They needed only 12 minutes to break the deadlock through Joe Cole. Frenchman Nicolas Anelka doubled the lead in the 26th minute.

Frank Lampard, who has just extended his contract, made it 3-0 from the spot in the 45th minute but new signing Deco had the last word with a long-range drive in the 89th minute.

Chelsea go early at the top and they will be very hard to knock off.

At Old Trafford, Manchester United, playing without Cristiano Ronaldo Owen Hargreaves and Carlos Tevez, were shocked when Obafemi Martins put the visitors ahead in the 22nd minute.

Darren Fletcher was able to score the equalizer two minutes later but that was all and both sides had to split the points of the game.