LONDON (Reuters) – Premier League football champions Chelsea suffered an embarrassing home defeat on the first Saturday of the new season, having two men sent off as unfancied Burnley beat them 3-2 at Stamford Bridge.
Antonio Conte’s disjointed side struggled from the early stages when captain Gary Cahill was dismissed for a lunging tackle and they found themselves three-nil down at half-time to a team who gained only seven points away from home all last season.
Wales international Sam Vokes scored two of the goals and Stephen Ward the other.
New signing Alvaro Morata from Real Madrid came on to pull one back midway through the second half and then provided an assist for David Luiz, but in-between midfielder Cesc Fabregas was also sent off for a second yellow card.
It was a dispiriting afternoon for Conte, who won the title in his first season at the club but has complained that Chelsea have not signed enough new players while allowing several to leave.
Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp protested that Watford’s stoppage-time equaliser by Manuel Britos in an entertaining 3-3 draw should have been disallowed for offside.
Britos was standing almost on the line before nudging in the loose ball after Simon Mignolet pushed it onto the bar.
After the opening game of the season on Friday produced seven goals and a late winner for Arsenal, who beat Leicester City 4-3, the two teams at Vicarage Road served up more of the same entertainment for a worldwide television audience – including some poor defending.
Other scores:
Crystal Palce 0, Huddersfield Town 3,
Everton 1, Stole City 0
Southampton 0, Swansea City 0
West Bromwich Albion 1, AFC Bournemouth 0
Brighton & Hove Albion 0
Manchester City 2
