Source: Daily_Mail
Barclays Premier League live
Follow Sportsmail's live coverage of the opening day of the Premier League season from the 3pm kick offs all the way through to Chelsea v West Brom at 5:30pm as we keep you informed of all the goals and all the drama as it unfolds.[LNB] Premier League matches Aston Villa 3-0 West Ham FT[LNB]Blackburn 1-0 Everton FT[LNB]Bolton 0-0 Fulham FT[LNB]Chelsea 6-0 West Brom FT[LNB]Sunderland 2-2 Birmingham FT[LNB]Tottenham 0-0 Man City FT[LNB]Wigan 0-4 Blackpool FT[LNB]Wolves 2-1 Stoke FT[LNB]19.34: The result of the day still falls with Blackpool though who astonished everyone today by winning 4-0 at Wigan.[LNB]The bar has been set by Chelsea though and Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United all play in the next couple of days knowing that Chelsea are flying already.[LNB]Thanks for your company today, have a good evening.[LNB]FT: The stage is very much set, the Champions grab six, their star striker grabs a hat-trick and they hardly broke sweat.[LNB]Florent Malouda trys to convince the world (and fails) in an interview that the game wasn't easy. Even Drogba looked surprised at Malouda's answer there.[LNB]FT: What a difference a week makes. Last week Chelsea weren't ready, this week West Brom got savagely beaten as they looked to try and take advantage of that.[LNB]Chelsea are very much up and running while it's a harsh welcome back to the world of the Premier league for Roberto Di Matteo's men.[LNB]Full-time: Chelsea 6-0 West Brom[LNB]89min: GOAL! Chelsea 6-0 West Brom[LNB]They have hardly got out of second gear but Florent Malouda runs on to a defence splitting through ball before going round Carson and tucking it away in to an empty net to get his second, an absolut emauling from the champions.[LNB]85min: First real chance of the half from West Brom as Chris Brunt (and he can hit them) fires a shot in from 18 yards out which is deflected over from a corner.[LNB]83min: Final sub from the Baggies as Giles Barnes comes on for Jerome Thomas.[LNB]81min: To be fair West Brom haven't been THAT bad. Chelsea have just been clinical this second half and showed that last week's disappointing defeat in the Community Shield is now a long time ago.[LNB]78min: We have come full circle here as West Brom give away a free-kick 25 yards out. Only positives this time is that Lampard and Drogba are now off the field.[LNB]It's Malouda in the end, and it's rubbish as he sends it over the bar.[LNB]75min: It won't make him feel any better but Chelsea fans are roaring out with 'There's only one Di Matteo' in reference to his playing days at Stamford Bridge.[LNB]Nicolas Anelka reacts to a loose ball in the six yard box but Carson is quick to fumble the French striker.[LNB] Safe: Drogba gets Chelsea's third and puts the game beyond West Brom[LNB]73min: Blackpool are knocked off the top of the table as well with that, what a gauntlet this is that Chelsea have thrown down to their title rivals.[LNB]69min: With that his day is over too, with the hat-trick hero making way for Salomon Kalou to a standing ovation from the Stamford Bridge crowd.[LNB]67min: GOAL! Chelsea 5-0 West Brom[LNB]It's a tad fortunate but Didier Drogba nets his hat-trick.He runs across the 18 yard box where fires in a shot that takes a wicked deflection off Garbriel Tamas before going past a wrong footed Carson, West Brom have fallen apart and sadly it begs the question how many more?[LNB]66min: Roberto Di Matteo makes a double substitution with Roman Bednar and Graham Dorrans being replaced by Simon Cox and Ishmael Miller. Difficult return to Stamford Bridge for the Italian.[LNB]63min: With that Lampard's work today is done as he comes off for Yossi Benyaoun[LNB]61min: GOAL! Chelsea 4-0 West Brom[LNB]Some tired legs and minds out there from the Baggies, Nicolas Anelka finds Ashley Cole brilliantly inside the box who lays the ball off to Frank Lampard too dispatch it past Carson. Easy.[LNB]59min: Following a cynical booking, Paulo Ferreira is taken off with Branislav Ivanovic on in his place. Yossi Benayoun is warming up.