London: 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 on their returns to the top flight.
Goals from N’Golo Kante (34th minute), Jorginho (45th, penalty), who made his Premier League debut, and Pedro (80th) 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 pounds last week, but the Spaniard had little work to do.
Earlier on the day, Spurs rode on a heading goal each by Jan Vertonghen (eighth) and Dele Alli (18th) to begin their campaign with an entertaining 2-1 victory over Newcastle United.
All three goals came in a frantic opening 20 minutes with Vertonghen and Alli goals came either side of Joselu’s equaliser in the 11th minute.