ROBINHO made the perfect start to life at Manchester City but Chelsea eventually emerged clear 3-1 winners at Eastlands despite the late sending-off of captain John Terry.
British-record £32.5million signing Robinho put City ahead with a marvellous 13th-minute free-kick.
But it was downhill all the way after that as Frank Lampard struck either side of the interval, with Nicolas Anelka wrapping up a deserved win for Chelsea, who had Terry sent off for a professional foul 13 minutes from time.
Earlier, Substitute Ryan Babel's second-half strike ended Manchester United's run of five successive league wins over Liverpool as Rafael Benitez's men won 2-1 at Anfield in the lunchtime kick-off.
United took the lead early on through Carlos Tevez as he fired home after a pull-back from debutant Dimitar Berbatov.
But Liverpool forced their way back into the game with a Wes Brown own goal, before dominating the second period.
That was rewarded when Ryan Giggs failed to deal with the ball on his own byline and Dirk Kuyt cut it back for Babel to side-foot home with only 13 minutes left on the clock.
United manager Sir Alex Ferguson immediately introduced Nani for Anderson but his men failed to find any spark and were even reduced to 10 men late on, with central defender Nemanja Vidic seeing red for two yellow cards.
Elsewhere, Marlon King struck twice as Hull piled on the misery for managerless Newcastle by claiming a 2-1 win at St James' Park.
The Magpies, in their first outing since Kevin Keegan's acrimonious departure as manager, dominated early on with Michael Owen forcing a good save from Boaz Myhill.
But Nicky Butt's foul on Peter Halmosi allowed King to score from the penalty spot on 34 minutes and the on-loan Wigan striker broke clear to add a second after the break.
Newcastle were lucky when Michael Turner had a potential third ruled out for a push and then pulled one back when debutant Xisco tapped in.
But with Newcastle's Danny Guthrie sent off late on for hacking at Craig Fagan, Hull held on.
Arsenal ran out comfortable 4-0 winners over Paul Ince's Blackburn at Ewood Park courtesy of an Emmanuel Adebayor hat-trick.
Robin van Persie put the Gunners ahead after just eight minutes following good work by England hat-trick hero Theo Walcott and Adebayor added a second on the stroke of half-time.
Adebayor claimed his second from the penalty spot after Stephen Warnock fouled Emmanuel Eboue and then wrapped up the scoring in the last minute.
West Ham were watched by new manager Gianfranco Zola - but crashed to a 3-2 defeat to West Brom at The Hawthorns.
Chris Brunt claimed the winner seven minutes from time after four goals had been shared in the first half.
James Morrison opened the scoring when he headed in a cross from Borja Valero after just three minutes but Mark Noble pounced on a rebound to equalise after 29 minutes.
Lucas Neill put the Hammers ahead 10 minutes before the break but West Brom levelled before the break with a Roman Bednar penalty after Rob Green fouled Leon Barnett.
Jermain Defoe inspired Portsmouth's fightback as they came from behind to beat Middlesbrough 2-1 at Fratton Park.
The hosts had trailed at the break after Mido had continued his fine start to the season by netting his fourth goal in five games after 24 minutes.
But Defoe drilled in an equaliser just before the hour and Pompey were rewarded for a stronger second-half showing as the England man beat the offside trap to fire a late winner.
Fulham held on to see off Bolton 2-1 at Craven Cottage after goals from Zoltan Gera and Bobby Zamora.
Gera opened the scoring after 15 minutes when Jlloyd Samuel's header fell to the Hungarian and Zamora doubled the advantage four minutes before the interval.
Summer signing Amr Zaki hit his fourth league goal as Wigan claimed a 1-1 draw against Sunderland at the JJB Stadium.
Titus Bramble headed into his own net to put Sunderland 1-0 ahead but the Latics responded well after the break.
Zaki hit the post before finally getting a deserved equaliser but the hosts had to hold on after Lee Cattermole was sent off.
But it was downhill all the way after that as Frank Lampard struck either side of the interval, with Nicolas Anelka wrapping up a deserved win for Chelsea, who had Terry sent off for a professional foul 13 minutes from time.
Earlier, Substitute Ryan Babel's second-half strike ended Manchester United's run of five successive league wins over Liverpool as Rafael Benitez's men won 2-1 at Anfield in the lunchtime kick-off.
United took the lead early on through Carlos Tevez as he fired home after a pull-back from debutant Dimitar Berbatov.
But Liverpool forced their way back into the game with a Wes Brown own goal, before dominating the second period.
That was rewarded when Ryan Giggs failed to deal with the ball on his own byline and Dirk Kuyt cut it back for Babel to side-foot home with only 13 minutes left on the clock.
United manager Sir Alex Ferguson immediately introduced Nani for Anderson but his men failed to find any spark and were even reduced to 10 men late on, with central defender Nemanja Vidic seeing red for two yellow cards.
Elsewhere, Marlon King struck twice as Hull piled on the misery for managerless Newcastle by claiming a 2-1 win at St James' Park.
The Magpies, in their first outing since Kevin Keegan's acrimonious departure as manager, dominated early on with Michael Owen forcing a good save from Boaz Myhill.
But Nicky Butt's foul on Peter Halmosi allowed King to score from the penalty spot on 34 minutes and the on-loan Wigan striker broke clear to add a second after the break.
Newcastle were lucky when Michael Turner had a potential third ruled out for a push and then pulled one back when debutant Xisco tapped in.
But with Newcastle's Danny Guthrie sent off late on for hacking at Craig Fagan, Hull held on.
Arsenal ran out comfortable 4-0 winners over Paul Ince's Blackburn at Ewood Park courtesy of an Emmanuel Adebayor hat-trick.
Robin van Persie put the Gunners ahead after just eight minutes following good work by England hat-trick hero Theo Walcott and Adebayor added a second on the stroke of half-time.
Adebayor claimed his second from the penalty spot after Stephen Warnock fouled Emmanuel Eboue and then wrapped up the scoring in the last minute.
West Ham were watched by new manager Gianfranco Zola - but crashed to a 3-2 defeat to West Brom at The Hawthorns.
Chris Brunt claimed the winner seven minutes from time after four goals had been shared in the first half.
James Morrison opened the scoring when he headed in a cross from Borja Valero after just three minutes but Mark Noble pounced on a rebound to equalise after 29 minutes.
Lucas Neill put the Hammers ahead 10 minutes before the break but West Brom levelled before the break with a Roman Bednar penalty after Rob Green fouled Leon Barnett.
Jermain Defoe inspired Portsmouth's fightback as they came from behind to beat Middlesbrough 2-1 at Fratton Park.
The hosts had trailed at the break after Mido had continued his fine start to the season by netting his fourth goal in five games after 24 minutes.
But Defoe drilled in an equaliser just before the hour and Pompey were rewarded for a stronger second-half showing as the England man beat the offside trap to fire a late winner.
Fulham held on to see off Bolton 2-1 at Craven Cottage after goals from Zoltan Gera and Bobby Zamora.
Gera opened the scoring after 15 minutes when Jlloyd Samuel's header fell to the Hungarian and Zamora doubled the advantage four minutes before the interval.
Summer signing Amr Zaki hit his fourth league goal as Wigan claimed a 1-1 draw against Sunderland at the JJB Stadium.
Titus Bramble headed into his own net to put Sunderland 1-0 ahead but the Latics responded well after the break.
Zaki hit the post before finally getting a deserved equaliser but the hosts had to hold on after Lee Cattermole was sent off.
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