[LNB]57min: Of course that means Chelsea are one goal from going joint top, Blackpool may not be top after day one after all.[LNB]55min: GOAL! Chelsea 3-0 West Brom[LNB]Another set-piece, another Chelsea goal. This time it's from a corner though. John Terry's header is blocked on the line but the loose ball in the six yard box is met first by Didier Drogba who scores taps in his second of the afternoon.[LNB]53min: It fails to trouble Cech though as it sails over the bar, big chance considering the slow tempo this game is being payed at.[LNB]52min: West Brom have to make the most of these, as they win a free-kick 25 yards out the Chelsea goal, Graham Dorrans is looking over it.[LNB] For you: Drogba acknowledges the Chelsea fans after scoring the Blues' second goal[LNB]50min: One thing different from the first half is the rain has completely gone and now replaced by some pleasant evening summer sunshine. No chances yet though.[LNB]48min: Pattern of the first half is in force here, West Brom still knocking it around but as soon as they hit Chelsea's penalty area, can't find a way through.[LNB]Second Half: No changes from either side as the second half gets underway.[LNB]HT: Hard to see any way back for West Brom. They have played well but have not looked like scoring at all.[LNB]HT: That frankly is the difference between the sides, West Brom have matched their opponents in general play, but their inability to defend a free-kick is the sole reason they are 2-0 down.[LNB]Half-time: Chelsea 2-0 West Brom[LNB]45min: GOAL! Chelsea 2-0 West Brom[LNB]It's a neat strike from Didier Drogba but West Brom's defensive walls from free-kick's have more holes than a tennis racket. Drogba's strike goes straight through it leaving Carson with no chance as he dives in vain low to his left.[LNB]45min: But this is the Baggies undoing. Another Chelsea free-kick but this one is a bit further out and Drogba fancies this one alone.[LNB]42min: Good stuff from the Baggies, they have held their own this half and after Graham Dorrans cross is headed out, Chris Brunt's goal bound effort is blocked before Marek Cech smashes the rebound over.[LNB]40min: And dangerous it is! Lamapard rifles it at Carson who can only parry it to Malouda again. This time the Frenchman can only header a difficult rebound over the bar.[LNB]39min: Another dangerous free-kick for West Brom to deal with as usual suspects Lampard and Drogba both stand over the ball from 20 yards out.[LNB]37min: Hardly anything has been created since that early goal but Chelsea flex their muscles when Malouda is found unmarked in the box and he is unlucky to hit the post as he shoots for goal...though he was rightly given offside.[LNB]Battle: Roman Bednar and Alex tussle for the ball[LNB]32min: Ashley Cole and co are still getting some stick from the West Brom, the left-back goes to take a throw in in front of the traveling support but avoids a Rooneyesque tirade and elects the more professional small clap instead, which is what the Baggies fans also reply with. Good to see.[LNB]30min: West Brom are sticking to their footballing beliefs and have had nearly five minutes solid possession here, it's neat on the eye but they just can't find a way through the fortress that is Chelsea's defence.[LNB]27min: New signing Ramires is in the crowd for this match and If I were him I would be a bit worried in how he is going to break in to this Chelsea first team, they are looking solid here.[LNB]24min: Rain has stopped now but it hasn't stopped West Brom from playing or even their fans from singing, with Baggies fans very much letting their hosts know what they think of their home support.[LNB]19min: Unlucky that, Graham Dorrans puts a sweet through ball to Roman Bednar who runs in to the box before firing past Petr Cech, it's disallowed though for offside, right decision, but encouraging from a West Brom point of view.