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maltatoday, SUNDAY, 9 AUGUST 2015 49 Sport FOOTBALL SPORTTODAY Courtois sent off as Chelsea held at home by Swansea A review of Saturday's Barclays Premier League action, including a 2-2 home draw for champions Chelsea CHELSEA were fortunate not to become the first ever Barclays Pre- mier League champions to start their title defence with defeat after Swansea threatened an opening- day upset. A celebratory atmosphere re- mained around Stamford Bridge as the club basked in the after- glow of last season's success - a feat Jose Mourinho, fresh from sign- ing a new deal, warned would not be repeated unless they showed the "quality and determination of champions". The Blues were found wanting in the first department against Garry Monk's impressive side, although they showed no little determina- tion to secure a 2-2 draw after Thibaut Courtois' sending off. Claudio Ranieri marked his re- turn to the English top-flight in style as Leicester built on last sea- son's stunning survival mission by thumping dismal Sunderland 4-2 at the King Power Stadium. Ranieri, who replaced Nigel Pear- son in the summer, watched Jamie Vardy head an early opener before a brace from Algerian Riyad Mah- rez put the buoyant Foxes out of sight before half-time. Mahrez, who signed a new deal at the club last week, missed two fine chances to complete his hat-trick before Jermain Defoe gave Sunder- land a glimmer of hope by firing past Kasper Schmeichel. Marc Albrighton put the seal on Leicester's win in the 66th minute and despite Steven Fletcher's late consolation it marked a worrying start to the season for Dick Advo- caat's men. Louis van Gaal's new-look Man- chester United kicked off their campaign with an unconvincing 1-0 win over Tottenham in the lunchtime kick-off at Old Trafford. Kyle Walker stabbed the ball into his own net to hand the points to the home side, who gave run-outs to five debutants including goal- keeper Sergio Romero. Romero replaced regular number one David de Gea who watched from the stands after Van Gaal claimed he was not able to focus following interest from Real Ma- drid. Memphis Depay, arguably the most impressive of the United new boys, played a key part in the coun- ter-attack which led to Walker's unfortunate goal. The Spurs man prodded the ball past his own keeper Michael Vorm in the 22nd minute after Depay and Ashley Young combined to set up a shooting chance for Wayne Rooney. United had looked rusty up to that point with Christian Eriksen missing a good chance for Spurs, but Van Gaal's men held on to win a low-key opener with relative ease. Watford fared best of the top- flight new boys after a flurry of late activity saw them earn a 2-2 draw against Everton at Goodison Park. Miguel Layun's early opener looked set to snatch all three points for The Hornets as Romelu Lukaku and Arouna Kone missed golden chances to equalise for the home side. Ross Barkley finally fired a long- range equaliser in the 76th minute and despite substitute Odion Igha- lo putting Watford back in front seven minutes from time, Kone fired a second equaliser three min- utes later. But there was a harsh lesson for Eddie Howe's Bournemouth who dominated for long periods at home to Aston Villa before visiting substitute Rudy Gestede grabbed the only goal of the game in the 72nd minute. The party mood was shattered at Goldsands Stadium when Gestede - signed for £6million from Black- burn last month - rose to head home an Ashley Westwood corner just 15 minutes after coming off the bench. A late disallowed goal from Cam- eron Jerome denied Norwich the chance of a point as they slipped to a 3-1 defeat to Crystal Palace at Carrow Road. Wilfried Zaha and Damien Dela- ney put the Eagles in charge before Nathan Redmond hauled the home side back into the game in the 66th minute. Jerome thought he had levelled matters in the 70th minute but his overhead kick was controversially ruled out for dangerous play and Palace debutant Yohan Cabaye went on to confirm the visitors' win with a cool finish in injury time. Andre Ayew levels for Swansea Bastian Schweinsteiger enters the fray in the 60th minute as a substitute, replacing Michael Carrick to make his Premier League debut for Manchester United