The 2nd fixture in the Premiership calender came round ultra quick this year for most of the clubs who don’t have other duties, and it all began on Tuesday night with two fixtures including the impressive Wigan, and the slightly lucky Chelsea.

It was the slightly lucky Chelsea that found themselves slightly unlucky in the opening half against Sunderland. With new Boy Darren Bent getting his 2nd goal in 2 games. The mans a goal machine and I’m sure Sunderland fans are delighted he was brought to the club. Chelsea’s still have that never-say-die attitude though and 2nd half goals from 3 midfielders seen them take the 3 points. Starting with a goal from the penalty spot from one Frank Lampard. Ballack & Deco sealing the win.

In the other Tuesday night fixture Wigan played host to Wolves. Wigan were the clear favourites after trounching Villa away at the weekend but it was Wolves who took the points thanks to a 50th career goal from Andy Keogh.

Wednesday nights action seen another 4 games come our way with Burnley playing at home to the champions Manchester United. No-one expected a point (apart from the Burnley season ticket holders) but an absolute bullet bulley from Blake midway through the 1st half seen off Alex Ferguson’s side who just don’t look the same team as last year at all.

Birmingham also played their 1st home game of the season, and as Alex McLeish said prior to kick off, the home games are vital if teams want to stay in the premiership and so it was on that note they took all 3 points thanks to Scotland international James McFadden sliding home a penalty kick against Portsmouth ( who are my favourites for relegation ).

After Hulls promising opening day game against Chelsea they had high hope coming in to face Tottenham, but any1 who seen there opening day fixture might not have been so confident. Spurs are playing some really good football at the moment and could definitely see themselves in Europe next year. 3 goals from Defoe and a goal each from Palacios and Keane gave Spurs a 5-1 win away from home.

Last but not least were Liverpool, playing at Anfield to the notoriously difficult to break down Stoke City. Not tonight though As Gerrard pulled the strings to give Liverpool a terrific 4-0 win. Goals in that game coming from Torres, Kuyt, new signing Johnson and Ngog.

On a side note, there was an all British encounter in the last qualifying round for the champions league between Celtic and Arsenal. Celtics home form in Europe is up there with the best of them and it took 2 “lucky” goals to see them off, but Arsenal dominated the game from start to finish and fully deserved thier win. Celtic have it all to do at the Emirates.

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

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Sorry to keep you all waiting but here goes…

1. Outside the English Premier League’s top four, which are the only three other teams to have played in every Premier League since it was created?

A. Villa, Spurs and Everton.

2. Which is the only player to play in all the English Leagues, win a Champions League, and play in a World Cup?

A. Steve Finnan

3. Which are the only three sets of brothers to play in a champions league final?

A. The Nevilles, the De Boers and did you get the last one? Its the Proclaimers at Hampden just before Real Madrid beat Bayer Leverkuson!!!

4. Which three players have won an English Premier League, a Champions League and a European Championship?

A. This was a bit of a tricky one, its Peter Schmeichel, Nicolas Anelka, and Fabien Barthez. I would have though Makelele would have been one but he wasn’t even in the French squad in 2000!

5. Which team starts this coming season with a thirty point deduction?

A. Luton Town, To be honest I’m not sure if they are still being deducted the whole 30 points, so that may have been a dodgy question.