[LNB]17min: They are playing good stuff the Baggies, and are finding it easy to get to Chelsea's final third, but they are losing it quite easily once they get there rather than find that killer ball and are looking very susceptible to a Chelsea counter attack.[LNB]12min: Game just going through the motions at the moment, neither side forcing the initiative, though West Brom have just won a free-kick to the right of Chelsea's penalty area.[LNB]10min: I always remember first day of the season for being glorious August sunshine, right now the rain is absolutely chucking it down at Stamford Bridge. Must be shoot on sight football in conditions like this especially from a West Brom point of view.[LNB] Off and running: Malouda celebrates scoring Chelsea's first goal of the season[LNB]5min: GOAL! Chelsea 1-0 West Brom[LNB]There is why. It's Drogba that hits it and it's straight at Carson who has a howler and and drops it straight to Jon Obi Mikel who's blocked shot finds Florent Malouda with a simple tap in.[LNB]4min: Dangerous place to give a free-kick that. Florent Malouda is hacked down 20 yards out central to the goal, you really should not do that when the likes of Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard are eyeing it up like a predators.[LNB]2min: West Brom get the first shot in though, nice work in the midfield finds James Morrison on the edge of the box but his shot is wide of Cech's goal.[LNB]1min: West Brom on the back foot already with Chelsea throwing bodies forward in attack.[LNB]John Terry and Ashley Cole getting heavily booed from the traveling West Brom fans every time they get the ball, some people haven't forgot the World Cup just yet.[LNB]0min: Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard kick-off Chelsea's defence of the Premier League title.[LNB]17.25: Teams are out at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea were outgunned quite convincingly by Manchester United in the FA Community Shield last weekend and infact pre-season they have been well below par, has this age-ing squad done enough in this final week to be ready this weekend?[LNB]17.18: Ok, I admit the champions Chelsea are a slightly more difficult side than Wigan, we should be in for a good game though, both sides like to get the ball down and play.[LNB]17.15: Blackpool have just proved anything is possible today and with that in mind I will be thoroughly disappointed if West Brom don't get at least a draw in this game...sort of.[LNB]17.10: Team news from Stamford Bridge:[LNB]Chelsea v West BromChelsea: Cech, Paulo Ferreira, Terry, Alex, Cole, Mikel, Essien, Lampard, Malouda, Anelka, Drogba. Subs: Hilario, Ivanovic, Benayoun, Zhirkov, Kalou, Sturridge, Van Aanholt. West Brom: Carson, Jara, Pablo, Tamas, Cech, Thomas, Mulumbu, Brunt, Morrison, Dorrans, Bednar. Subs: Myhill, Olsson, Barnes, Miller, Steven Reid, Shorey, Cox.Referee: Mark Clattenburg (Tyne & Wear)[LNB]17.04: Stay tuned folks, as this page will continue to follow Chelsea v West Brom at 5:30pm.[LNB] Equaliser: Birmingham players celebrate coming back from 2-0 to grab a late 2-2 draw[LNB]17.01: Wigan's capitulation served well as a cover up for West Ham who really were poor at Villa today.[LNB]It's Avram Grant in charge now though at Upton Park, so the board can no longer blame Zola for the results. Early days admittedly but the Premier League can be a very unforgiving league for bad starts.[LNB]16.56: Wigan need to do some soul searching. Losing 9-1 at Spurs was a (very) bad day at the office, losing 8-0 at Chelsea was only a little more excusable.[LNB]The panic button must be in an urgent state now though after getting heavily beat at home by supposed cannon fodder Blackpool.[LNB]How long before Roberto Martinez gets 'that' vote of confidence?[LNB] Dream land: Alex Baptiste scores Blackpool's fourth and puts the final nail in Wigan's coffin.[LNB]16.55: Answer is no, as full-times have sounded from all the Premier League grounds.[LNB]16.53: Can Stoke follow Birmingham's lead and grab an equaliser, Wolves have looked good up to now though.[LNB]16.50: To be fair Bolton have upped the tempo and are attacking Fulham but still no goals there.