Abramovich Recruits More Stars and Victorious over Liverpool

Liverpool-Chelsea – 1:2
Goals scored by Owen (in the 79th minute), Juan Veron kicked eleven-meter goal (the 35th minute) and by Hasselbaink (the 88th minute)

According to the Russian press, Roman Abramovich came to the game and became the focus of attention of British TV companies that broadcasted the match. The Russian oligarch, so much flattered with this highlighted attention of TV cameras, was in good spirits; he was constantly smiling, even when Owen scored against Chelsea. At that, eye-witnesses say that when Chelsea scored its victorious goal several minutes before the end of the match Abramovich jumped up from his seat and "broke into careless laughter."

So, Chelsea gained this hard and important victory over a rival that is considered to be one of the key candidates for the champion title this season. In the first round of the English Football Championship Liverpool lost with the score 2:1 at home. At that, this was Chelsea's third victory at Anfield Road since WWII.

Chelsea's best players were the leaders of the team Sebastian Veron and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink; Liverpool's goal was scored by Michael Owen. The game started with Liverpool attacks, they caused several tense moments near the Chelsea goal within the first 15-20 minutes of the match, Russia's news agency RIA Novosti reports. It was Chelsea that opened the scoring, Liverpool then made it a tie with an eleven-meter kick; but the guests scored the final victorious goal.

After the Sunday game Russia's website Sport.rbc.ru reports: "Although Roman Abramovich said he expected no considerable success of his team in the first season and added that new stars in the team needed time to get used to the team, Chelsea all the same is one of the key favorites of the English season."

In the nearest future, the football team of Roman Abramovich can become even much stronger. According to some sources, almost all conditions for transfer of Alexey Smertin from Bordeaux to Chelsea have been negotiated. This transfer can be officially announced already this week.

Meanwhile, Roman Abramovich said after yesterday's match that he had no regrets about money invested in Chelsea. "Every penny invested in the football club is justified and I am happy. I am pleased with the game and certainly with its result." According to Planetfootball, the Russian oligarch has already spent over 70 million pounds on new players for the club. To all appearances, he will spend even more as he thinks that "the game is worth the candle".

Here are the rest results of the English Premier-league first round: Charlton – Manchester City – 3:0; Leeds – Newcastle – 2:2; Arsenal - Everton – 2:1; Manchester United – Bolton – 4:0; Blackburn – Wolverhampton – 5:1; Fulham – Middlesboro – 3:2; Lester – Southampton – 2:2; Portsmouth – Aston Villa – 2:1; Birmingham – Tottenham – 1:0.