THERE'S little point in arguing about which member of the Big Four had the best start to their campaign.

Chelsea were breathtaking at the Bridge, while their competitors will all have returned to training yesterday with creases to iron out in their performances. The title race is up and running, but there's a long way to go yet.

Chelsea were absolutely awesome, but you can bet that every other manager in the league will be studying that match on video and looking for weak spots.

I'd be amazed if anyone outside the elite dares to field two strikers against them this season. Harry Redknapp told journalists after the game that the blame for defeat lay with him for being too adventurous away from home, so expect a lot of five-man midfields in West London from now.

Nevertheless, Chelsea fans will be rightly pleased with what they've seen so far.

Manchester United fans wouldn't have expected to have dropped points at home to Newcastle, but they shouldn't be too dispirited.

On any other day, Frazier Campbell's first-half header would have torn the back of the net, rather than nearly concussing Shay Given.

They were, like all of us, taken a little unawares by the perkiness of a revived Newcastle side, but there are 37 games still to go, and a certain 'slave' is still waiting on the sidelines...

It's the same old routine for Arsenal. The football is as effervescent as ever, but sadly so is the finishing.

Ransom

In holding his own club to ransom and demanding such an enormous increase in wages, Emmanuel Adebayor has put himself up to be shot at by the fans.

Mind you, if they're as bad at hitting the target as he is, he's got nothing to worry about.

Adebayor might think of himself as one of the best strikers in Europe, but some of his finishing would have shamed a park player. How good would Arsenal be if he, or anyone else, was ruthless enough to repeatedly put the ball in the back of the net?

Meanwhile, the stormclouds are gathering over Anfield once again and it's nothing to do with the players.

Rafa Benitez and Rick Parry are clearly now at war, but with the owners bickering as well, there will be no winner and it's the Liverpool fans who will be the biggest losers. It's impossible for the club to progress while this nonsense continues and someone needs to get a grip before it destroys them.

Liverpool are supposed to be a cut above the rest, classy and dignified, so don't panic if you hear a bump in the night tonight.

It will probably just be Bill Shankly turning in his grave.