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Liverpool loses on opening day at West Brom; Arsenal without Van Persie held by Sunderland

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Arsenal\'s Abou Diaby, center, struggles with Sunderland\'s Jack Colback, from left, Carlos Cuellar and John O\'Shea during the English Premier League soccer match between Arsenal and Sunderland at Emirates Stadium in London, Saturday, Aug. 18, 2012. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

LONDON – Liverpool was the big casualty on the Premier League’s opening day, losing 3-0 at West Bromwich Albion on Saturday, while Arsenal began life without Robin van Persie with a 0-0 draw against Sunderland.

Liverpool replaced Kenny Dalglish with Brendan Rodgers in the off-season but there was no sign the one-time giant of English football will improve on last season’s eighth-place finish.

Zoltan Gera put West Brom in front before the break, Peter Odemwingie netted from the spot after the break and Romelu Lukaku completed the win.

Arsenal overwhelmed Sunderland but lacked any cutting edge from new strikers Lukas Podolski and Olivier Giroud.

There were two 5-0 routs elsewhere as Fulham crushed Norwich and Swansea made a storming start at Queens Park Rangers.

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