[LNB]Blackpool have won and are top of the Barclays Premier League.[LNB]16.47: GOAL! Sunderland 2-2 Birmingham[LNB]It was coming and it's not pretty but with just two minutes to go Liam Ridgewell fumbles in an equaliser and breaks Black Cat hearts[LNB]16.45: Around 10 minutes left, still no goals at the Reebok, if I can find pictures I will try and prove there is actually a game still taking place between Bolton and Fulham.[LNB]16.42: It's all siege at the Sunderland goal and Scott Dann has missed a sitter! Free inside the box and just a few yards out Dann should really score with a header that goes wide of the post.[LNB] Making space: Bolton's Lee Chung-Yong challenges Fulham's Dickson Etuhu [LNB]16.38: GOAL! Sunderland 2-1 Birmingham[LNB]Interesting. Scott Dann has put City back in this with just over 10 minutes to go, City have an extra man as well so we shall keep an eye on that one.[LNB]16.36: GOAL! Wigan 0-4 Blackpool[LNB]Oh my word, I've ran out of words to be honest, Alex Baptiste is making all this a bit ridiculous now. I just can't believe this.[LNB]16.32: Essex out of the twenty 20 and West Ham getting stuffed, I hate sports!!! Might have to watch Eastenders from now on!! Dan Taylor, Essex[LNB]Thanks Dan, please don't watch Eastenders though, there is still another 37 games yet and even then you should not resort to that.[LNB]16.27: Around 20 minutes left at all the grounds, Wigan have started to exert a bit of pressure but it's no more than half-chances so far.[LNB]Still no news on whether there is a game going on at the Reebok.[LNB]Goodbye gift? Milner scored Villa's third in what could be his last game for the club[LNB] 16.24: GOAL! Aston Villa 3-0 West Ham[LNB]Villa go top on alphabetical order and caretaker boss MacDonald shows a reversed peace symbol to me (see 14.50) after James Milner puts Villa out of sight.[LNB]16.22: GOAL! Wolves 2-1 Stoke[LNB]The first reply of the afternoon comes from Stoke as Abdoulaye Faye heads Stoke back in it at Molineux.[LNB]16.20: Since that bright start to the second half, Wigan have been hopeless, posing no attacking threat to Blackpool what-so-ever.[LNB]Blackpool will be forgiven for thinking this Premier League stuff is all a bit easy.[LNB]16.15: GOAL! Sunderland 2-0 Birmingham[LNB]Despite being a man down, Sunderland extend their lead, albeit fortuitously. Stephen Carr attempted headed clearance only succeeds in looping over his own keeper Ben Foster for an own goal.[LNB]16.13: Sidibe who came on for the crocked Jones has been subbed himself as Tuncay is on in his place.[LNB]Stoke have looked poor since Jones went off but Tony Pulis has made a massive decision there.[LNB]16.10: It nearly gets worse for West Ham as Downing goes close to grabbing his second after clipping the bar with a 20 yard free-kick.[LNB]16.05: Justice is served at the DW as it's Wigan's turn to have a goal disallowed.[LNB]Steve Gouhouri heads in a free-kick but is wrongly given offside.[LNB] Get in! Downing celebrates opening the scoring against West Ham[LNB] [LNB]15.56: Around the time all those goals just flooded in, Lee Cattermole was sent off just before half-time for Sunderland, probably the glimmer of hope Birmingham will be looking for as they haven't even had a shot on target yet.[LNB]15.53: DW Stadium aside, no real shocks so far, other results are a fair reflection on how those games are going, though Sunderland in fairness are absolutely battering Birmingham and will be disappointed they are only a goal up.[LNB]15.45: Half-times in all the games, they don't usually fill the ground at Wigan but even I could hear the boos from the home crowd, Just how will Wigan respond to that?[LNB]15.43: GOAL! Wigan 0-3 Blackpool[LNB]I can't believe what I'm typing, it's not even against the run of play. Chris Kirkland can only parry a shot but Marlon Harewood once again scores from a tight angle and that puts Blackpool top of the table...for now.