Premier League hits ground running with exciting first weekend

Deco impressed in his Chelsea debut, punctuating a 4-0 throttling of FA Cup holders Portsmouth with a late goal. Phil Cole/Getty Images The Limey's Mailbag Keep the banter flowing to The Limey. Name: Email: Hometown: Question: SEND

Team Limey, along with everyone else over in Blightly, has been riding the rare wave of British sporting success that the Olympics have brought. We were brought crashing back to reality watching the drab 2-2 draw between England and the Czech Republic, and contemplated turning your favorite net-based soccer column into a fortnightly update on the happenings of the U.K. cycling, swimming and rowing scenes.

Thankfully, the first weekend of the English Premier League provided infinitely more excitement.

Chelsea were the standout performers of the weekend and Manchester United looked poor, in an early demonstration of the robustness (or fluky guesswork) of our EPL predictions of last week.

Chelsea were excellent; new signing Deco settled quickly into EPL life and made a good Portsmouth side look very ordinary in a 4-0 walkover. Chelsea may at last be providing the exciting football that Roman Abramovich has consistently demanded of his $1.2 billion investment.

During the match much focus was on new boss Luiz Felipe Scolari. Big Phil acted like a walking advert for the non-stop rollercoaster ride of excitement that a certain U.K.-based satellite channel consistently paint the EPL to be, displaying a wide array of facial expressions, jumps, air punches, kicks and various manhandling moves on his fellow coaches.

Manchester United's 1-1 draw with Newcastle emphasized why Sir Alex Ferguson is so desperate to land Tottenham striker Dimitar Berbatov. Not just for the Bulgarian's obvious class and ability, or to replace the perpetually injured Louis Saha, but to bring the best out of Wayne Rooney. In the last two years the development of the bright star of English football hasn't progressed as quickly as most expected, it being partly hampered by him playing either wide or as a lone striker up front.

Arsenal was pedestrian against West Bromwich Albion, yet still managed to come out with a 1-0 win and all three points. The EPL new boys dominated large parts of the game and were certainly unlucky to lose. Arsenal showed yet more evidence that they lack quality in depth, which was acutely demonstrated by Emmanuel Eboué's presence in central midfield. Arsène Wenger did strengthen his squad this week with the surprise signing of Manchester United defender Mikaël Silvestre. The Frenchman's signing from archrivals United may anger fans in some quarters, however most will be thankful that there is an additional defender between Swiss liability Philippe Senderos and a place in the starting 11.

A tale of two strikers at the Stadium of Light as number four in the big four beat Sunderland, with a 25-yard strike from Fernando Torres the difference in Liverpool's 1-0 victory over Roy Keane's side. Strangely similar-looking yet unrelated, striker Robbie Keane made his debut for the Reds and, unfortunately for the Liverpool fans, there was no sign of the Irishman's trademark and, quite frankly, awful, cartwheel-forward roll, celebration. At the moment, Torres and Keane look a long way from forming the strike partnership manager Rafa Benítez hoped would see his side challenging for the EPL title.

Aston Villa lies second following a 4-2 win over Manchester City. They won't be there for long, but already three points have been accumulated in their mission for fifth place. It is a three point advantage over what we think are their main rivals for that spot, given Everton, Spurs and, of course, City all lost. The result flattered Villa, as City had much of the play first half, but an eight-minute Gabriel Abonglahor hat trick proved decisive.