Champions Chelsea began their Premier League campaign as they ended it last season by topping the table after the opening weekend of the 2010/11 league season.

With Manchester United not scheduled to open their assault on a record 19th top-tier title until they host Newcastle on Monday night, The Blues were free from pressure to pick up where they left off.

And they did so in style, battering newly-promoted West Brom 6-0, with last season’s top scorer Didier Drogba also picking up where he left off with an emphatic hat-trick.

Frenchman Florent Malouda grabbed a brace while Frank Lampard helped himself to one in a start which will have done little for the Baggies’ confidence in staying up this time around.

Following last season’s 8-0 demolition of Wigan on the final day, Drogba became only the fourth player in Premier League history to net consecutive hat-tricks and The Blues because the first team in 101 years to register a goal difference of +14 over two top-flight games.

Elsewhere, fellow newcomers Blackpool created the weekend’s biggest shock as they thumped woeful Wigan 4-0 at the DW Stadium on their Premier League debut.

The Tangerines were three goals to the good by the break, with Marlon Harewood grabbing a brace after setting up Gary-Fletcher Taylor for the opener.

Latics keeper Chris Kirkland had a nightmare start to the campaign, arguably at fault for two of the first three goals and certainly at fault for Blackpool’s fourth as Alex Baptiste’s weak cross somehow evaded him at his near post.

Incredibly, the result from the 3pm kick-off meant Blackpool topped the table briefly before Chelsea overtook them that evening.

Meanwhile, Aston Villa showed there is life after Martin O’Neill as they strolled to a 3-0 win over West Ham at Villa Park. Stewart Downing and Stilian Petrov provided Villa a comfortable half-time lead before want-away midfielder James Milner added a third in the second half.

Earlier on Saturday, Tottenham and Man City played out an entertaining 0-0 draw at White Hart Lane, with keeper Joe Hart putting in a man-of-the-match display after being chosen to play ahead of Shay Given.

At Ewood Park, an uncharacteristic howler from Tim Howard helped Blackburn earn a 1-0 win over Everton with Nikola Kalinic taking full advantage to score the only goal of the game.

Elsewhere, Sunderland let a two-goal lead slip at home to Birmingham who had defenders Liam Ridgewell and Scott Dann to thank for earning a point with late strikes at the Stadium of Light.

Wolves continued their progress from last season with a creditable 2-1 win over Stoke City, who had new record signing Kenwyne Jones stretchered off. Most opening weekends tend to produce a candidate for goal of the season and David Jones’ provided it with his retro donkey kick free-kick in the first half.

Steven Fletcher marked his debut with a goal before Abdoulaye Faye pulled one back for the Potters late on.

Perhaps the biggest game of the weekend took place on Sunday as Arsenal travelled to Anfield to take on Roy Hodgson’s new look Liverpool side.

Joe Cole’s Premier League debt turned sour just before half-time as he hacked down new Gunners defender Laurent Koscielny and saw red. The ten men of Liverpool came out and produced a battling second-half show, taking the lead early on though David Ngog.

The home side were cruelly denied a deserved three points, however, as Pepe Reina spilled into his own net after failing to react to a rebound off the post. Reina had earlier denied Thomas Rosicky with a world-class save, but ended up the villain of the piece as Arsenal secured a valuable point.

Manchester United got their Premier League campaign up and running with ease with a comfortable 3-0 victory over Newcastle at Old Trafford on Monday night.

Veteran Paul Scholes was inspirational, playing a key role in the Man Utd’s dominance from start to finish. Dimitar Berbatov grabbed the opener on 33 minutes, settling the nerves after an uncertain opening from the hosts.

The breakthrough allowed The Red Devils to relax before Daniel Fletcher added to their lead shortly before half-time. Alex Ferguson’s men continued to dominate after the break, but had to wait until five minutes from time before their third goal.

The wait was worthwhile, though, as two veterans combined in Scholes and Ryan Giggs, the latter of which volleying in from a difficult angle. The win ensured Man United lie fourth in the Premier League table after the opening weekend.

Just ten minutes into the game and Newcastle could have and should have taken a shock lead. The Toon earned a corner which Joey Barton delivered right onto the head of the unmarked Andy Carroll who could only steer wide.

United regained their composure but struggled to created a clear-cut chance amid a series of offsides. Newcastle remained a threat at the other end and Carroll tested Edwin Van Der Sar with a snapshot on 18 minutes.

Rooney tried his luck from distance soon after, but a deflection took the sting out of his shot making Steve Harper’s task all the more easier in the Newcastle goal.

