Chelsea failed to chalk up their first three points of the season after being held to a 2-2 draw by Swansea City in their league opener last week.

After Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois was dismissed, Swansea increased the pressure and were rewarded for their efforts with a deserved point.

Tomorrow, the champions play guests to Manchester City in another difficult test at the Etihad Stadium.

For any Chelsea fans harbouring concerns about the team’s form, it is worth noting that during the 2014 summer pre-season, the Blues also fared poorly but they went on to win the title in emphatic fashion.

Manchester City opened their campaign with a convincing showing and a win at West Brom. They are now focusing on one of the ‘six-pointers’ of the season when hosting Chelsea.

City smashed the British transfer record with a £49m deal for England forward Raheem Sterling in this transfer window.

Manager Manuel Pellegrini has gone for English talent this summer with Fabian Delph and Patrick Roberts also joining Sterling at the Etihad.

Sterling, 20, is England’s most exciting young forward and now gets the platform to play regularly in the Champions League.

In the last 10 seasons of Premier football, Chelsea have beaten Manchester City five times away from home.

2014-15: City-Chelsea - 1-1
2013-14: City-Chelsea - 0-1
2012-13: City-Chelsea - 2-0
2011-12: City-Chelsea - 2-1
2010-11: City-Chelsea - 1-0
2009-10: City-Chelsea - 2-1
2008-09: City-Chelsea - 1-3
2007-08: City-Chelsea - 0-2
2006-07: City-Chelsea - 0-1
2005-06: City-Chelsea - 0-1

After the shock upset to West Ham United at home on Sunday, Arsenal will be involved in another London derby at Crystal Palace, tomorrow.

Goalkeeper Petr Cech was hailed as the man who can lead the Gunners to the title this season but the Czech was criticised for his poor showing against the Hammers.

Yet, these are still early days as Arsene Wenger is challenging his men to recover from the 2-0 defeat at the Emirates.

Crystal Palace started with a victory at Norwich. Manager Alan Pardew remarked that Palace are able to give other sides, bar the top four of last season, a good run for their money.

At Stoke, Liverpool succeeded in laying to rest the ghost of the 6-1 mauling of last season with a 1-0 win – a gem from Philippe Coutinho.

On Monday, the Reds entertain Bournemouth at Anfield.

Brendan Rodgers’s defence, that included debutants Nathaniel Clyne and Joe Gomez at full-back, largely kept the Stoke attack of Jonathan Walters and Mame Biram Diouf, at bay.

After their shock win at Arsenal, Slaven Bilic’s West Ham will be keen to claim another three-pointer at home to Leicester, who also took off with a bang, annihilating Sunderland 4-2.

Spurs lack firepower

At White Hart Lane, Tottenham duel with Stoke after their frustrating loss at Old Trafford who were in action against Aston Villa last night.

Tottenham found it  hard at Old Trafford in the Premier League’s opening match, beaten only by a Kyle Walker own goal.

BBC pundit Robbie Savage remarked he had a positive impression of the away side, and considered them unlucky not to claim at least a point.

Savage noted that Spurs were let down by their lack in depth in attack with Harry Kane currently the only credible striking option.

Two sides that earned a point each last weekend – Swansea (at Chelsea) and Newcastle (home to Southampton) – clash at the Liberty Stadium this afternoon.

Jonjo Shelvey has the ability to push for an England recall this season according to Swansea manager Garry Monk.

Speaking after the former Liverpool man turned in a fine performance in the Swans’ 2-2 away draw to Chelsea last weekend, Monk said the 23-year-old can add to his solitary England cap in future if he remains in shape and properly motivated.

Weekend Fixtures

Premier League
Southampton-Everton (13:45)
Sunderland-Norwich
Swansea-Newcastle
Tottenham-Stoke
Watford-West Brom
West Ham-Leicester

Tomorrow
Crystal Palace-Arsenal (14:30)
Man. City-Chelsea (17:00)

Monday
Liverpool-Bournemouth (21:00)

Premier tricky three
Southampton; Sunderland; West Ham United.

The Championship
Burnley-Birmingham (13:30)
Bristol City-Brentford
Derby-Charlton
Fulham-Brighton
Huddersfield-Blackburn
Ipswich-Sheff. Wed.
Middlesbrough-Bolton
MK Dons-Preston
Nottm Forest-Rotherham
QPR-Cardiff (18:15)

Tomorrow
Wolves-Hull (13:00)
Reading-Leeds (16.00)

League One
Barnsley-Burton
Blackpool-Rochdale
Bradford-Shrewsbury
Bury-Swindon
Millwall-Coventry
Oldham-Fleetwood
Peterborough-Colchester
Port Vale-Gillingham
Scunthorpe-Crewe
Sheff. Utd-Chesterfield
Southend-Walsall

Tomorrow
Wigan-Doncaster (13:30)

League Two
Barnet-Wycombe
Carlisle-Cambridge
Crawley-Wimbledon
Dagenham-Leyton Orient
Luton-Oxford Utd
Morecambe-Accrington
Newport-Stevenage
Northampton-Exeter
Plymouth-Portsmouth
Yeovil-Bristol Rovers
York-Hartlepool

League Cup – Second round draw

Aston Villa vs Notts County; Walsall vs Brighton; Crystal Palace vs Shrewsbury; Sheffield Wed. vs Oxford United; Portsmouth vs Reading; Hartlepool United vs Bournemouth; Fulham vs Sheffield United; MK Dons vs Cardiff City;
Hull City vs Rochdale; Sunderland vs Exeter; Bury vs Leicester City; Doncaster Rovers vs Ipswich Town; Rotherham vs Norwich; Swansea vs York City; Queens Park Rangers vs Carlisle; Barnsley vs Everton; Peterborough United vs Charlton Athletic; Birmingham vs Gillingham; Newcastle vs Northampton;
West Brom vs Port Vale; Wolves vs Barnet; Burton Albion vs Middlesbrough; Luton Town vs Stoke City; and Preston NE vs Watford.

Matches to be played week beginning August 24.