Cissé enjoys scoring start

French international striker Djibril Cissé made the perfect start to his Liverpool FC career with a goal on his league debut, but it was not enough to earn three points at Tottenham Hotspur FC.

Instinctive finish
Cissé, who joined the Merseyside club in a €21m deal from AJ Auxerre over the summer, put the visitors in front at White Hart Lane with an instinctive close-range finish in the 38th minute on the first day of the new English league season.

Defoe leveller
However, Tottenham came back strongly in the second half and earned a draw with 19 minutes left to play through Jermain Defoe in a game in which both managers, Liverpool's Spanish boss Rafael Benítez and former France coach Jacques Santini, made their Premiership debuts

Dramatic draw
Later on Saturday, Craig Bellamy's 14th-minute strike gave Newcastle United FC an early lead at Middlesbrough FC. Stewart Downing equalised with 17 minutes left but Alan Shearer looked to have earned three points for Newcastle with an 83rd-minute penalty, only for Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink's added-time leveller to leave the local rivals locked at 2-2.

Bolton boost
Bolton Wanderers FC were the day's big winners, Jay-Jay Okocha inspiring his side to a 4-1 success at home to Charlton Athletic FC with two goals, while Henrik Pedersen also scored twice and the visitors' sole response came from Kevin Lisbie.

Villa victory
First-half goals from Darius Vassell and Carlton Cole earned Aston Villa FC three points against Southampton FC. Meanwhile Robbie Savage gave Birmingham City FC the lead at Postmouth FC in the tenth minute but David Unsworth equalised from the penalty spot six minutes later.

Scoring draws
Saturday's other three games also finished 1-1, Craig Short striking to earn a home point for Blackburn Rovers FC after Neil Clement had given newly-promoted West Bromwich Albion FC the lead. Robbie Fowler was on target for Manchester City FC only for Collins John to give Fulham FC a draw, and Andrew Johnson's leveller rescued a point for promoted Crystal Palace FC at fellow Premiership newcomers Norwich City FC, who had taken an early lead through Darren Huckerby.

Contenders in action
Champions Arsenal FC visit Everton FC on Sunday, while two other prospective title contenders, Chelsea FC and Manchester United FC, come face to face at Stamford Bridge.