Fulham and Swansea soar on opening day

Arsenal FC began life after Robin van Persie with a goalless home draw against Sunderland AFC, while Mladen Petrić and Michu enjoyed two-goal Premier League debuts as Fulham FC and Swansea City AFC opened with comprehensive victories.

Though new signings Santi Cazorla, Lukas Podolski, both of whom started, and Olivier Giroud were unable to inspire Arsenal to a first-day win, it was a different story at Craven Cottage. Petrić scored twice in 13 minutes either side of the break as Martin Jol's Fulham beat promoted Norwich City FC 5-0.

That was also the score at Loftus Road, Michu continuing where he left off last season for Rayo Vallecano de Madrid with two first-half goals as Swansea emphatically defeated Queens Park Rangers FC. Brendan Rodgers' first league game in charge of Liverpool FC, meanwhile, will be one he wants to forget in a hurry after Daniel Agger (58) was sent off in a 3-0 loss at West Bromwich Albion FC.

Elsewhere, West Ham United FC overcame Aston Villa FC 1-0 and Reading FC's Adam Le Fondre converted an added-time penalty to earn a 1-1 draw against Stoke City FC. Hatem Ben Arfa scored an 80th-minute spot kick as Newcastle United FC edged Tottenham Hotspur FC 2-1 in the late game.