Hereunder are some facts and statistics about the opening-day matches (wins) in the Premier League over the past 10 years.
2012-13
Eight wins – six home and two away.
Fulham vs Norwich 5-0; Newcastle vs Tottenham 2-1; QPR vs Swansea 0-5; West Brom vs Liverpool 3-0; West Ham vs Aston Villa 1-0; Man. City vs Southampton 3-2; Wigan vs Chelsea 0-2; Everton vs Manchester United 1-0.
• Man. United suffer shock defeat at Everton.
• Biggest wins at home and away with an identical 5-0 scoreline.
• Frank Lampard scores Chelsea’s second goal in a 2-0 win at Wigan to make it a record total of eight goals in opening-day matches in the Premier League.
2011-12
Four wins, one at home.
Blackburn vs Wolves 1-2; QPR vs Bolton 0-4; Man. City vs Swansea 4-0; West Brom vs Man. United 1-2.
• From a total of nine matches only four wins are registered.
• Tottenham’s match against Everton was postponed as Spurs were involved in a European play-off.
2010-11
Six wins, five at home.
Aston Villa vs West Ham 3-0; Blackburn vs Everton 1-0; Chelsea vs West Brom 6-0; Wigan vs Blackpool 0-4; Wolves vs Stoke 2-1; Man. United vs Newcastle 3-0.
• Didier Drogba grabs a hat-trick in Chelsea’s 6-0 win over West Brom, the biggest on the opening day.
• Lampard scores for the third time in opening-day games.
• Newcomers Blackpool gain away win.
2009-10
Ten wins, four at home.
Aston Villa vs Wigan 0-2; Blackburn vs Man. City 0-2; Bolton vs Sunderland 0-1; Chelsea vs Hull 2-1; Everton vs Arsenal 1-6; Portsmouth vs Fulham 0-1; Stoke vs Burnley 2-0; Wolves vs West Ham 0-2; Man. United vs Birmingham 1-0; Tottenham vs Liverpool 2-1.
• Unlike the previous season, no drawn result is recorded.
• Wayne Rooney hits United’s winner against Birmingham
• Cesc Fabregas nets twice in Arsenal’s 6-1 win at Everton.
2008-09
Nine wins, seven at home.
Arsenal vs West Brom 1-0; Bolton vs Stoke 3-1; Everton vs Blackburn 2-3; Hull vs Fulham 2-1; Middlesbrough vs Tottenham 2-1; Sunderland vs Liverpool 0-1; West Ham vs Wigan 2-1; Aston Villa vs Man. City 4-2; Chelsea vs Portsmouth 4-0.
• Fernando Torres opens his account for the season at Liverpool.
• A hat-trick for Gabriel Agbonlahor in Villa’s win over Man. City.
2007-08
Eight wins, four at home.
Sunderland vs Tottenham 1-0; West Ham vs Man. City 0-2; Middlesbrough vs Blackburn 1-2; Everton vs Wigan 2-1; Bolton vs Newcastle 1-3; Aston Villa vs Liverpool 1-2; Arsenal vs Fulham 2-1; Chelsea vs Birmingham 3-2.
• Sunderland beat Tottenham thanks to a Michael Chopra goal.
• Manchester United fire blanks in home match against Reading.
2006-07
Eight wins, all at home.
Everton vs Watford 2-1; West Ham vs Charlton 3-1; Reading vs M’Boro 3-2; Newcastle vs Wigan 2-1; Portsmouth vs Blackburn 3-0; Bolton vs Tottenham 2-0; Man. United vs Fulham 5-1; Chelsea vs Man. City 3-0.
• Lampard on the mark in Chelsea’s win over City.
• United obtain naphand win (Saha, Pearce og, Rooney 2, Ronaldo) against Fulham.
2005-06
Six wins, three at home.
Everton vs Man. United 0-2; Portsmouth vs Tottenham 0-2; Sunderland vs Charlton 1-3; West Ham vs Blackburn 3-1; Arsenal vs Newcastle 2-0; Wigan vs Chelsea 0-1.
• Ruud van Nistelrooy, Rooney strike for United.
• Hernan Crespo paves way for Chelsea’s win as they go on to claim the championship.
2004-05
Four wins, three at home.
Aston Villa vs Southampton 2-0; Bolton vs Charlton 4-1; Chelsea vs Man. United 1-0; Everton vs Arsenal 1-4.
• Seven draws dominate the first-day results.
• Chelsea’s home win over United serves them well as they go on to win their first championship under José Mourinho.
2003-04
Eight wins, six at home.
Arsenal vs Everton 2-1; Birmingham vs Tottenham 1-0; Blackburn vs Wolves 5-1; Fulham vs M’Boro 3-2; Manchester United vs Bolton 4-0; Portsmouth vs Aston Villa 2-1; Charlton vs Man. City 0-3; Liverpool vs Chelsea 1-2.
• Arsenal begin their run to the league crown with a home win over Everton (Henry, Pires).
• Chelsea claim a rare win against bogey side Liverpool at Anfield.
2002-03
Seven wins, five at home.
Charlton vs Chelsea 2-3; Fulham vs Bolton 4-1; Leeds vs Man. City 3-0; Manchester United vs West Brom 1-0; Arsenal vs Birmingham 2-0; Aston Villa vs Liverpool 0-1; Newcastle vs West Ham 4-0.
• Alan Shearer is among the scorers in Newcastle’s hammering of West Ham.
• Manchester United return to championship form.