Ten-man Chelsea won the battle of the Premier League’s financial superpowers as Luiz Felipe Scolari’s side stormed to a 3-1 victory at Manchester City on Saturday.
Even Roman Abramovich, Chelsea’s billionaire owner, will struggle to match City’s spending power after their takeover by the Abu Dhabi United Group.
But Chelsea have a well-established squad of superstars, whereas City are just starting their bid to become a Premier League force, and the difference was clear to see at Eastlands.
Robinho, making his debut, took only 13 minutes to show why City paid £32,5-million to persuade the Brazilian to snub Chelsea as he whipped a free-kick over the wall and past Petr Cech.
But City’s lead was shortlived. Just three minutes later John Terry’s header deflected to Ricardo Carvalho and the Portugal defender smashed home.
Chelsea pushed City back after that and Frank Lampard scored on 53 minutes when he finished an incisive move with a fine low strike.
Nicolas Anelka’s 69th minute goal put the result beyond doubt despite Terry’s late red card for a professional foul on Jo.
Earlier, Liverpool finally got the better of Manchester United as Ryan Babel’s late goal clinched a 2-1 win over the Premier League champions.
Rafa Benitez’s side had lost seven of the last eight league encounters with their bitter rivals dating back to 2004, and the Reds fell behind at Anfield when Carlos Tevez struck for United in the third minute.
But Wes Brown’s own goal gave Liverpool a 27th-minute equaliser and Babel, on as a substitute just six minutes earlier, grabbed the decisive goal 13 minutes from full-time after sloppy defending from Ryan Giggs.
The day got even worse for Sir Alex Ferguson when Serbian defender Nemanja Vidic was sent off in stoppage time for a crude elbow on Xabi Alonso.
”It is good for the confidence of the players,” Benitez said. ”At half-time we were talking about having confidence and determination going forwards — and in the second half we were the best team.”
United boss Ferguson added: ”You don’t expect that from Manchester United. Liverpool produced a performance of tackling, hassling and getting about us. Overall they were the better team.”
The hangover from Kevin Keegan’s departure took its toll on Newcastle as the managerless Magpies crashed to a 2-1 defeat against Hull at St James’ Park.
Thousands of Newcastle fans protested against owner Mike Ashley and director of football Dennis Wise before the first match since Keegan’s resignation and then saw their team produce a woeful performance.
Marlon King struck from the penalty spot after Nicky Butt’s 34th minute foul on Peter Halmosi. Newcastle conceded a second in the 55th minute when King drove home.
Xisco pulled one back on his debut, but it was too late to save Newcastle, who had Danny Guthrie sent off in the last minute.
Arsenal, inspired by Togo striker Emmanuel debayor’s hat-trick, thrashed Blackburn 4-0 at Ewood Park.
Robin van Persie slotted him in the eighth minute and Adebayor put Arsenal in control on the stroke of half-time.
He claimed the third from the penalty spot in the 81st minute and completed his treble in stoppage time.
West Ham’s new manager Gianfranco Zola watched from the stands as his side crashed to a 3-2 defeat at West Bromwich Albion.
James Morrison gave Albion the perfect start in the third minute.
But Zola, who won’t officially take charge until next week, saw Mark Noble equalise in the 29th minute.
Lucas Neill put West Ham ahead in the 35th minute but Roman Bednar levelled with a penalty two minutes later before Chris Brunt grabbed an 83rd minute winner for Albion.
Jermain Defoe’s second half double gave Portsmouth a 2-1 victory against Middlesbrough at Fratton Park.
Mido struck for Middlesbrough in the 24th minute but Defoe finished off Peter Crouch’s pass to level after 59 minutes and snatched the winner four minutes from the final whistle.
Fulham’s new-boys combined to set up a 2-1 win over Bolton at Craven Cottage.
Zoltan Gera, a close-season signing from West Bromwich, put Fulham in front in the 15th minute and Bobby Zamora, who joined from West Ham, doubled their lead just before half-time. Kevin Davies’s 82nd minute strike was no consolation for Bolton.
Amr Zaki’s blistering start to life with Wigan continued as the Eygpt striker’s fifth goal of the season rescued a 1-1 draw against Sunderland.
Titus Bramble’s early own goal gave Sunderland the lead at the JJB Stadium. But Zaki, a pre-season loan signing from El Zamalek, equalised in the 78th minute before Sunderland’s Lee Cattermole was sent off in
the closing minutes.
On Sunday, Stoke face Everton, while Tottenham host Aston Villa on Monday. – AFP
