Chelsea show early form as they punish Huddersfield

CHELSEA and Tottenham Hotspur enjoyed away wins on the opening Saturday of the Premier League season while promoted Fulham and Cardiff City were given quick reminders of the tough task they face.

Goals from N’golo Kante, Jorginho (penalty) and Pedro gave Chelsea an impressive 3-0 win at Huddersfield Town as their new Italian coach Maurizio Sarri watched his team respond well after enduring early pressure from David Wagner’s team.

Chelsea gave a debut to the world’s most expensive goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga, who joined from Athletic Bilbao for £72 million last week, but the Spaniard had little work to do.

Spurs fans’ concerns about their club’s lack of transfer business may have eased after Jan Vertonghen and Dele Alli scored as Mauricio Pochettino’s team began the campaign with an entertaining 2-1 victory at Newcastle United.

All three goals came in a frantic opening 20 minutes on Tyneside with two headed goals for the north London team coming either side of Joselu’s equaliser for Newcastle.

Well-taken goals by Jeffrey Schlupp and Wilfried Zaha fired confident-looking Crystal Palace to a 2-0 win over Fulham at Craven Cottage.

Cardiff also tasted defeat on their return to the elite – midfielder Ryan Fraser’s first-half goal and forward Callum Wilson’s late strike securing the three points for Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium. Argentine Roberto Pereyra scored twice, the first a superb volley, as Watford enjoyed a 2-0 victory over Brighton.

Manchester City began their title defence at the Emirates against Arsenal today while Liverpool host West Ham.

Manchester United kicked off the season on Friday with a 2-1 win over Leicester City at Old Trafford. In yesterday’s late game Wolverhampton Wanderers drew 2-2 with Everton after the scores were level at 1-all at half time. – Reuters