Chelsea began the new season with a resounding victory over Portsmouth at Stamford Bridge.
Portsmouth were brushed aside by goals from Joe Cole, Nicolas Anelka, Frank Lampard and Deco, and in truth the margin could have been greater.
A wonderful performance wowed the 41,000 crowd inside Stamford Bridge, who will be hoping that such displays continue into the season.
Portsmouth arrived at Stamford Bridge with a poor recent record here, five straight defeats since their promotion to the Premier League, and so it would continue as we usher in the Luiz Felipe Scolari era.
With questions around who the Brazilian would deploy in his midfield, given the wealth available there, he opted to go for all four - Mikel holding, while Michael Ballack, debutant Deco and Lampard were given licence to roam. Joe Cole had a free role behind lone striker Anelka, but favoured the right-hand side.
There was a familiar look to the defence, with John Terry, Ricardo Carvalho and Ashley Cole all regulars, but one new face in José Bosingwa. Petr Cech as ever started in goal.
The game got underway on a bright west London afternoon, Portsmouth's little and large duo of Jermain Defoe and Peter Crouch setting Chelsea's season in motion. The Blues soon won possession though, as Mikel rose highest in the midfield, and Bosingwa had an early opportunity to show his credentials, bombing forward down the right wing.
Deco gave away the game's first foul, mistiming his challenge on former Chelsea man Lassana Diarra, and from the resultant free-kick, it was Crouch who headed goalwards, but his looping effort was comfortable for Cech.
It took eight minutes for Lampard to register his first shot of 2008/9, a long range thunderbolt that forced David James into action.
The next time he was called into action, James was picking the ball out of the net, as Joe Cole scored the first goal under Scolari.
A crisp move involving Anelka and Deco saw Ballack lift the ball over the cumbersome Portsmouth defence, and the England man was on hand to fire low beyond James. If that is the sign of things to come under the World Cup winning coach, Chelsea fans are in for a good time.
Eight minutes later, Anelka should have doubled the lead having beaten the offside trap, but his low shot was straight at James.
By this point the home side was well on control, with the attacking triumvirate in midfield finding space between Pompey's two banks of four, Diarra and Younes Kaboul in midfield being easily marginalised.
There was little surprise when a second goal arrived, new boys Bosingwa and Deco combining as the full-back crossed to the far post and the playmaker looped the ball back across goal for Anelka to nod home.
The visitors rallied and Kaboul came close to pulling one back, firing a free-kick just wide, but it was at the other end where the major action remained. Anelka beat James in a race to the ball and flicked it round him, but couldn't quite finish.
The fluidity of Chelsea's moves was a genuine joy to watch, and represented a keen step up from last season's footballing style. Portsmouth were being overwhelmed.
Ballack was forced to withdraw from the action on 37 minutes, and was replaced by Florent Malouda. This forced a rethink for Scolari, who changed his formation to a more recognisable 4-3-3, the Frenchman occupying left-wing.
His first involvement was to send a low cross across the goalmouth, begging for someone to tap home, but it was just beyond Anelka's reach and Pompey could clear. As they did, Nico Kranjcar blasted a ferocious shot which Cech let go, forcing him to dive at the feet of Crouch. 
Again the ball broke loose, and ex-Chelsea full-back Glen Johnson fired at goal, but Ashley Cole cleared to safety. Despite their inferiority the south coast side had now registered five shots on target, comparable with Chelsea's six at the same stage.
Just as it looked like they may get back into the contest, it was 3-0. Hreidarsson handled inside the area and referee Mike Dean pointed at the spot, ignoring the protests.
Lampard marked his new contract with his first goal of the season, and 111th in a Chelsea shirt. It had been the perfect half for the Blues.
The second half kicked into life in much the same way, and Anelka and Cole could both have added to their tallies, but shot over and wide respectively.
The Frenchman was visibly enjoying his afternoon, and was proving a menace inside the Portsmouth area as he looked to bring others into the game, forcing a succession of corners.
Portsmouth were still digging in though, and Carvalho had to lunge to prevent a Kranjcar strike from hitting the net.
With the weather now turning blowy and overcast, the name of the game for Chelsea became possession, stubbing out any opportunity for Portsmouth to pose any real threat.
There was little of the excitement seen in the first half, and so home fans kept themselves busy by making an impressive amount of noise.
Scolari introduced Shaun Wright-Phillips and Paulo Ferreira in the closing stages, allowing a little rest for Joe Cole and Bosingwa, who had made an impressive debut at right-back.
The headlines though will be all about Deco, who marked his first appearance with a stunning goal.
Afforded space 30 yards from goal, he nonchalantly strode up to the ball with a minimum of fuss, and let fly. James should have done better, but the sheer power on the ball sent it through his hands and into the top corner.
And so with a four-goal margin of victory, Chelsea begin the season as Scolari and his men will wish to end it - on top of the league.
There are 37 games to go but on this evidence, against a side fancied to trouble the top four, the Blues are going to take some stopping.
By Andy Jones
Chelsea (4-3-3): Cech; Bosingwa (Ferreira 83), Carvalho, Terry (c), A Cole; Ballack (Malouda 37), Mikel, Lampard; Deco, Anelka, J Cole (Wright-Phillips 77).
Goals J Cole 12, Anelka 26, Lampard 45+1 (pen), Deco 88
Portsmouth (4-4-2): James; Johnson, Distin, Campbell (c), Hreidarsson; Diop, Diarra (Mvuemba 67), Kaboul, Kranjcar (Thomas 72); Crouch, Defoe.
Booked James 45
