Liverpool's quest to end a 20-year wait to win the title started with the disappointment of an opening-day defeat against Spurs at White Hart Lane.
Rafael Benitez can have few complaints as Liverpool - heavily tipped to end Manchester United's run of three successive Premier League titles - delivered a lame display which lacked attacking invention and genuine quality.
Spurs, in contrast, showed the greater ambition and the scenes of delight at the final whistle reflected the renewed optimism felt by Harry Redknapp and his players at claiming one of the top flight's prized scalps.
Former Liverpool striker Robbie Keane wasted three glorious openings before Benoit Assou-Ekotto's thunderous drive gave Spurs a deserved lead a minute before the interval.
Spurs keeper Heurelho Gomes' rush of blood threw Liverpool a lifeline they barely merited after 56 minutes when he dashed from goal and brought down Glen Johnson, allowing Steven Gerrard to level from the spot.
But Spurs were swiftly back in front when defender Sebastien Bassong marked a hugely-promising debut following his £8m switch from Newcastle by heading Luka Modric's free-kick past Pepe Reina.
Liverpool finally sparked into life and were infuriated when referee Phil Dowd dismissed late claims for a penalty after substitute Andriy Voronin tumbled under a challenge from Assou-Ekotto.
It capped Liverpool's intense frustration and assistant manager Sammy Lee was sent from the dug-out after an exchange with the fourth official.
Liverpool also have an injury worry over defender Martin Skrtel, who struggled throughout with a jaw injury after a clash of heads with Jamie Carragher.
Benitez 's side failed to make a serious attacking impact on Spurs, with Fernando Torres well-shackled by Bassong and Ledley King, and their midfield lacking cohesion without the departed Xabi Alonso.
Spurs were comfortably the more accomplished side, with Wilson Palacios and the gifted Modric dovetailing well in midfield and their reshaped defence looking assured throughout.
White Hart Lane proved a bogey ground for Liverpool last season, with one of only two Premier League defeats at Spurs - and boss Benitez will be hoping this represents little more than a false start. Redknapp gave Keane the nod ahead of new boy Peter Crouch in attack - and he was not short of opportunities in a first half that started slowly but ended with Spurs in command
Wayne Rooney notched his 99th goal for Manchester United as the Premier League champions opened up their title defence with victory over Birmingham.
The striker tapped in after his header from Nani's cross rebounded off the post back into his path on 34 minutes.
Ben Foster made a brilliant stop to deny Christian Benitez a goal on his Birmingham debut in the 77th minute.
Substitute Michael Owen missed a chance to open his account for United when he shot at Joe Hart in stoppage time.
Although not one of their most convincing performances, United created enough chances to emphasise the depth of their attacking options, despite the loss of Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid.
Rooney relishing central role
Rooney, in particular, was menacing with the ball at his feet, making intelligent runs when his team-mates were in possession.
Deprived of first-choice centre-backs Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand, who will have a scan on Monday on a calf injury sustained in training, United boss Sir Alex Ferguson moved John O'Shea into central defence alongside Jonny Evans, with Fabio da Silva promoted to right-back.
Paul Scholes returned to the centre of midfield, while new signing Antonio Valencia slotted into the sizeable hole vacated by Ronaldo on the right.
The daunting prospect of opening up against the Premier League champions convinced Birmingham manager Alex McLeish to start with a five-man midfield, with Cameron Jerome as a solitary striker.
Their defensive tactics offered United ample opportunities to exploit space in midfield, with Darren Fletcher threading a precise ball for Nani to attack on the left after seven minutes, but the winger's right-footed strike was well saved by Joe Hart.
A Touch Of Class
Rooney once again pressed Hart into action, this time with a dipping 20-yard strike on 12 minutes, acrobatically tipped over the bar by the on-loan goalkeeper.
Attempting to frustrate United's invention in midfield, Birmingham's defensive intentions unravelled when Rooney put the champions in the lead with a precise move starting on the half-way line.
The striker fed partner Dimitar Berbatov, who released Nani down the left and the winger's teasing cross was tapped in by Rooney after his initial hanging header rebounded off the right-hand post back into his path, with Hart well beaten.
But rather than break Birmingham's resolve, the goal invigorated their attacking intentions as Jerome fired a dangerous 20-yard deflected strike just past Foster's right-hand post.
The resulting corner saw Patrice Evra clear Franck Quedrue's glancing goal-bound header off the line, to the relief of the near-capacity Old Trafford crowd.
Phelan backs youngsters to replace stars
However, the visitors should have taken a two-goal cushion into the break, but Fletcher contrived to side-foot his 10-yard strike wide of the post after an excellent cut-back from Evra on the left.
Resisting the urge to replace Antonio Valencia after a largely anonymous first half, Ferguson instead introduced Ryan Giggs for Nani on the left at the start of the second half.
The change in personnel had little effect on Rooney, whose 30-yard half-volley was destined for the top left corner but for a two-handed parry from Hart.
