Chelsea and Spurs make winning starts on the road to EPL season

Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur enjoyed away wins in the opening round of the Premier League season.

Chelsea midfielder Pedro scores the team’s third goal past Huddersfield Town goalkeeper Ben Hamer at the John Smith’s stadium in Huddersfield. Picture: AFP

Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur enjoyed away wins in the opening round of the English Premier League season, while promoted Fulham and Cardiff City were given quick reminders of the tough task they face on their returns to the top flight.

Goals from N’Golo Kante, Jorginho from the penalty spot and Pedro gave Chelsea an impressive 3-0 win at Aaron Mooy’s Huddersfield Town on Saturday night (AEST) as their new Italian coach Maurizio Sarri watched his team respond well after enduring early pressure from David Wagner’s side.

Chelsea gave a debut to the world’s most expensive goalkeeper, Kepa Arrizabalaga, who joined from Athletic Bilbao for £72 million ($126m) last week, but the Spaniard had little work to do.

Sarri, who took over from Antonio Conte in July, said he now had a month to try to shape his new side before midweek Europa League games were added to the fixture mix.

“We are lucky now because for three to four weeks we can work with only one match a week, so we have to improve in this month,” Sarri said.

“Then it will be difficult with three matches in a week, with the suspension for the national teams. I hope in this month to improve the team.”

Spurs fans’ concerns about their club’s lack of transfer business in the off-season 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 Rafa Benitez’s Newcastle.

Like several clubs who had players competing at the World Cup, Spurs have had to cope without key performers during pre-season and Pochettino was delighted with the approach his players had taken.

“I feel very proud. The players showed great character and commitment,” he said.

“We fought hard and they deserve full credit because the mentality was amazing. It wasn’t easy to connect everything in a few days — a massive challenge — but we kept going and made a massive effort in our performance.”

Well-taken goals by Jeffrey Schlupp and Wilfried Zaha fired a confident-looking Crystal Palace to a 2-0 win over promoted Fulham at Craven Cottage. Cardiff City also tasted defeat on their return to the elite — Ryan Fraser’s first-half goal and forward Callum Wilson’s late strike securing the three points for Bournemouth.

Promoted Wolves needed a late equaliser from Mexican Raul Jimenez to secure a 2-2 draw at home to 10-man Everton.

Watford’s Roberto Pereyra scored twice against Australian keeper Matt Ryan in a 2-0 victory over Brighton and Hove Albion.

Reuters