[LNB] Early exit: After a bright start, Kenwyne Jones had to go off injured for Stoke after only 14 minutes[LNB]15.43: GOAL! Wolves 2-0 Stoke[LNB]Steven Fletcher impressed in his debut season for Burnely and his off the mark for Wolves as well as they double their lead.[LNB]15.41: GOAL! Aston Villa 2-0 Stoke[LNB]It gets worse for West Ham who have been awful so far, Villa though show there is life after Martin O'Neil and Stiliyan Petrov has put daylight between the teams.[LNB]15.40: GOAL! Wigan 0-2 Blackpool[LNB]I predicted a win but not even I could have predicted the events at the DW Stadium, Marlon Harewood has scored on his debut to double Blackpool's lead.[LNB] Cancelled out: Nothing separated Bolton and Fulham during the first half at the Reebok Stadium[LNB] [LNB]15.37: GOAL! Wolves 1-0 Stoke[LNB]It's a well worked free-kick and after the ball is chipped in the box David Jones is on hand to put Wolves in front.[LNB]15.33: Little update from Bolton v Fulham....nothing, no goals, no action.[LNB]A new season but old habits die hard. Just watch that turn in to a 4-3 classic though, would be interested to know the last time there was seven goals at the Reebok.[LNB]15.27: It should be 2-0 at Wigan, and Taylor-Fletcher should have his second but it has been ruled out as he was adjudged to be in an offside position. He isn't though it's Ormerod and the goal should stand and for the time being at least Blackpool should have been top of the Premier league.[LNB]15.24: Penalty at Stadium of Light[LNB]GOAL! Sunderland 1-0 Birmingham[LNB]Who else? Darren Bent open up his account for the season after a fairly debatable decision, not that he will mind though, Sunderland have been bossing that one.[LNB] Error: Kalinic pounced on Howard's mistake to put Rovers 1-0 up[LNB]15.18: That's the end of that for Kenwyne Jones, he has been injured and comes off for Mamady Sidibe[LNB]15.16: GOAL! Wigan 0-1 Blackpool[LNB]Unbelievable, the Blackpool dream continues as Gary Taylor-Fletcher scores the club's first Premier League goal, incredible. [LNB]15.14: GOAL! Blackburn 1-0 Everton[LNB]Shocker from Tim Howard, normally so reliable as well, he makes a mess of the basics in goalkeeping and spills a ball straight in to Nikola Kalinic who fires Rovers one up.[LNB]15.13: GOAL! Aston Villa 1-0 West Ham[LNB]Stewart Downing grabs the first goal of the season with a tap in at Villa Park, commentators curse I love it![LNB]15.11: Over ten minutes gone, a few chances but still no goals. Teams all over the country making my claims about equals earlier on looking very silly indeed.[LNB] Welcome to the Premier League: Wigan manager Roberto Martinez greets Blackpool manager Ian Holloway[LNB]15.07: New boy Kenwyne Jones has hit the bar for Stoke in the Midlands derby at Wolves, It was a great ball from Ricardo Fuller and Jones did well to shove off the challenge from Jody Craddock but he just couldn't get his debut off to a flier.[LNB]15.06: Sunderland are also fast out the blocks, no real chances yet but Birmingham have hardly got out their own half yet at the Stadium of Light.[LNB]15.03: Blackpool have gone all out at the start with Brett Ormerod and Marlon Harewood both going close and both probably should have scored, what a story that would have been.[LNB]14.55: Little warning for those watching highlights later on, Everton have the pinkest kit I have ever seen at Ewood Park, you may want your pair of sunglasses to see the action there.[LNB]Just moments away from kick offs all round.[LNB]14.50: One stand out selection there has to be James Milner for Villa, I'm surprised he is even in the squad let alone starting.[LNB]Many managers would have left him out following his transfer links with Manchester City, caretaker boss Kevin MacDonald though looks to want every last minute he can get out of him.[LNB]14.45: All over at White Hart Lane and a goalless draw to start the season...even that so called World Cup at least had goals in it's first game.[LNB]To be fair though Joe Hart can take much of the blame for that, his first half especially was outstanding.