Manchester United kicked off the new Premier League season with a 1-0 victory over Tottenham on Saturday, after an own goal by Kyle Walker handed the points to Louis van Gaal's new-look side.

Walker prodded the ball into his own net in the 22nd minute as the Spurs defender tried to deny United captain Wayne Rooney an easy scoring opportunity at a sunlit Old Trafford.

It was one of very few chances in a scrappy game, with Spurs' hopes of an equalizer coming mainly in the closing minutes with two shots from attacking midfielder Christian Eriksen.

United started with four new signings, with Sergio Romero in goal after coach Louis van Gaal decided that Real Madrid target David de Gea was not in the right frame of mind to play.

Fullback Matteo Darmain, along with midfielders Morgan Schneiderlin and Memphis Depay all made convincing debuts and Romero improved after some early signs of nerves.

Tottenham made by far the better start and could easily have been ahead after five minutes. Striker Harry Kane sent a clever chip over the United defense but Eriksen could only send his cushioned volley over the bar from close range with Romero at his mercy.

Spurs were repeatedly caught out by the offside rule as they tried to get behind United's back four, but still looked the most likely team to score before gifting United its opener.

The visitors only had themselves to blame after a sloppy pass by Nabil Bentaleb gave the ball away in midfield. Ashley Young sped down the right flank before crossing for the unmarked Rooney, who had keeper Michel Vorm to beat. As the United striker hesitated, Walker arrived just in time to spear the ball away from Rooney's feet, past a despairing Vorm and into the corner of the Spurs net.

The goal gave a United a lift and although there were no further scoring chances before the break, Van Gaal's side began to move the ball around with more assurance.

Another of new United's new signings, midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger, replaced Michael Carrick on the hour mark of what was turning into a fairly scrappy encounter.

Vorm smothered a low shot from Ashley Young through a packed area, while Rooney fluffed an attempted acrobatic volley before sending a free kick over the top as United gradually turned up the pressure in search of a second goal.

Tottenham waited until the final 10 minutes before pushing with any real conviction for an equalizer.

United defender Chris Smalling made a superb tackle to snuff out the danger from Nacer Chadli and Eriksen tried his luck with an angled drive that drew a good save from Romero.

Eriksen followed up by rifling in a powerful shot from outside the area in the 89th minute, but Romero was quick to make a block.

The final whistle came as a relief for United fans, whose club has spent more than $350 million since 2014 in building a squad that could once again challenge for top honors.

Ten-man Chelsea had to settle for a 2-2 draw with Swansea after goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois was sent off in the first match of the team's Premier League title defense at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.

In a hectic spell midway through the first half, Oscar put the hosts ahead in the 23rd minute, Andre Ayew leveled in the 29th and Chelsea's lead was restored after an own goal by Swansea defender Federico Fernandez.

Everything changed within 10 minutes of the restart, when Courtois was dismissed for felling Bafetimbi Gomis as the France striker burst into the area on the break.

Reserve keeper Asmir Begovic came on for Oscar but could not prevent Gomis slotting home the spotkick.

Gomis later had a goal disallowed for offside as Swansea pressed for a winner.