It's back and it's like it never went away. The Barclay's Premier League began again today and once again brought its drama, controversy and crazy score lines, just the beginning of what will be another fantastic, jaw-dropping season. Here's today's round-up:
West Brom 3-0 Liverpool: Brendan Rodgers' start at Liverpool begins in the worst possible way as Steve Clark produces victory over his old side. Zoltan Gera broke the deadlock two minutes before half-time with a half-volley goal of the season contender already, after receiving the ball outside the box from a corner and lashing it into the top corner. West Brom were then awarded a penalty when Daniel Agger fouled Shane Long on 58-minutes, Agger was subsequently sent off for being last man but Long then awfully put the penalty straight to Pepe Reina. But West Brom would then have another penalty when Long was fouled by Martin Skrtel. This time Peter Odemwingie stepped up and hammered the penalty home on 64-minutes. The game was then sealed when a poorly defended corner ended with on-loan signing, Romelu Lukaku heading home from close range with 13-minutes remaining.
QPR 0-5 Swansea: Michael Laudrup's season began with the first of, what will be many, crazy score-lines as Mark Hughes' revolution starts with a stutter. New signing, Michu, kicked his season off with a goal that Rob Green won't be proud of as it went through his hands after just eight minutes. Despite hitting the bar twice, Swansea would only be 1-0 ahead at half-time before Michu made it two with a curler after being played through by Wayne Routledge after 53-minutes. Nathan Dyer made it 3-0 ten minutes later before adding Swansea's fourth on 71-minutes. Scott Sinclair ended the rout with another good finish nine minutes from time.
Newcastle 2-1 Tottenham: Andre Villas-Boas' reign at Tottenham begins with defeat at St.James' Park. Demba Ba started his campaign with a great curling effort nine minutes into the second half. Jermain Defoe equalised for Spurs with a rebound after Tim Krul parried the initial effort on 76-minutes. Newcastle were then awarded a penalty when Hatem Ben Arfa got sandwiched in the box, Ben Arfa then dispatched the spot-kick to win the game ten minutes from time.
Fulham 5-0 Norwich: Chris Hughton's reign also begins in defeat as Martin Jol shows Clint Dempsey that they will survive without him. Damien Duff broke the deadlock when John-Arne Riise perfectly found him via a lofted pass on 26-minutes. Mladen Petric began his life in the Premier league with a headed goal from a corner four minutes before half-time despite Norwich's best efforts to keep it out. Petric found a fantastic goal on 54-minutes to make it 3-0. Alexander Kacaniklic made it 4-0 on 66-minutes before Hugo Rodallega was fouled in the box three minutes from time. Steve Sidwell stepped up and rifled the spot-kick home to round off a brilliant day in the Cottage.
West Ham 1-0 Aston Villa: The first of the new boys began their season with victory as Paul Lambert's reign at Villa starts with defeat. The only goal came in dramatic circumstances when the linesman had initially flagged Ricardo Vaz Te offside before he slotted the ball through to Kevin Nolan to roll home five minutes before half-time.
Reading 1-1 Stoke: The Championship Champions began their third Premiership campaign with a draw against Stoke. Michael Kightly began his Stoke career with a goal that Adam Federici spilled through into the net on 34-minutes. Reading were then awarded a penalty when Garath McCleary was fouled by Dean Whitehead in the 89th minute. Whitehead then received his second yellow card before Adam Le Fondre converted the spot-kick to earn Reading a vital point.
Arsenal 0-0 Sunderland: Life without Robin Van Persie and Alex Song begins with a goalless stalemate against Martin O'Neill's Sunderland. Santi Cazorla, Lukas Podolski and Olivier Giroud had chances to score on their débuts but all of those chances were spurned. It was a good defensive game from Sunderland as the game fizzled out into a goalless draw.
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