The first week of normal service

Normal service resumed. In more ways than one. Chelsea take a handy 3-0 victory over Man City looking like they are just continuing on from where they left off in May. Liverpool stuttered to a very unconvincing draw against newcomers Sheffield United, Arsenal christened their new stadium with an equally unconvincing 1-1 draw at home to lowly Aston Villa. Spurs nosedived against Bolton, going 2-0 down to a wonderstrike from Ivan Campo (40 Yards??) and Manchester United brushed Fulham aside 5-1 in what must have been the easiest win seen at Old Trafford in many a year.

Too early to decipher anything from these events. Only it is worth noting that Liverpool have an uneasy Champions League qualifier tomorrow against the re-housed Israeli team Macabi Haifa (The game is being played in Kiev for security reasons) so one can assume the below strength eleven was fielded with this game in mind.

The most notable event of the weekend was Reading's arrival in the top flight. Two nil dowen to Middlesborough and yet they won the game 3-2. Their dedication, commitment and application of a 'back to basics' style of football was by far and away the biggest achievemnet of the opening weekend.