LONDON, 18 August 2003 — Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink grabbed a late winner to give big-spending Chelsea a 2-1 victory at Liverpool in their opening game of the Premier League season yesterday.
The Dutch substitute drove a low shot into the Liverpool net after 87 minutes in front of the club’s new Russian billionaire owner Roman Abramovich, who was watching from the stands. Liverpool looked to have salvaged a draw when England striker Michael Owen scored controversially with a twice-taken penalty after 79 minutes.
Argentine midfielder Juan Sebastian Veron, one of 70 million pounds ($112 million) worth of new signings made in the close season by Chelsea, had given the London club a 25th-minute lead.
Meanwhile, two-goal Alan Shearer scored a late equalizer to give Newcastle United a deserved 2-2 draw at Leeds in their opening game.
The 33-year-old former England captain, who had put Newcastle ahead from the penalty spot in the first half, poked the ball home in the 88th minute to secure a point after Mark Viduka and Alan Smith had given Leeds a 2-1 advantage.
Goals by Nicolas Anelka, Antoine Sibierski and Chinese international Sun Jihai gave Manchester City a fine 3-0 victory at Charlton Athletic, who had South African defender Mark Fish sent off in the second half.
Champions Manchester United and rivals Arsenal both got off to winning starts on Saturday. United thrashed Bolton 4-0 and Arsenal won 2-1 against Everton despite having Sol Campbell sent off.
