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LONDON (AP) -Chelsea gained an early advantage over Manchester United in the Premier League title race on Sunday, routing Portsmouth 4-0 as the defending champion was held 1-1 by Newcastle.
Aston Villa suggested it can improve upon last season as American goalkeeper Brad Friedel made his league debut for the Villans in a 4-2 win over Manchester City in Sunday's other match on the opening weekend of the season.
Chelsea, which last season finished runners-up to Manchester United in England and in the Champions League, showed a new verve in manager Luiz Felipe Scolari's first game and thoroughly outclassed the FA Cup holders with goals by Joe Cole, Nicolas Anelka, Frank Lampard and Deco.
It suggested that United will find it tough to hang on to its titles as it struggles through the opening weeks of the campaign with a weakened squad.
Cristiano Ronaldo, last season's top scorer, is sidelined until October and United will now have to contend without Michael Carrick (ankle) and Ryan Giggs (hamstring) for at least two weeks. Alex Ferguson also had to cope Sunday without Carlos Tevez after the Argentina striker went home due to a family death.
Obafemi Martins put Newcastle ahead in the 22nd minute, when the unmarked Nigeria striker evaded Darren Fletcher and buried a powerful header.
But Fletcher took just two minutes to strike back. Ryan Giggs cut through the visiting defense with a low cross from the left and Fletcher was to deftly steer it past Shay Given, who continuously denied United's pursuit of a winner.
Villa, which finished sixth last season, looked a better bet than Portsmouth to challenge for fifth place and a UEFA Cup spot after an eight-minute hat trick by striker Gabriel Agbonlahor.
John Carew put the home side ahead with a 47th-minute header from Ashley Young's left-wing cross.
Although Elano made it 1-1 with a penalty kick awarded for Luke Young's foul on Michael Johnson, Agbonlahor, who on Saturday was left out of Fabio Capello's England squad for a midweek friendly against the Czech Republic, swiftly put his team out of sight.
Vedran Corluka got a late goal back for City, which badly disappointed fans in its first game under new manager Mark Hughes.
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GLASGOW, Scotland (AP) - Celtic dropped two early points in its pursuit of a fourth straight Scottish league title when it drew 1-1 at Dundee United on Sunday.
