LONDON -- American goalkeeper Tim Howard had a shutout in his English Premier League debut, leading Manchester United past Bolton 4-0 on Saturday in the defending champion's first game without David Beckham.
Howard made an acrobatic, fingertip save with the score 0-0 midway through the first half.
Other than having to grab a difficult defensive header from teammate Mikael Silvestre, the American spent much of the time watching goals go in at the other end.
Howard joined Manchester United from Major League Soccer's MetroStars, becoming the third U.S. goalie in England's top soccer league. Blackburn's Brad Friedel and Tottenham's Kasey Keller are the others.
Ryan Giggs had two goals, and Dutch forward Ruud van Nistelrooy scored for a record ninth straight game for Manchester United, which sold Beckham to Spanish club Real Madrid in the offseason.
In other action, Arsenal -- last season's runner-up -- edged Everton 2-1 after Sol Campbell was ejected in the first half. French stars Thierry Henry and Robert Pires scored for Arsenal.
Birmingham beat Tottenham 1-0, Blackburn defeated Wolves 5-1, Fulham edged Middlesbrough 3-2, Leicester tied Southampton 2-2, and Portsmouth beat Aston Villa 2-1.
Chelsea is at Liverpool on Sunday, when other games are Charlton vs. Manchester City and Leeds vs. Newcastle.
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