Tevez ... to make Manchester United debut today. - Reuters

LONDON (AP):

Everton scored three first-half goals and won its second straight to open the English Premier League season yesterday, claiming a 3-1 victory at Tottenham to hand Spurs their second consecutive loss.

Goals by Leon Osman and Alan Stubbs in the final eight minutes of the first half led Everton, which also won its opener at home against Wigan 2-1 on Saturday.

Joleon Lescott gave Everton the lead in the second minute, but Tottenham, which lost its opening match 1-0 at Sunderland on Saturday and were without first-choice central defensive partnership of Ledley King and Michael Dawson because of injury, equalized in the 26th minute on a goal by Antony Gardner.

Tottenham, which went unbeaten in the pre-season and spent less on new players than only Manchester United and Liverpool, will next face newly promoted Derby on Saturday.

Meanwhile, one striker has already failed to kick-start Manchester United's season and another will get the chance today.

Wayne Rooney's injury in United's opening 0-0 draw against Reading gives Carlos Tevez the opportunity tomake his debut at Portsmouth today.

United's draw against the Royals at Old Trafford means the defending champion is already two points behind likely title contenders Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal.

Although there are plenty of games left, United cannot afford to let the gap grow.

Slow start by chelsea

Chelsea, who are at Reading in another of today's six matches, started slowly in its attempt to win a third straight title last season and were never able to make up the ground it lost on Manchester United.

In today's other matches, Sunderland, which beat Tottenham 1-0 on its return to the Premier League on Saturday, are at Birmingham, Fulham host Bolton, Wigan host Middlesbrough and Derby are at Manchester City.

Still, Tevez has already shown he can cope with pressure. The Argentina striker saved West Ham from relegation last season almost unaided.

"I have never felt pressure when I play football," Tevez said. "Whenever I go on to the pitch, all I try to do is enjoy myself.

"It is a big blow to lose Wayne. He is a great player and he will be very difficult to replace. But at a big club like Manchester United you hope to have a number of players who can slot in."

Portsmouth, which twice rallied to draw 2-2 at newly promoted Derby on Saturday, may replace strikers David Nugent and Benjani Mwaruwari to start with Nigeria teammates Nwankwo Kanu and John Utaka.

Pompey will miss defender Linvoy Primus because of a knee injury and may also be without captain Sol Campbell and midfielder Pedro Mendes because of groin injuries.

"It's going to be a tough game, no doubt about that," Kanu said. "We respect Manchester United but we don't fear them. They have lots of very good players, but so do we."

Brazil defender Alex may make his debut for Chelsea after training with the club for the first time on Monday, while Didier Drogba, Paulo Ferreira and Claude Makelele are also nearing full fitness and could play.