Liverpool, Aug18: Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink grabbed a late winner to give big-spending Chelsea a 2-1 victory at Liverpool in their opening game of the premier league season on Sunday. The Dutch substitute drove a low shot into the Liverpool net after 87 minutes in front of the club's new Russian billionaire owner Roman Abramovich, who was watching from the stands. Liverpool looked to have salvaged a draw when England striker Michael Owen scored controversially with a twice-taken penalty after 79 minutes. Argentine midfielder Juan Sebastian Veron, one of 70 million pounds ($112 million)-worth of new signings made in the close season by Chelsea, had given the London club a 25th-minute lead. Chelsea gave five of their summer signings a Premiership debut , but it was on of the Stamford Bridge old guard, goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini, who made a crucial contribution in the opening seconds. Emile Heskey set up Danny Murphy, whose shot was brilliantly saved by Cudicini. The Italian goalkeeper produced an equally spectacular save from Michael Owen before half-time. Chelsea's first real chance of the game redulted in them taking the lead. Jesper Gronkaer crossed beautifully for Veron to rifle the ball into the net. Chelsea should have made it two when Veron sent Eidur Gudjohnsen clear after 32 minutes. However the Icelander was unable to score with only Jerzy Dudek to beat.


Liverpool drew level under controversial circumstances after 76 minutes. Wayne Bridge was adjudged to have fouled El Hadj Diouf in the area. Owen sent his first penalty kick wide, but referee Steve Bennett ordered the kick to be retaken after Cudicini encroached off his line.


Owen scored from his second attempt. Then it was Abramovich's turn to be jubilant when Hasselbaink fired past the exposed Jerzy Dudek in the Liverpool goal after being played through by an intricate pass from Frank Lampard to give Chelsea only their third victory at Anfield since World War Two.


P W D L F A Pts 1. Blackburn Rovers 1 1 0 0 5 1 3 2. Manchester United 1 1 0 0 4 0 3 3. Manchester City 1 1 0 0 3 0 3 4. Fulham 1 1 0 0 3 2 3 5. Arsenal 1 1 0 0 2 1 3 6. Chelsea 1 1 0 0 2 1 3 7. Portsmouth 1 1 0 0 2 1 3 8. Birmingham City 1 1 0 0 1 0 3 9. Leeds United 1 0 1 0 2 2 1 10. Leicester City 1 0 1 0 2 2 1 11. Newcastle United 1 0 1 0 2 2 1 12. Southampton 1 0 1 0 2 2 1 13. Middlesbrough 1 0 0 1 2 3 0 14. Aston Villa 1 0 0 1 1 2 0 15. Everton 1 0 0 1 1 2 0 16. Liverpool 1 0 0 1 1 2 0 17. Tottenham Hotspur 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 18. Charlton Athletic 1 0 0 1 0 3 0 19. Wolverhampton Wanderers 1 0 0 1 1 5 0 20. Bolton Wanderers 1 0 0 1 0 4 0


Bureau Report