Bolton Wanderers, inspired by the expert predictions of an immediate return to the first division, stormed to a 5-0 victory at Leicester City on the first day of the new premier league season today.
Two goals each for Lee Nolan and Per Frandsen and one for Michael Ricketts stunned Leicester but were fair reward for the promoted team, the bookmakers' favourites for relegation.
Arsenal almost matched them with a 4-0 victory at Middlesbrough, as two late goals in two minutes by substitute Dennis Bergkamp secured the win after Thierry Henry and Robert Pires, from the spot, had scored.
Lee Bowyer and Alan Smith gave Leeds United a 2-0 home win over Southampton, and two goals for Michael Owen gave Liverpool a 2-1 victory over visiting West Ham United.
Derby County won on the opening day of the season for the first time in five years, 2-1 at home to promoted Blackburn Rovers, while Everton won 2-1 at Charlton Athletic and Sunderland beat Ipswich Town 1-0. Tottenham Hotspur against Aston Villa ended goalless.