James Perch, a summer signing from Nottingham Forest, was the first player in the book on 21 minutes as he tripped up Nani, who was aiming to burst through on goal. From the resulting free-kick, Rooney blasted into the wall.

United began to up the pace of their game around the half hour mark and Rooney perhaps should have done better with a left-foot half-volley after Dimitar Berbatov teed up the England striker with a cushioned header.

Rooney’s effort sailed over the bar and moments later Paul Scholes played a delightful through ball but Rooney lost possession when trying to cut inside onto his left foot.

However, the home side didn’t have long to wait for their inevitable opener. Scholes was the provider as he slipped an angled through ball towards Berbatov. Toon defender Jose Enrique got a toe on the pass but inadvertently teed up the Bulgarian, who buried the ball low into the bottom left corner.

United has a 33rd minute lead, but switched off in the aftermath of the goal with Carroll dispossessing John O’Shea on the flank, only to scuff his cross with two teammates eagerly waiting.

Seven minutes before the break, Joey Barton, sporting a moustache he has vowed not to shave until the Magpies earn their first Premier League win of the season, opted to shoot when better placed to cross, much to the annoyance of his team-mates.

United ensured the game was all but won soon after, as Fletcher shot low and hard on the turn after collecting a miss-kick from Rooney. The goal deflated the away side, who at that stage were crying out for the half-time whistle.

Second Half

Both sides upped the physicality of their play early in the second half and both Scholes and Fletcher found themselves in the book within ten minutes of the restart.

Rooney continued to look out of sorts but his strike partner Berbatov was a constant menace and almost grabbed his second when put through one-on-one with Harper.

The Bulgarian kept his composure but Harper was sharp off his line as Berbatov was forced into rushing his shot, consequently slipping the ball wide of the far post.

Rooney’s night came to an end after 63 minutes when he was replaced by Mexican prodigy Javier Hernandez. The youngster was eager to make an impression and looked sharp, narrowly missing out on making it three ten minutes into his Premiership debut after a late flag for offside.

Shola Ameobi’s introduction on 72 minutes injected new life into the Magpies, with Carroll finding a partner alongside him more beneficial, but still they struggled to cope with the dominance of Man Utd.

A masterful second half performance from Scholes allowed United to continue to dominate and it was him who pulled the strings again as he set up a fellow Old Trafford legend – Ryan Giggs.

Giggs, a 71st minute sub for Nani, drifted into the box unnoticed. Unnoticed by all except Scholes, his long-time teammate and lover, who picked him out with a pinpoint pass which the Welshman volleyed across the face of goal and into the far bottom corner.

If anything, the score was generous on Newcastle, who barely strung together a move in the second period. United’s dominance was only lacking in a killer final instinct, of which is unexpected during the first game of the season.

Giggs’ goal in the 85th minute was the final nail in the coffin for the Toon as the home side kept possession from the closing stages for a comfortable three points.

Martin O’Neill has shocked Aston Villa fans by announcing his resignation as manager of the Premier League club.

With less than a week before the 2010-11 top-flight season kicks off, O’Neill’s decision is an untimely one with the club set to begin the campaign without a permanent successor installed.

Villa’s reserve team manager Kevin MacDonald will take charge of the club’s opening game at home to West Ham on Saturday, with many bookmakers making Ajax boss Martin Jol the favourite to succeed O’Neill.

The Northern Irishman admitted his decision comes with regret but the 58-year-old refused to reveal his motivation for stepping down, although a strained relationship with club owner Randy Lerner is thought to have taken its toll.

O’Neill told the club’s official website: “I have enjoyed my time at Aston Villa immensely. It’s obviously a wrench to be leaving such a magnificent club.

“I would like to pay tribute to the Villa players, my coaching staff and the Villa supporters for all the support and encouragement they have given both the club and me personally during my time as manager.

“I wish them all the best for the future. I will obviously be assisting the club in the immediate short-term with regard to the handover of my duties.”

Villa are on the verge of selling their biggest star to Manchester City for the second summer running in James Milner, who looks set to team up with former Villa captain Gareth Barry at Eastlands.

A deal in the region of £25million is thought to have been agreed between the two clubs, a decision which is highly likely to have contributed to O’Neill’s departure as the club’s ambition is called into question once more.

Last week O’Neill revealed: “For a number of days in this transfer saga with Manchester City, you have known my position in terms of what I have been advocating and thinking about.”

The former Celtic boss is believed to be furious at losing his best player to the wealth of rivals City and he will now embark on his first spell out of the game since leaving the Bhoys in 2005.

Paul Faulkner, chief executive of Aston Villa, said: “The club would like to thank Martin for the great work he has done at Aston Villa over the past four years.

