LONDON: Chelsea were held to a 2-2 home draw by their bogey team Blackburn Rovers on Saturday as the big-spending London club dropped their first points of the English Premier League season.

With Manchester United and Arsenal both in action a day later, Chelsea took centre stage but, just as they have done for the past 19 years in the league, Blackburn managed to avoid defeat at Stamford Bridge.

Newcastle United's miserable week continued when they lost 1-0 at home to Birmingham City while Mark Viduka's late goal helped Leeds United to a 3-2 win at unlucky Middlesbrough.

Two goals for striker Barry Hayles, making his first start since November, and one for Luis Boa Morte gave Fulham a 3-0 win over a poor Tottenham Hotspur, their first win at White Hart Lane for 55 years.

Liverpool beat local rivals Everton 3-0 at Goodison Park, Colombian striker Juan Pablo Angel scored twice to help Aston Villa to a 3-1 victory over Leicester City, Wolverhampton Wanderers drew 0-0 with Portsmouth in the battle between two of the promoted clubs and Bolton Wanderers against Charlton Athletic also ended goalless.

Early goal

Chelsea had swept all before them this season with four wins in the Premiership and Champions leagues but found themselves trailing inside a minute on Saturday as striker Andy Cole scored neatly on the turn.

Romanian forward Adrian Mutu equalized for the hosts on the stroke of halftime but Cole struck again on the hour after goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini missed a cross.

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink levelled from the penalty spot three minutes later and though Chelsea dominated from then on, not even the introduction of their latest big-name signing Hernan Crespo could produce a winner.

"In 10 years they have won seven and drawn four - they are our bogey team," Chelsea manager Claudio Ranieri said of battling Blackburn.

"We played well in spells but we must kill the opponent when we are playing well. We didn't finish them off and in the last 10 minutes it was very difficult to find some space."

Liverpool secured their first win of the season when two goals for striker Michael Owen and one by new boy Harry Kewell beat city rivals Everton.

Liverpool had lost one and drawn two of their opening three matches and though Saturday's scoreline was harsh on the hard-working hosts, their fourth successive win at Goodison Park and their best since 1982 eased the pressure on manager Gerard Houllier.

"It's a special game for the fans so I'm pleased for everyone in the club," said a relieved Houllier.

"The players were a bit frustrated before but I knew they would do something special today. At last we got the result that the performance deserved."

Audacious formation

He added: "We knew we were working in a very difficult atmosphere but we wanted to play football that's why we had a very audacious formation."

Newcastle were knocked out of the Champions League on home soil on Wednesday and looked poor again against Birmingham, where defeat left them with just one point from three games.

David Dunn got the only goal in the 61st minute, converting the rebound after Shay Given had saved his initial penalty.

"Maybe we got them at the right time but it was a very good performance," said Birmingham manager Steve Bruce.

Agencies via Xinhua

(China Daily 09/01/2003 page8)