SPURS and Chelsea got their Premier League campaigns off to a flying start overnight, while Wolves star Ruben Neves announced himself via a breath taking free kick.

Mauricio Pochettino’s men registered a 2-1 win over Newcastle to begin their season, while Maurizio Sarri snagged a big 3-0 win over Aaron Mooy’s Huddersfield in his first league game in charge of the Blues.

Elsewhere, Bournemouth beat Cardiff and new boys Fulham were dealt a shock in the opening clash of their return to the top flight - going down 2-0 to Crystal Palace.

Watford dispatched Maty Ryan’s Brighton 2-0 thanks to a stunning brace from Roberto Pereyra, while promotees Wolves snatched the only point for the new boys as they held Everton to a 2-2 draw not short on controversy after Phil Jagielka was shown the first red card of the campaign.

HERE’S A FULL WRAP OF THE OVERNIGHT PREMIER LEAGUE ACTION...

HUDDERSFIELD 0-3 CHELSEA
Maurizio Sarri enjoyed a winning start to life as a manager in the English Premier League as Chelsea outclassed Huddersfield 3-0 on Saturday.

Former Napoli coach Sarri replaced Antonio Conte in a restless summer for the London club but any fears of an opening-day upset disappeared with goals from France international N’Golo Kante, summer signing Jorginho and Pedro. World Cup winner Kante’s untidy 34th-minute volley and Jorginho’s audacious penalty on the stroke of halftime put Chelsea in control before Pedro wrapped up the points in the closing stages.

-AP

NEWCASTLE 1-2 SPURS
Jan Vertonghen and Dele Alli have stuck the target as Tottenham Hotspur began their Premier League campaign with an entertaining 2-1 victory over Newcastle United.

All three goals came in a frantic opening 20 minutes on Tyneside with Vertonghen and Alli heading goals for the north London team, who finished third last season, either side of Joselu’s equaliser on Saturday.

The only surprise was that, after Alli’s 18th-minute winner, there was no further score with both goalkeepers, Martin Dubravka and Hugo Lloris, forced to make a string of impressive saves.

Newcastle’s Venezuelan forward Salomon Rondon nearly enjoyed a dream debut after coming off the substitutes bench but his late effort was deflected on to the crossbar after a desperate block from Vertonghen.

-Reuters

Wolverhampton collected a point in a thrilling 2-2 draw with Everton.

So much has changed at the central England team since it was last among the elite six years ago, with Chinese ownership investing heavily and utilizing its business relationship with Cristiano Ronaldo’s agent to attract players. Two of Jorge Mendes’ clients netted for Wolves as they twice came from behind: Ruben Neves and Raul Jimenez.

Neves canceled out Richarlison’s debut goal for Everton directly from a free kick after Phil Jagielka was dismissed for a dangerous sliding challenge on Diogo Jota. Even with 10 men, Brazilian forward Richarlison restored Everton’s lead in the second half but Neves swung in a cross that was headed in by Jimenez to restore parity.

-AP

FULHAM 0-2 CRYSTAL PALACE
Crystal Palace taught Fulham a painful lesson on its London rival’s return to the Premier League with a 2-0 victory on Saturday. Having absorbed much of Fulham’s pressure, Palace punished rare lapses in intensity and concentration to score toward the end of each half through Jeffrey Schlupp and then Wilfried Zaha.

There was still cause for encouragement for Slavisa Jokanovic’s promoted team in the way it often outplayed the visitors at Craven Cottage on the banks of the River Thames. After spending more than 100 million pounds ($128 million) in the summer transfer window, Jokanovic handed full debuts to six new signings.

But four minutes before halftime, against the run of play, Palace took the lead. Andros Townsend exchanged passes with Patrick van Aanholt, whose throughball fed Schlupp and allowed the midfielder to turn and from the near post send an explosive finish into the top left corner, beyond goalkeeper Fabri’s reach. Palace grew in confidence but the hosts still posed the greater threat and were unfortunate not to be awarded a penalty shortly after the hour when Mamadou Sakho clumsily brought down Schurrle.

Palace produced an almost immediate response when Christian Benteke nodded Wayne Hennessey’s long kick toward Zaha to send him through on Fabri, who produced a reaction save from the forward’s powerful strike.

It was Fulham’s ambition that again exposed them, this time in the 79th minute when Aaron Wan-Bissaka won possession, countered and played in Zaha, who went to round Fabri and instead finished underneath him.

-AP

BOURNEMOUTH 2-0 CARDIFF
Cardiff City tasted defeat on their return to the elite -- midfielder Ryan Fraser’s first-half goal and forward Callum Wilson’s late strike securing the three points for Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium.

- AAP

WATFORD 2-0 BRIGHTON
Roberto Pereyra began the season with a double as Watford beat Brighton 2-0 on the opening weekend of the Premier League on Saturday.

The Argentine midfielder scored with a volley and a curling shot as Brighton, which spent more than $70 million on 10 new players in the offseason, started disappointingly.

Watford was on top for most of the game and broke through in the 35th minute when Pereyra was unmarked and met Jose Holebas’ corner with an impressive volley.

Pereyra took advantage of more poor defending from Brighton soon after halftime when he was again set up by Holebas. He collected a pass and drifted past new Brighton signing Bernardo before curling his shot past goalkeeper Mathew Ryan from a tight angle.

Brighton manager Chris Hughton used two of his other new players off the bench, Yves Bissouma and club-record buy Alireza Jahanbakhsh, but they couldn’t inspire a comeback for a club which had the worst away record in the Premier League last season.

Watford was largely frustrated in the transfer market over the summer and the only new man in its lineup was goalkeeper Ben Foster, who rejoined the club from relegated West Bromwich Albion.

-AP