Barclays U21 Premier League 2015: Sunday Scores, Results and Updated Fixtures
Chelsea opened the 2015-16 Under-21 Premier League Division One season with a 1-0 win against Liverpool at Langtree Park on Sunday thanks to a stoppage-time winner from Tammy Abraham.
The west Londoners began their campaign with a spring in their step after Abraham converted from a Charly Musonda pass in the 92nd minute to clinch a crucial win for Adi Viveash's side.
Sunderland beat Norwich City 3-1 at Eppleton on Sunday—having finished in fourth and seventh place, respectively, last term.
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Fulham's and Wolverhampton Wanderers' under-21 outfits opened their Division Two campaigns with wins over Brighton and Newcastle United, respectively, earlier this weekend.
Read on for a roundup of Sunday's Division One action, along with a look toward the rest of the Week 1 fixtures.
| 11:30 a.m. BST/6:30 a.m. ET | Liverpool 0-1 Chelsea |
| 2 p.m. BST/9 a.m. ET | Sunderland 3-1 Norwich City |
| Date | Time | Fixture |
| Monday, August 10 | 12 p.m. BST/7 a.m. ET | Tottenham Hotspur vs. Everton |
| Monday, August 10 | 7 p.m. BST/2 p.m. ET | Leicester City vs. Manchester United |
| Monday, August 10 | 7 p.m. BST/2 p.m. ET | Middlesbrough vs. Reading |
| Monday, August 10 | 7 p.m. BST/2 p.m. ET | Southampton vs. Reading |
| Date | Time | Fixture |
| Monday, August 10 | 6:30 p.m. BST/1:30 p.m. ET | Swansea City vs. West Bromwich Albion |
| Monday, August 10 | 7 p.m. BST/2 p.m. ET | Aston Villa vs. Stoke City |
| Monday, August 10 | 7 p.m. BST/2 p.m. ET | Blackburn Rovers vs. Derby County |
Sunday Recap
After finishing second and third last season, Liverpool and Chelsea each wanted to begin the 2015-16 campaign with a win on Sunday as they seek to wrest the under-21 crown from Manchester United's grip.
Sunday's collision didn't throw up a raft of clear-cut scoring opportunities, but Abraham was on hand to poke home the most important chance of all as Chelsea took home a vital away win.
Liverpool captain Cameron Brannagan took the initiative early on and slammed a long-range attempt off Mitchell Beeney's crossbar, while Jerome Sinclair and Sergi Canos were also in threatening form for the Reds.
Winger Canos looked particularly fired up for the opening-day encounter as Chelsea Youth pointed out he could have even seen red to start his season in most disappointing fashion:
Chelsea conceded just 10 goals in 22 games last season, and again their defence stood up to last term's most devastating attack, with Liverpool having netted 45 goals in 2014-15.
TalkSPORT confirmed last week that last season's scoring hero, Dominic Solanke, had completed a loan move to Vitesse, and it became evident Chelsea were missing his threat in attack.
Musonda and Abraham were among the Blues' most promising players going forward, so it was fitting for the pair to combine two minutes into added time and steal a late win for the visiting outfit.
Manager Michael Beale will rue Sunday's result as a missed opportunity for last season's runners-up, while Chelsea can look toward another title challenge after claiming three points in hazardous territory.
Sunderland comfortably beat Norwich in their opening game of the season, but the 3-1 win was marred by mixture fortunes for the Black Cats.
New signing Yann M'Vila made an impressive debut for the north-east club but was sent off after a coming together with a Norwich player.
Mikael Mandron struck twice—either side of a Lynden Gooch effort—giving Sunderland three goals in just a five-minute spell in the first half.
M'Vila was inspirational in the centre, setting up Gooch for his goal, but the French international showed indiscipline as he headbutted an opponent, per Chris Young of the Sunderland Echo.
The game turned after the Rubin Kazan loanee exited proceedings, and the Canaries struck back through Josh Murphy.
But it was too little, too late for the Carrow Road club, with Sunderland deservedly collecting all three points.
M'Vila has a reputation for ill discipline, and the events of Sunday will both disappoint and concern the Black Cats management team.
However, if the Frenchman can find his form of just a few seasons ago, he will be an excellent addition to the Stadium of Light squad. He has the ability to be a solid Premier League performer.
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