Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois was sent off as their
Premier League title defence with an engrossing 2-2 draw at home to an
excellent Swansea City side.
Jose Mourinho's men were leading 2-1 at Stamford Bridge on
Saturday when Courtois was dismissed for fouling Bafetimbi Gomis right on the
edge of his area in the 52nd minute and the French striker scored the equaliser
from the spot.
It was another impressive opening-day display by Garry
Monk's Swansea, who won 2-1 at Manchester United a year ago, and added weight
to Mourinho's prediction that Chelsea will face a fight to retain their title.
"The team was playing very, very well in the first
half," said Mourinho.
"In the second, in one minute, it was a penalty, red
card and the goal - 2-2.
"I would say we were the best team with 11 players and
with 10 we fought hard, some fighting at the limit of their condition."
With Diego Costa overcoming hamstring trouble to start,
Chelsea weathered a bright start by Swansea and went ahead in the 23rd minute
when Oscar's free-kick from wide on the left curled straight in.
Swansea debutant Andre Ayew equalised six minutes later,
finishing smartly after an initial attempt had been blocked, only for Chelsea
to regain the lead when Willian's cross deflected off Federico Fernandez and
looped over visiting goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski for a cruel own goal.
"Today for 90 minutes we were excellent," Swansea
manager Monk, whose side finished eighth last season, told Sky Sports.
"I said to the players, if you believe in what we're
doing, we can come to places like this and create enough chances to win the
game."
Earlier, Kyle Walker's own goal gave Manchester United a 1-0
win over Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford, but Louis van Gaal's reconfigured
team showed plenty of ring rust.
Walker put through his own net in the 22nd minute, rushing
back in an attempt to prevent England team-mate Wayne Rooney taking aim from
Ashley Young's cross and succeeding only in scuffing the ball into his own net.
United handed competitive debuts to Sergio Romero, Matteo
Darmian, Morgan Schneiderlin and Memphis Depay, while Bastian Schweinsteiger
came on in the second half to become the club's first German player.
"The first time you play at Old Trafford is always
difficult, but I liked the performance, especially of Darmian," United
manager Van Gaal, who was celebrating his 64th birthday, told BT Sport.
Leicester City finished the day on top of the table after
Algerian winger Riyad Mahrez inspired them to a 4-2 home win over Sunderland at
the King Power Stadium in Claudio Ranieri's first game at the Foxes helm.
After Marc Albrighton teed up Jamie Vardy for an 11th-minute
header, Mahrez scored with a header from another Albrighton cross and then
added a penalty to put Leicester 3-0 up with only 25 minutes gone to end the
match as a contest early on.
Watford fared the best of the three promoted clubs, drawing
2-2 with Everton at Goodison Park, but they twice squandered the lead, with
goals from Miguel Layun and substitute Odion Ighalo cancelled out in turn by
Ross Barkley and Arouna Kone.
The first top-flight game in Bournemouth's 116-year history
ended in a 1-0 home defeat against Aston Villa, who prevailed courtesy of a
72nd-minute header from their new striker Rudy Gestede.
"I can't be too critical," said Bournemouth
manager Eddie Howe, whose side won the Championship last season.
"I'm disappointed with the defeat, but looking forward
to the rest of the season."
Norwich City, promoted via the play-offs in May, lost 3-1 at
home to Crystal Palace.
Wilfried Zaha and Damien Delaney put the visitors in charge
before substitute Nathan Redmond hit back for Norwich, but Palace's star
recruit Yohan Cabaye sealed victory in stoppage time.
Arsenal host West Ham United and Liverpool travel to Stoke
City on Sunday, with last season's runners-up Manchester City opening their
campaign at West Bromwich Albion on Monday.
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