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Didier Drogba scored a hat-trick as Chelsea signalled their intent to defend their Premier League title by thrashing newly-promoted West Brom.
Florent Malouda struck early on from six yards before Drogba scored with a free-kick on the stroke of half-time.
Drogba later pounced after a goal-line clearance and scored with a deflected strike from the edge of the area.
Frank Lampard finished an attractive move, while Malouda struck from close range on the stroke of full-time.
Chelsea, who ended last season with an 8-0 thrashing of Wigan, have now won the opening day for the last nine seasons.
And they move instantly to the top of the table after the biggest opening day victory in the history of the Premier League.
Chelsea complete signing of Brazil midfielder Ramires
Submitted by geezerbloke on Sat, 2010-08-14 22:28Chelsea have completed the signing of Brazil international Ramires from Benfica on a four-year deal.
The 23-year-old midfielder, who will cost the English champions about £17m, passed a medical on Friday.
“He is a fantastic player,” said Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti. “He will be the future of the Brazil national team and I hope the future of Chelsea.”
Meanwhile, Brazilian club Santos say they will report Chelsea to Fifa for an alleged illegal approach to Neymar, 18.
The Blues have had one offer of about £16m turned down for the highly-rated striker, who scored on his international debut in midweek.
Chelsea have confirmed they have agreed a fee with Real Madrid for defender Ricardo Carvalho.
Swansea could break their transfer fee record after signing ex-England youth star Scott Sinclair from Premier League champions Chelsea on a three-year deal.
The initial fee for Sinclair is £500,000 and could rise to £1m.
Swans boss Brendan Rodgers was Chelsea youth and reserve manager as Sinclair rose through the ranks.
Manchester United inflicted their first defeat on Chelsea since the appointment of Carlo Ancelotti as Blues boss to win the Community Shield and lay down a marker for the new season.
Ancelotti’s team ended the last campaign as Premier League and FA Cup champions - inflicting home and away league defeats on United in the process, as well as winning the Community Shield.
On an afternoon when England’s World Cup flops were booed by the vast majority of the 84,623 inside Wembley, Wayne Rooney played a superb low pass for Antonio Valencia’s opening goal.
United received a further fillip when new signing Javier Hernandez scored a somewhat fortuitous goal after coming on as a half-time substitute.
Chelsea suffered a second successive friendly defeat on Sunday, after a late penalty gave our German hosts a narrow victory.
On the balance of play it was perhaps a fair result, though it should be noted that Eintracht Frankfurt are a week ahead of the Blues in their preparations, with the Bundesliga kicking off next weekend.
A short period of football withdrawal but the first pre-season game took place on Saturday, away at Selhurst Park to Crystal Palace.
An unusual line up with the world cup attendees not yet back at the club. Peter Cech as captain, a back four of Alex, Bruma, Van Aarnholdt and Bertrand. In the midfield Essien & Mikel back from injury, Josh McEachran & Matic got rare starts. Sturridge & Di Santo was up front. Benayoun was not playing having picked up a small injury in training (with a ball).
Crystal Palace got the game under the way. A few weak chances by Di Santo in the first half. Essien came closest hitting the woodwork. After 30 minutes replacement goalkeeper Ross Turnbill came on for Cech. Sturridge has looked lively but not much to comment on.
JOE COLE and Michael Ballack were last night released by Chelsea.
England World Cup star Cole turned down Blues’ offer of £90,000 a week because he wanted parity with the club’s top stars, who are paid up to £150,000 a week.
Negotiations collapsed and Chelsea have finally withdrawn their offer, so Cole, 28, can go on July 1.
German midfielder Ballack, 33, is also leaving the Double winners.
He had wanted a one-year extension to his existing deal but once again Chelsea refused to meet his demands as the club attempt to impose a strict new pay code.
Chelsea have paved the way for midfielder Joe Cole’s departure from Stamford Bridge by formalising their interest in Liverpool’s Yossi Benayoun.
Full story: The Guardian
Benayoun is confident the move will go through and claimed that Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti “wants me for next season”. (The Daily Telegraph)
Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti created history as Didier Drogba’s second-half winner sank Portsmouth and sealed the London club’s first Premier League and FA Cup double.
Drogba’s precise free-kick just before the hour mark was the decisive moment of an incident-packed FA Cup final in which Chelsea hit the woodwork five times in the first half and both sides also missed from the penalty spot.
Chelsea - who become only the seventh club to win the coveted domestic Double - were again grateful to the prolific Drogba, who kept up his remarkable record of scoring in each of his six games at Wembley with his 37th goal of the season.
