent getting the only goal of the game after 5 minutes.

Bobby Zamora got a goal….well sort of. The American Clint Dempsey picking up the ball in midfield and shooting from around 30 yards before deflecting off Zamora’s side and into the bottom corner. He’ll take any sort of goal he can get though. Portsmouth 0-1 Fulham.

Now onto the Premier Leagues new boys. Burnley had to visit Stoke’s Britannia stadium, which was virtually impossible to breach last season so a very tricky start for Owen Coyles side. And Wolves were at home playing hosts to West Ham Utd who have European ambitions of their own this season.

It was Burnley who were the first to crack allowing Shawcross to nod home from a corner inside the 20 minute mark. Wolves were also behind only a few minutes later with Mark Noble hitting a cracker from 25 yards into the top corner. Rory Delap was a thorn in the side of many sides last season with his HUGE throw in capabilities. And it didn’t take him long to wind the arms up again for another assist, this time forcing an own goal from Burnleys Jordan. And in the 2nd half West Ham wrapped up the points against Wolves with much sought after Matthew Upson nodding in a corner in the 69th minute.
Wolverhampton 0-2 West Ham, Stoke 2-0 Burnley.

That left Birmingham to try get something from the reigning champions on Sunday. Unfortunately Wayne Rooney spoiled that fairytale start, but Owen shouldve really made in comfortable late on.
Manchester United 1-0 Birmingham

Another one of the big guns in Arsenal(whom i secretly fancy to win some silverware this year) were away to Everton in what on paper, is a very tricky match. The Final Score ended in Everton 1-6 Arsenal.
And yes, it was that easy for the gunners. A rocket from Denilson got them underway, followed with goals from Gallas, Eduardo. 2 from fabregas and ANOTHER NEW SIGNING getting on the score sheet with
Vermaelen nodding in a RVP free kick.

The last match of the weekend was from potential Challengers Liverpool who were away to Tottenham. A hard first game for Liverpool ended in them being defeated 2-1 at White Hart Lane.

So no draws this weekend in any of the league games which is a punters dream, not mine unfortunately as I always go for 4 draws…not cool.