Toffees Knock Off Red Devils In EPL Season Opener

At Liverpool, England:

Marouane Fellaini scored the only goal of the match in the 57th minute on Monday as Everton defeated visiting Manchester United 1-0 in the English Premier League season opener for both clubs, spoiling Robin van Persie's debut with the Red Devils.

West Brom, Stoke City In Premiership

By clinching top-two finishes in the League Championship this season, West Bromwich Albion (who last played in the top flight in the 2005-06 season) and Stoke City (after a 23-year absence) won automatic promotion to the Barcley's Premiere League.

The next four finshers in order, Hull, Bristol City, Crystal Palace, and Watford, qualified for the playoffs to determine the third and final promoted club.

The bottom three clubs, Leicester, Scunthorpe, and Colchester, were relegated to League 1.

Speaking of League 1:

Swansea and former two-time European champions Nottingham Forest won automatic promotion to the League Championship, with Doncaster, Carlisle, Leeds United, and Southend (the latter two having played at the second level last season) qualifying for the playoffs for the thrid and final promotion berth. The bottom four---Bournemouth, Gillingham, Port Vale, and Luton Town--were sent packing down to League 2

Speaking of League 2:

The top three finishers--Milton Keynes Dons, Peterborough, and Hereford--won automatic promotion to League 1. The next four clubs--Stockport, Rochdale, Darlington, and Wycombe--qualified for the promotion playofs. The bottom two clubs--Mansfield and Wrexam--were relegated from the Football League and are heading down to what is still referred to as the Conference National.