“He has helped to establish the club in the upper echelons of the Premier League, has taken us to Wembley and we have also qualified for European competition for the past three seasons under his management. We wish him the best in the future.”

O’Neill took over the reigns at Villa in 2006 and guided the club to three successive 6th-place finished in the Premier League and their first cup final in 10 years – a 2-1 Carling Cup defeat to Manchester United.

Barcelona and Chelsea have emerged as frontrunners in the race to sign German World Cup star Mesut Ozil.

The 21-year-old Werder Bremen prospect has attracted the interest of Europe’s elite after his string of fine displays at this summer’s World Cup helped his country to a third place finish.

Ozil has just one year remaining on his contract with Bundesliga giants Bremen but would still command a fee in the region of £13million, such was the impression he made in South Africa.

Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur were expected to battle it out for Ozil’s signature, but they have been ousted to the back of the queue by the Premier League and La Liga champions.

London is believed to be the playmaker’s preferred destination with compatriot Michael Ballack’s distinguished career at Stamford Bridge providing inspiration for Ozil.

“To the top players the Premier League is attractive,” the midfielder admitted when questioned on his future at the Weserstadion.

“You look at what Manchester United and Chelsea have achieved over the last five years and you see it would be easy to be successful at two clubs like that.

“I see what Michael Ballack achieved at Chelsea and the quality of players he played with and the temptation becomes obvious.

“Trophies are what matters to me. There are two teams in England always at the top and of course that’s attractive. But the same is true for La Liga. They’re the strongest leagues in the world.”

Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson travelled to Craven Cottage at the weekend to get a closer look at the former Schalke man, who made a whopping 33 assists for club and country last year.

The Germans slumped to a 5-1 defeat at the hands of Mark Hughes’ Fulham side, with Ozil failing to overly impress amid torrential London rain.

Newcastle United have been promoted back into the Premier League after one year in the Championship, allowing their players to breathe a sigh of relief.

Newcastle were predicted to struggle in the Championship after they were dumped out of the Premier League in epic style after a 1-0 loss on their own ground in their final Premier League match two seasons ago.

However, the size of the club and the managerial ability of Chris Hughton was more than enough to help the club get straight back into the top flight of English football. Newcastle’s players can now enjoy a party with a few games of the season left to go.

Winger, Jonas Gutierrez, said: “Diego helped to calm me down when Newcastle United slipped into the second division last season. He said he didn’t care which division I was playing in as the most important thing to him is to have players playing well.”

“That was very important to me because I knew Newcastle weren’t going to let me join another team. Now I can relax, at least a little bit. We needed to finish in first or second place to get automatic promotion and that is what we have done.”

“If we had finished between third and sixth we would have had to go into the play-offs and my season would have ended very close to the World Cup. Now I have time to charge my batteries for the World Cup and that is what I have always wanted and needed.”

This will also be the case for a number of other players in the Newcastle team who will be going off to South Africa to play in the World Cup. It may even work in the favour of the countries they play for because promotion is something, which can inspire a player and spur them on.

Hopefully Newcastle would have learnt a few lessons from the last time they were in the Premier League. Furthermore, they should have their heads around who controls what area of the club and who controls the players on the pitch.

Confusion in these areas was one of the main reasons the club went down last season and now they have a chance to show one and all that it was a blip and nothing else.

It marks a remarkable recent history for Newcastle as they were playing in the Champions League one season and then a few years later they were not even in the top of English football.

Hughton now looks favourite to keep his job and not be replaced by anyone else. This is wise and it is fair to let him see how he can handle the team in the top flight. However, he will be under no illusions that the club cannot go back down and his job will be balanced on a fine wire if Newcastle don’t get some Premier League wins straight away.

Arsenal captain, Cesc Fabregas, fears he has a surface break of his right leg after the 2-2 draw with Barcelona in the Champions League.

Fabregas scored the penalty, which put the two sides level on a night where Barcelona should have put the match to bed. This news will rock the club and fans who will now see their Premier League title hopes virtually finished.

Furthermore Fabregas would not have been allowed to play next week in Spain because he picked up a yellow card, which means he will be suspended for the return tie.

He said: “We have to wait for tomorrow, but I hope I can wear the Arsenal shirt again this season. I fear the worst, which is that I have broken something. I do not think it is going to be good news, but still I hope there will be.”

“When I took the penalty, I was quite strong, but after, when I went to get the ball, I could not walk any more. It is the fibula. I think I put my leg between [Carles] Puyol’s when I was fouled, and kicked it. Until the penalty I was feeling quite good.”

