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PREMIER LEAGUE

MANY happy returns, Roman Abramovich.

Antonio Conte joked in the build-up about giving Chelsea’s billionaire owner the gift of victory against the man he’s paid off twice and he did just that – in style.

Blues fans who spent so long adoring Jose Mourinho sang, “You’re not special any more” as goals from Pedro, Gary Cahill, Eden Hazard and N’Golo Kante routed Manchester United.

And surely nobody enjoyed it as much as Abramovich, who never did see completely eye-to-eye with Mourinho during either of his title-winning spells at Stamford Bridge.

The Russian billionaire is 50 today, and his side are back up to fourth, five points ahead of Mourinho’s United and just one behind leaders Manchester City.

Rescued

But it was the manner of victory which will stick in the minds of both men, because this was a humiliation for Mourinho on his return to his old club.

Where Liverpool couldn’t find a way to score against United in 90 minutes at Anfield on Monday night, Chelsea took just 30 seconds at the Bridge.

David De Gea has rescued United many times and his two saves helped earn them a point against Liverpool.

But the Spaniard was guilty of a huge error of judgement here, racing off his line but failing to get anywhere near a Marcos Alonso flicked long ball.

Chris Smalling also failed to deal with it, allowing Pedro to nip in and slot home into an empty net to give Chelsea a dream start.

It was the former Barcelona winger’s first shot on target this season and boy did he enjoy it, racing straight over to the home fans to celebrate.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic missed the best chance of the game at Anfield with a wayward header and he soon missed another here, heading a searching Antonio Valencia cross over the bar.

With Wayne Rooney absent because of a thigh injury, the only change from the United team which drew with Liverpool was Jesse Lingard coming in for Ashley Young.

But it got even worse for the visitors when Cahill fired in the second off Daley Blind in the 21st minute, after Nemanja Matic won a header from a corner.

He too made the most of his celebration, roaring with delight and puffing his chest out as he was mobbed by his team-mates.

Some of these players were booed by their own fans last season after Mourinho was axed.

They looked like they were enjoying getting their own back here.

Thibaut Courtois was finally called