15 August 2004 Everton (0) 1 (Carsley 64) Arsenal (2) 4 (Bergkamp 23, Reyes 39, Ljungberg 54, Pires 82) Arsenal begin their defence of the title with a crushing win at Goodison as Everton were swept aside. Arsenal's speed and power on the break was evident in the opening goal as Thierry Henry found Jose Antonio Reyes in midfield. The Spaniard then made good ground to the penalty area where he was tackled and after the loose ball fell to Henry, he found Dennis Bergkamp who had time to take a touch before drilling the ball low into the net. The lead was doubled when Freddie Ljungberg crossed from the left and an unmarked Reyes thumped home a header from eight yards. Early in the second half, Henry again found space and his cross from the right was bundled in at the near post by Ljungberg, although Everton did gain brief hope ten minutes later when Thomas Gravesen's neat lob was latched onto by Lee Carsley who rounded Jens Lehmann before tapping into an empty net. Ultimately it was false hope though as the victory was confirmed late on when Henry's shot was spilled by Nigel Martyn and after Ashley Cole smacked the rebound against the bar, Robert Pires was on hand to volley in from close range. Arsenal are now just one game away from equalling Nottm Forest's record from 1977 and 1978 when they went 42 successive league games unbeaten. Chelsea (1) 1 (Gudjohnsen 15) Man United (0) 0 Chelsea began the Jose Mourinho era with a narrow win over rivals Man United in a game which rarely lived up to it's top billing. With all the new arrivals at Stamford Bridge since the billions of Roman Abramovic entered the equation, it was ironic that the only goal came from a post-Roman player in the shape of Eidur Gudjohnsen. It was made by Geremi who took advantage of a misjuded bounce by Quinton Fortune to break clear. His cross was nodded on by Didier Drogba for Gudjohnsen to lob the ball over Tim Howard and bundle over the line. United had plenty of possesion but the lack of quality strikers showed as they failed to make any major impact against the Chelsea defence. 14 August 2004 Spurs (0) 1 (Defoe 70) Liverpool (1) 1 (Cisse 38) Djibil Cisse scored on his Liverpool debut to kick off the new Premiership season, however new boss Rafael Benitez will have to wait for his first victory as Spurs earned a second half draw. Cisse struck just before half time with a sweeping finish after Steve Finnan's cross was nodded on by Jamie Carragher. Liverpool eased off a little after the break, allowing Spurs back in the game and their new boss, Jaques Santini, was rewarded with an equaliser when a long ball was flicked on by Fredi Kanoute and after controlling the ball well, Jermain Defoe turned and fired the ball inside the near post. Aston Villa (2) 2 (Vassell 12, Cole 34) Southampton (0) 0 Aston Villa recorded one of the rare few opening day victories with a comfortable win against a below par Southampton side. The game was effectively over by half time as firstly Darius Vassell opened the scoring, prodding in from close range following a scramble after Lee Hendrie's shot was blocked and in contrast, Vassell's pass then set up the second for new signing Carlton Cole, whose sweet volley with the outside of the boot was an opening day highlight. Blackburn (0) 1 (Short 70) West Brom (1) 1 (Clement 33) Newly promoted West Brom earned a resepctable point at Blackburn and were only twenty minutes away from winning all three. The visitors took the lead when Neil Clement's free kick took a strong deflection off of the wall and bobbled into the bottom corner of the net, however Rovers earned a point when Jon Stead's cross from the left was met with a diving header by Craig Short. Bolton (2) 4 (Okocha 11, 59, Pedersen 30, 72) Charlton (0) 1 (Lisbie 67) Bolton roared to the top of the embryonic Premiership table with a crushing win over a poor Charlton side. Jay-Jay Okocha failed to score at all in the league last season, yet within eleven minutes of 2004-5 kicking off he was on the mark with a stunning 30 yard free kick on the left which ripped into the top corner of the net. He then set up Henrik Pedersen with a superb through ball, the striker finishing well at the near post. Okocha further celebrated his 31st birthday by adding the third as he collected a pass from Ricardo Gardner and drilled home a firm shot from the edge of the area. Charlton pulled one back when Kevin Lisbie headed in Danny Murphy's corner, however within five minutes, Bolton added a fourth when a long crossfield ball from Gary Speed found Pedersen who cut inside before finishing well. Man City (1) 1 (Fowler 28) Fulham (0) 1 (John 56) All square at the City of Manchester Stadium as Man City proved that what they did last season is just as easy to do again as they dominated the game but failed to clinch victory. It began well when a long throw was nodded on by Antione Sibierski for Robbie Fowler to hook an overhead effort which looped into the top corner, however in the second half, Fulham equalised when Claus Jensen's cross was controlled and finished well by Collins John. Norwich (1) 1 (Huckerby 16) Crystal Palace (0) 1 (Johnson 73) The other two newly promoted clubs battled out a predictable draw at Carrow Road as Crystal Palace came from behind against Norwich. The hosts took the lead when Mathias Svensson's pass sent Darren Huckerby away and as he cut into the area, he unleashed a superb shot across goal and inside the far post. Palace levelled matters when Wayne Routledge's chipped pass was collected by Andy Johnson who finished well with a clipped effort. Portsmouth (1) 1 (Unsworth (pen) 16) Birmingham (1) 1 (Savage 10) Level also at Fratton Park as two early goals shared the points between Portsmouth and Birmingham. The visitors took an early lead when Robbie Savage fired in a free kick from the edge of the area which found the net via the hands of keeper Shaka Hislop. The lead lasted six minutes before Steve Stone was pushed in the area by Stan Lazaridis, allowing debutant David Unsworth to thump in the penalty. Middlesbrough (0) 2 (Downing 73, Hasselbaink 90) Newcastle (1) 2 (Bellamy 14, Shearer (pen) 83) A controversial debut goal from Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink earned Middesbrough a draw after twice coming from behind at home to North-East rivals Newcastle. The visitors took an early lead when Aaron Hughes' hopeful through ball was missed by Chris Riggott, allowing Craig Bellamy to nip in, round the keeper and slot into the empty net. It remained the only goal until seventeen minutes from time when Boro deservedly levelled matters. Sub Stuart Downing finding the net with a crisp far post shot after Hasselbaink's low cross had evaded the visiting defence. Ten minutes later, Newcastle regained the lead when Shola Ameobi was tripped in the area by Boudewijn Zenden and Alan Shearer crashed home the penalty to mark his 500th top flight game. It appeared to be the winner until Hasselbaink scored in stoppage time, however not only did Gaizka Mendieta look offside at the near post from Zenden's cross, but Hasselbaink's apparent diving header seemed to go in off of his hand or shoulder according to replays. Honours even though and an entertaining match. Gary Dowden Chief Editor SoccerAge UK Gary Dowden - Joint Admin Topica Premier-L list http://www.topica.com/lists/premier-L/ Leeds United and Scotland and proud of it http://www.peanutsfan.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/footiemad The Unofficial Premiership Site |