Arsenal boss, Arsene Wenger, added: “I give a lot of credit to my players because they kept themselves in the tie even at 2-0 down against a team like Barcelona. If you have no mental strength, you can go down but we came back to 2-2.”

“I believe the whole team was mentally unbelievable tonight because we kept going and kept going, and against an opponent that was class. I am still convinced that we can make life difficult for them in the second tie and that we have a chance to qualify. The biggest regret I have tonight is that we gave two cheap goals away. I believe the way we gave those goals away was beyond understanding.”

Although Arsenal are still in the tie, it is very difficult to see how they are going to get a result in the Nou Camp. Barca virtually played them off the park on their own ground and should have had a much stronger lead after this tie.

Arsenal will feel lifted by the fact they could play so badly in the first half and still be in the game at a level point. However, the fact Barca went on to score two goals means that Arsenal must score in Spain to get through.

Barca could easily sit on their two away goals but this is not how the Spanish champions play. Although they will have to change both of their central defenders next week, the rest of the team can easily take pressure away from this area.

Fabregas would have done anything to get himself fit and playing in the important matches that Arsenal have coming up. He would have taken great satisfaction in scoring against the club he has been constantly linked with.

Manchester United and England have been left sweating over the fitness of key striker, Wayne Rooney, after the front man got injured against Bayern Munich last night.

Rooney has picked up a knock to his right ankle and it looks set to keep him out of the Premier League clash against Chelsea at the weekend and the return game against Munich next Wednesday.

Rooney scored United’s away goal in Germany but his side later went on to lose 2-1 as Bayern managed to grab the winner with virtually the last kick of the game. The Rooney news just caps off a very bad evening for the United side.

Sir Alex Ferguson said: “Wayne has hurt his ankle, it’s too early to say the condition of it, but we will know tomorrow. I don’t think it is terribly serious. I don’t know. I can’t answer that [whether he’ll play against Chelsea].”

Munich’s coach added: “I don’t know if he is injured or how serious it is, but Rooney is United’s most important player. Look at the statistics. He has 34 goals this season. Then they have [Dimitar] Berbatov with 12 and then 11 own goals as their third top scorer, so that’s how important he is to United.”

If United were going to lose the game then they probably would have asked for a 2-1 loss. They have scored their away goal and they would back themselves to beat Bayern at Old Trafford.

However, United will face a much stronger side in the return game with a number of internationals and gifted players returning to the Munich side. Mario Gomez and Miroslav Klose will probably start the game and winger, Arjen Robben, will return.

The bitter pill is Rooney’s injury. United will hope it isn’t a bad one and predictions are that he will only be out for around a week. However, if it is a bad one, they will have to nurse him and he may start thinking about his summer with England.

Rooney is so important and has been the sole reason for much of the team’s recent success. The problem for United is how they are going to adapt their side to make up for the influence, which Rooney has in spades.

It means that Dimitar Berbatov will probably be given the sole responsibility of leading the United attack in at least their next two games. Many would argue that these next two games are the club’s biggest of the season.

It will not fill United fans with confidence as they have said so many times in the recent past that the Bulgarian does not do enough to pull his weight in the side. Rooney brought so much to the team that United will struggle greatly now he is out.

On the other hand there is a big opportunity for someone to come in and do the magic. United need someone to step up and they need that someone to do it right now.

Manchester City manager, Roberto Mancini, has praised striker, Carlos Tevez, after the club’s 3-0 win over Wigan Athletic.

Tevez bagged all three goals during the match and has been carrying the current side for large parts of the current season. Mancini says his performance was the best he has seen from a striker while he has been at the club.

Wigan were no match for City and their chances were not helped by the sending off of Gary Caldwell. The player appeared to catch his boot on the turf, which meant he went into Tevez. The Argentine obliged by rolling around to get the red card produced.

Mancini said: “It was a good performance by Carlos. He scored three important goals and we won this game. I am happy with him. He is scoring a lot of goals and has always been a good player. He is a young player, who is improving every year.”

Wigan boss, Roberto Martinez, added: “I cannot understand how you can give something you can’t see. To give a red card you have to be certain. Then you are looking at the replay it is no way it is a red card offence.”

“Gary said he went in really strong and got the ball. Carlos Tevez saw it jumped off the ground, he’s the one who left both feet. We are all human beings and we all make mistakes but to give a decision after something you don’t see that is lying. You are making it up. That is hard to take.”

“He (the referee) said he saw Gary Caldwell with both feet off the ground. That’s why he gave the red card. But Gary Caldwell only went with one foot. That’s a real injustice.”