[LNB]14.44: Just like buses here are the rest:[LNB]Wolverhampton v StokeWolverhampton: Hahnemann, Foley, Berra, Craddock, Van Damme, Jarvis, Henry, David Jones, Ward, Fletcher, Ebanks-Blake. Subs: Hennessey, Elokobi, Stearman, Halford, Keogh, Milijas, Guedioura.Stoke: Sorensen, Huth, Abdoulaye Faye, Shawcross, Higginbotham, Delap, Whitehead, Whelan, Etherington, Jones, Fuller. Subs: Begovic, Collins, Sidibe, Pugh, Sanli, Tonge, Wilkinson.Referee: Lee Probert (Wiltshire)[LNB]Sunderland v BirminghamSunderland: Mignolet, Onuoha, Bramble, Mensah, Richardson, Al-Muhammadi, Cattermole, Henderson, Malbranque, Campbell, Bent. Subs: Carson, Bardsley, Zenden, Da Silva, Riveros, Welbeck, Waghorn.Birmingham: Foster, Carr, Ridgewell, Johnson, Dann, Larsson, Bowyer, Ferguson, Fahey, Jerome, O'Connor. Subs: Taylor, Murphy, Gardner, McFadden, Michel, Zigic, Parnaby.Referee: Anthony Taylor (Cheshire)[LNB]Wigan v BlackpoolWigan: Kirkland, Boyce, Alcaraz, Gohouri, Figueroa, McCarthy, Diame, Moses, Watson, Rodallega, Boselli. Subs: Al Habsi, Thomas, Gomez, McArthur, Scotland, Stam, Golobart.Blackpool: Gilks, Baptiste, Evatt, Cathcart, Crainey, Taylor-Fletcher, Adam, Vaughan, Grandin, Ormerod, Harewood. Subs: Rachubka, Eardley, Basham, Euell, Sylvestre, Edwards, Demontagnac.Referee: Mark Halsey (Lancashire)[LNB]Aston Villa v West HamAston Villa: Friedel, Luke Young, Clark, Dunne, Warnock, Downing, Albrighton, Petrov, Milner, Ashley Young, Carew. Subs: Guzan, Heskey, Reo-Coker, Beye, Weimann, Lichaj, Bannan.West Ham: Green, Reid, Tomkins, Upson, Ilunga, Faubert, Parker, Kovac, Noble, Boa Morte, Cole. Subs: Stech, Gabbidon, Barrera, Spector, Sears, Piquionne, Diamanti.Referee: Mike Dean (Wirral)[LNB]14.32: Team news has arrived from Ewood Park and the Reebok Stadium:[LNB]Blackburn v EvertonBlackburn: Robinson, Samba, Salgado, Jones, Olsson, Givet, Nelsen, Dunn, Kalinic, El-Hadji Diouf, Pedersen. Subs: Bunn, Emerton, Nzonzi, Andrews, Hoilett, Chimbonda, Mame Diouf.Everton: Howard, Baines, Distin, Neville, Jagielka, Arteta, Cahill, Pienaar, Osman, Fellaini, Saha. Subs: Mucha, Hibbert, Heitinga, Bilyaletdinov, Beckford, Gueye, Rodwell.Referee: Phil Dowd (Staffordshire)Bolton v FulhamBolton: Jaaskelainen, Steinsson, Cahill, Knight, Robinson, Lee, Muamba, Holden, Petrov, Kevin Davies, Elmander. Subs: Bogdan, Taylor, Mark Davies, Klasnic, Ricketts, Blake, Andrew O'Brien.Fulham: Stockdale, Pantsil, Hangeland, Hughes, Kelly, Davies, Etuhu, Murphy, Duff, Gera, Zamora. Subs: Zuberbuhler, Baird, Riise, Stoor, Dempsey, Greening, Elm.Referee: Stuart Attwell (Warwickshire)[LNB]14.20: For what it's worth here are my predictions for this afternoon's games (discounting Spurs v City as obviously that has only just over 10 minutes left)[LNB]Aston Villa 1-1 West HamBlackburn 1-2 EvertonBolton 1-0 FulhamChelsea 2-0 West BromSunderland 2-2 BirminghamWigan 0-1 BlackpoolWolves 1-0 Stoke[LNB]14.10: Under an hour to go before the party is in full swing, no starting XI's on any of the 3pm kick-offs yet but I will get them posted as soon as they come through.[LNB]Until then click on the links at the bottom of the page where you can see the predicted squad news and also STILL enter our free Fantasy Football game.[LNB]14.00: It's the only day of the season where all teams go in to their fixtures as equals.[LNB]But as the afternoon goes on we will discover that some teams are more equal than others.[LNB]Spurs and Man City have already kicked off their season (click here to find out how that is shaping up) but with seven more fixtures to come today the drama at White Hart Lane will only be the tip of the iceberg.[LNB]Email me your thoughts/predictions on the events throughout the day at dan.ripley@dailymail.co.uk[LNB] Champions: Chelsea will look to hold on to their Premier League title, which this season looks more open than ever[LNB] ALL THE WEEKEND BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE TEAM NEWSChelsea are invincible on opening day - but how do the rest measure up?Sportsmail's club-by-club preview of the new Premier League seasonSign up to our FREE Fantasy Football game - with £40,000 in prize money up for grabs[LNB]