Birmingham's tactics began to have their desired effect, with Barry Ferguson in particular dictating terms in midfield.
A powerful burst from Keith Fahey preceded a right-foot strike from 20 yards past the right-hand post, while McFadden exploited space on the edge of the box to shoot straight at Foster.
However, the visitors had Lee Carsley to thank when the midfielder cleared Berbatov's header off theWayne Rooney notched his 99th goal for Manchester United as the Premier League champions opened up their title defence with victory over Birmingham.
The striker tapped in after his header from Nani's cross rebounded off the post back into his path on 34 minutes.
Ben Foster made a brilliant stop to deny Christian Benitez a goal on his Birmingham debut in the 77th minute.
Substitute Michael Owen missed a chance to open his account for United when he shot at Joe Hart in stoppage time.
Although not one of their most convincing performances, United created enough chances to emphasise the depth of their attacking options, despite the loss of Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid.
Rooney relishing central role
Rooney, in particular, was menacing with the ball at his feet, making intelligent runs when his team-mates were in possession.
Deprived of first-choice centre-backs Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand, who will have a scan on Monday on a calf injury sustained in training, United boss Sir Alex Ferguson moved John O'Shea into central defence alongside Jonny Evans, with Fabio da Silva promoted to right-back.
Paul Scholes returned to the centre of midfield, while new signing Antonio Valencia slotted into the sizeable hole vacated by Ronaldo on the right.
The daunting prospect of opening up against the Premier League champions convinced Birmingham manager Alex McLeish to start with a five-man midfield, with Cameron Jerome as a solitary striker.
Their defensive tactics offered United ample opportunities to exploit space in midfield, with Darren Fletcher threading a precise ball for Nani to attack on the left after seven minutes, but the winger's right-footed strike was well saved by Joe Hart.
A Touch Of Class
Rooney once again pressed Hart into action, this time with a dipping 20-yard strike on 12 minutes, acrobatically tipped over the bar by the on-loan goalkeeper.
Attempting to frustrate United's invention in midfield, Birmingham's defensive intentions unravelled when Rooney put the champions in the lead with a precise move starting on the half-way line.
The striker fed partner Dimitar Berbatov, who released Nani down the left and the winger's teasing cross was tapped in by Rooney after his initial hanging header rebounded off the right-hand post back into his path, with Hart well beaten.
But rather than break Birmingham's resolve, the goal invigorated their attacking intentions as Jerome fired a dangerous 20-yard deflected strike just past Foster's right-hand post.
The resulting corner saw Patrice Evra clear Franck Quedrue's glancing goal-bound header off the line, to the relief of the near-capacity Old Trafford crowd.
Phelan backs youngsters to replace stars
However, the visitors should have taken a two-goal cushion into the break, but Fletcher contrived to side-foot his 10-yard strike wide of the post after an excellent cut-back from Evra on the left.
Resisting the urge to replace Antonio Valencia after a largely anonymous first half, Ferguson instead introduced Ryan Giggs for Nani on the left at the start of the second half.
The change in personnel had little effect on Rooney, whose 30-yard half-volley was destined for the top left corner but for a two-handed parry from Hart.
Birmingham's tactics began to have their desired effect, with Barry Ferguson in particular dictating terms in midfield.
A powerful burst from Keith Fahey preceded a right-foot strike from 20 yards past the right-hand post, while McFadden exploited space on the edge of the box to shoot straight at Foster.
However, the visitors had Lee Carsley to thank when the midfielder cleared Berbatov's header off the line on 70 minutes.
McLeish upbeat despite defeat
The Bulgarian striker could have had a penalty minutes later when Stephen Carr appeared to tread on the striker's boot.
It proved to be Berbatov's final contribution, replaced by Owen with 15 minutes left, while McLeish introduced record £8m signing Benitez for Jerome.
The Ecuadorian striker made an immediate impact when he timed his run to perfection to beat United's offside trap 13 minutes from time, only to be denied by a wonderful one-handed diving save from Foster.
Rooney came close to his 100th goal in the 83rd minute, but Owen should have put the result beyond doubt when he was released through the middle by Rooney's chested flick.
But one-on-one with Hart, the striker's effort deflected off the goalkeeper's leg for a corner line on 70 minutes.
McLeish upbeat despite defeat
The Bulgarian striker could have had a penalty minutes later when Stephen Carr appeared to tread on the striker's boot.
It proved to be Berbatov's final contribution, replaced by Owen with 15 minutes left, while McLeish introduced record £8m signing Benitez for Jerome.
The Ecuadorian striker made an immediate impact when he timed his run to perfection to beat United's offside trap 13 minutes from time, only to be denied by a wonderful one-handed diving save from Foster.
Rooney came close to his 100th goal in the 83rd minute, but Owen should have put the result beyond doubt when he was released through the middle by Rooney's chested flick.
But one-on-one with Hart, the striker's effort deflected off the goalkeeper's leg for a corner
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