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Eight matches marked the start of the new 2005/06 English "Premier" league season on Saturday. The returning "West Ham" successfully started their campaign by defeating "Blackburn" at home, while "Man Utd", "Tottenham" and "Charlton" clubs secured victories away from home, with the rest of the matches ending in draws.
In the first matches of the new season, "Man Utd" faced last season's strong performers and Champions League qualifiers "Everton" away and won with a score of 2-0. Goals for the away team were scored by both forwards - R.van Nistelrooy and former "Everton" player young supertalent W.Rooney.
After a two-year break, "West Ham" returned to the "Premier" league, falling behind to "Blackburn" after A.Todd scored in the 18th minute. However, after the break, the home team's veteran T.Sheringham equalized, N.Reo-Coker put the visitors ahead in the 62nd minute, and "The Hammers" secured the victory with a goal from M.Etherington ten minutes later.
The celebration of the returning "Sunderland" club was spoiled by "Charlton", who defeated them with goals from D.Bent and D.Murphy, ending the match with a score of 3-1. The only goal for the hosts was scored by A.Gray, who managed to equalize the score in the 32nd minute.
"Tottenham" also joined the winning teams, defeating "Portsmouth" away. The hosts' defender A.Griffin scored an own goal in added time of the first half, and J.Defoe secured the victory for the visitors in the second half.
A strange match took place in Birmingham, where "Aston Villa" faced "Bolton". In this match, all four goals were scored in a chaotic first nine minutes: K.Phillips put the hosts ahead in the fourth minute, K.Davies and I.Campo scored for the visitors in the 6th and 8th minutes respectively, but S.Davis equalized a minute later.
The start of the league season did not go well for European club champion "Liverpool", who despite strong efforts from team captain S.Gerrard failed to score against "Middlesbrough" and played to a goalless draw. Matches between "Man City" and "W.B.A" and "Fulham" against "Birmingham" also ended in goalless draws.
In Sunday's matches, reigning champions "Chelsea" began their season with an away match against newcomers "Wigan", while the other London club "Arsenal" played against "Newcastle" in an intriguing matchup.
