September 02, 2008	Tuesday	Ramazan 1, 1429

LONDON, Sept 1: Chelsea and Liverpool, the only teams to start the English Premier League season with two wins, lost their 100 percent records on Sunday when they drew with Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa respectively (partly reported in Monday’s edition).

Chelsea had scored five goals and conceded none in their opening wins, while Spurs lost both theirs but they drew 1-1 at Stamford Bridge.

Liverpool, who needed a late extra-time goal to get past Standard Liege in their Champions League qualifier in midweek, looked short of inspiration in a goalless draw at Villa Park.

Chelsea gradually took charge and Michael Essien thumped a dipping 25-metre shot against the bar before they went ahead in the 27th minute when Bent fluffed his attempted clearance of a near-post corner and Belletti bundled it in.

Bent made up for his error in first-half injury time when he produced a calm finish under Petr Cech after Frank Lampard’s tackle inadvertently popped the ball into his path.

Chelsea dominated possession in the second period but created little.

Liverpool lost striker Fernando Torres to a hamstring injury midway through the first half, in just about the only talking point of a flat 45 minutes at Villa Park.

John Carew wasted Villa’s best chance when he sidefooted straight at Pepe Reina after good work by Gareth Barry, the midfielder Liverpool spent most of the close season fruitlessly chasing, while Robbie Keane shot over with Liverpool’s clearest opportunity.

Results:

Played on Sunday:

Aston Villa 0 Liverpool 0

Chelsea 1 Tottenham Hotspur 1

Sunderland 0 Manchester City 3

Played on Saturday:

Arsenal 3 Newcastle United 0

Bolton Wanderers 0 West Bromwich 0

Everton 0 Portsmouth 3

Hull City 0 Wigan Athletic 5

Middlesbrough 2 Stoke City 1

West Ham United 4 Blackburn Rovers 1

—Reuters