Manchester City make strong start to title defence with 2-0 win at Chelsea

City make the perfect start as they seek to capture an unprecedented fifth English Premier League title in a row.

Chelsea will consider themselves unlucky to have had to play the reigning champions in their first game, and will hope to work on the inadequacies shown up front.

Manchester City beat Chelsea 2-0 at Stamford Bridge, London to begin their Premier League title defence with a relatively comfortable win.

A first-half goal from Erling Haaland and a late strike from Mateo Kovacic inflicted a 2-0 defeat on manager Enzo Maresca in his first match in charge of Chelsea.

Haaland marked his 100th appearance for the club with his 91st goal before Kovacic struck on his return to Stamford Bridge to give Pep Guardiola’s men the perfect start to their attempt to win a record-extending fifth consecutive English top-flight title.