It doesn’t seem to matter what Tevez does he is always in the headlines. A lot of people may have lost some respect for the player but there is no doubt that he is still one of the most potent strikers in the Premier League.

Mancini should offer him a bonus of whatever he likes because had Wigan managed to get a point or more from the game then the axe may have already been coming down towards Mancini’s neck.

City have started to learn that it does not matter how much money you pump into a football club. Instant success is much harder to achieve and it could still be a few years before the side wins a trophy.

Spurs look in control of fourth place and with Liverpool always nipping at the heels of fourth place, it could be too big an ask for City to secure Champions League football this year.

Their fans will say they are much stronger and better than Spurs but what they will not acknowledge is the fact Spurs have never been in this position before. This means they are more likely to whatever it takes to stay in fourth place.

Chelsea manager, Carlo Ancelotti, has said that he will stay at the London club whether they win a trophy by the end of the season or not.

Rumours have been going around that the Italian could leave or be forced out at the end of the year if he doesn’t win at least the Premier League.

However, Ancelotti says that he sees his future at the club and he does not have any immediate intentions to go elsewhere. This news should be a lift to his team who are struggling with injuries and all of the fans.

He said: “I am here to change the history of this club. I have a very good relationship with the club and with Roman. [Avram] Grant was the past, now there is a present. I think the owner now is thinking what I think: to win the Premier League and to win the FA Cup. I am an optimistic man. My position is not under discussion.”

“My future is definitely at Chelsea next season, I can confirm that. I have two more years of my contract. I think that, in the past, with 86 points every team has won the title. But we can’t afford to lose at Manchester United.”

“We have nine or ten games until the end of the season — eight in the Premier League and maybe two in the FA Cup — and that’s not a lot of time. We have to win ten games.”

“Ashley’s recovery is going very well. He started to train on his own and I think that he will train with the group maybe in 15 days. I think he will be ready before the end of the season.”

The problem for Ancelotti has been finding the consistency, which has made Chelsea one of the best teams in the recent past. One moment they’re brilliant and the next they’re not.

It has not helped the manager that he has very rarely been able to name the same side for more than two or three games in a row. Chelsea are suffering big time with injuries and this could be the thing that costs them.

At times when the business end of a football season is fast approaching, the one thing that all connected with the club want to see is a strong manager and Chelsea have this.

Many have said that Ancelotti is not as tactically aware as many other managers in the Premier League but his team have done quite well for the majority of the season and produced some impressive results.

If all of the games go the way as predicted then the winner of Manchester United against Chelsea will most likely go on to lift the Premier League trophy at the end of this season.

Chelsea could do a lot worse so it’s important they manage to keep the boss happy and give him no reason to doubt his position or the club.

Tottenham Hotspur’s Croatian winger, Niko Kranjcar, has said that he would like to spend the rest of his career at Spurs.

Niko, as he is commonly known, has settled into the Spurs side and has produced some vintage performances in recent weeks, which have made him a key to their success.

He is clearly a player, respected by the current boss Harry Redknapp, who is happy and content with his current situation. He has dropped hints that he wants longer contracts and more football only with Spurs.

He said: “I would be very happy if I could stay at Tottenham forever. This is a big club, which is very highly regarded in England and everyone who is playing football would like to be part of such a club.”

“From my early years I always wanted the best for myself, to play in a strong league and to be part of strong club, to play with world stars and this season we are showing that.”

“Tottenham is indeed a strong and big club. If we can win the FA Cup, then our confidence will be even higher and than all roads lead to even bigger achievements. One day we would like to play in the Champions League and we are also thinking about new stadium.”

“Tottenham wants to be one of the top dogs in England and even now we have one of the best teams in Premier League. I really hope, that we will finish the season in top four, which Tottenham hasn’t achieved since 1990! Then we could really say that this season was a big success for us.”

Spurs do have a lot going for them and there are many reasons why a current player at the club should want to stay put. There are much worse sides in London that top players could find themselves at.

Spurs are now facing the possibility of an FA Cup final at Wembley if Redknapp is able to steer them passed his old side, Portsmouth. Many will already take this for granted due to the financial trouble and turmoil, which has been at Portsmouth this season.

The club will also do whatever it takes to get into the Champions League. This would mean playing against some of the best sides in Europe and although they would have to qualify, the squad is a strong one and should be good enough under these circumstances.

There are sections of the Spurs team that will need improving. There are players who are too small and lightweight to cut it in Europe, which will mean that Redknapp has to bring in some extra strength and experience.

Niko is one such player who will not be going anywhere and he should be pushing for a regular place in the current side. He has a lot of competition from other wingers at the club but at the moment he is first pick.