England round-up: Verón kickstarts Chelsea charge

Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink slotted a last-gasp winner to hand Chelsea FC a 2-1 victory against Liverpool FC in the English Premiership at Anfield on Sunday.

Verón opener
Chelsea, revamped by new owner Roman Abramovich's significant financial input during the close season, fielded just four players from the side that played Liverpool at Stamford Bridge in the final fixture of the previous season. One of the new additions, Manchester United FC old boy Juan Sebastián Verón, broke the deadlock in the 25th minute.

Two penalties
Liverpool rallied and won a second-half penalty when El-Hadji Diouf was felled by Wayne Bridge but although Michael Owen put the spot-kick wide of the target, the referee ordered a retake and the England striker made no mistake second time around. But as the clock ran down, substitute Hasselbaink held off two defenders and drove in the winning goal on 87 minutes.

Shearer success
There was another late goal at Elland Road where Alan Shearer's 88th-minute strike rescued a point for Newcastle United FC in their opening game against Leeds United AFC. The former England captain pounced with two minutes remaining, completing a double after putting his side ahead with a first-half penalty following Lucas Radebe's foul on Kieron Dyer. But Leeds, who have never lost a game on the Premiership's opening weekend, had seemed set for vistory with goals from Mark Viduka and Alan Smith - until Shearer's late intervention.

City swinging
Manchester City FC got their new campaign off to a flying start with a 3-0 win at the Valley. Goals from Nicolas Anelka, Antoine Sibierski and Chinese international Sun Jihai gave City a fine 3-0 victory against home side Charlton Athletic FC, who had defender Mark Fish sent off for a professional foul on Robbie Fowler in the second half.

Giggs finish
On Saturday, Manchester United FC began the new Premiership season in fine form with an emphatic 4-0 victory at home to Bolton Wanderers FC. Welsh winger Ryan Giggs opened the scoring shortly before half-time with a spectacular free-kick from long range, curling the ball into the net off a post.

Late goals
United then had to wait until the 74th minute to double their lead, with Ruud van Nistelrooij's 72nd-minute penalty saved by Jussi Jääskeläinen, but Giggs added a second and further goals from Paul Scholes and Van Nistelrooij sealed the win.

Early setback
Arsenal had to earn the three points the hard way, losing England international defender Sol Campbell to a 26th-minute red card for a professional foul on Thomas Gravesen, but took the lead nine minutes later as Thierry Henry converted from the penalty spot.

Pires proves decisive
Robert Pires made the score 2-0 13 minutes into the second half, although Everton set up a nervy finish as Tomasz Radzinski pulled a goal back with six minutes left to play, but also ended the game with ten men after the dismissal of Li Tie.

Perfect start for Portsmouth
In the early afternoon games, promoted Portsmouth FC began their first season in the Premiership with a 2-1 win against Aston Villa FC at Fratton Park. Goals from Teddy Sheringham and Patrik Berger gave last season's first division champions a 2-0 lead, and although Gareth Barry pulled a goal back six minutes from time from the penalty spot, his dismissal three minutes later ended Villa's hopes.

Penalty winner
Birmingham City FC secured a 1-0 victory against Tottenham Hotspur FC, with David Dunn scoring the only goal of the game after 36 minutes from the penalty spot after Anthony Gardner had fouled Robbie Savage.

Five-star Blackburn
Meanwhile two goals from Andy Cole and one each from Lorenzo Amoruso, David Thompson and Brett Emerton helped Blackburn Rovers FC to a 5-1 win against another promoted side, Wolverhampton Wanderers FC, whose only reply came from Steffen Iversen.

Southampton salvage draw
Early goals from Paul Dickov, a penalty, and Les Ferdinand seemed to have given Leicester City FC all three points against Southampton FC, but goals in the final 15 minutes from new signing Kevin Phillips and England striker James Beattie gave the away side a point.

Fulham fight back
Fulham FC recovered from the setback of an early Carlos Marinelli goal to defeat Middlesbrough 3-2, with goals from Steve Marlet and Junichi Inamoto turning the match in the home side's favour. Malcolm Christie then missed a penalty for Middlesbrough, and Luis Saha's 70th-minute strike made the game safe, although Szilard Nemeth pulled a goal back to give the visitors late hope.