EPL wrap: Chelsea edge Everton, Spurs thrash Southampton

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Tottenham delivered on their pre-season hype by thrashing Southampton 4-1 on Saturday, while Chelsea also got off to a winning start as Jorginho’s penalty earned a 1-0 win at Everton.

Tottenham had a dream start to the campaign to raise hopes they could compete for a first league title in 61 years.

Spurs fell behind to James Ward-Prowse’s strike from the edge of the box after just 12 minutes, but the response from Antonio Conte’s men was emphatic.

The goals to turn the game around before half time came from unlikely sources as Ryan Sessegnon and Eric Dier headed home.

Mohammed Salisu then passed the ball into his own net for a comical own goal on the hour mark.

Dejan Kulusevski rounded off the scoring with a cool and precise finish into the far corner to take Spurs above Arsenal at the top of the table.

Chelsea were less impressive at Goodison Park but did enough to get off to a winning start against an Everton side blunted by the absence of the injured Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

Unlike in the Euro 2020 final shootout, Jorginho got the better of Jordan Pickford from the penalty spot in the ninth minute of added time at the end of the first half due to an injury to Ben Godfrey.

Newcastle may not have delivered the big-name signings many expected in the transfer market, but the Magpies did the business on the pitch to spoil Nottingham Forest’s return to the English top flight with a 2-0 win.

Forest have even outspent Newcastle in the window on 12 new signings so far, but were given a lesson in the step up in quality to the Premier League at St James’ Park.

Fabian Schar’s sensational strike opened the scoring before Callum Wilson’s predatory finish sealed the three points.

Bournemouth were also 2-0 winners over Aston Villa, dispelling their pre-season gloom after a lack of transfer activity.

Jefferson Lerma got the Cherries off to a great start after just three minutes and Kieffer Moore added a second 10 minutes from time.

Leeds shrugged off the loss of Kalvin Phillips and Raphinha over the summer as they beat Wolves 2-1 at Elland Road.

Daniel Podence had fired Wolves into an early lead, but Jesse Marsch’s men fought back impressively.

Rodrigo blasted in from a narrow angle to level before Rayan Ait-Nouri’s own goal decided the game 16 minutes from time.

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Dean Workman