MANCHESTER City maintained its perfect start to the season with a 2-0 victory over promoted Watford as champion Chelsea suffered a shock 2-1 home defeat by Crystal Palace on Saturday.

    Raheem Sterling scored his first goal for the club and Fernandinho netted a superb second to lift City to its fourth successive win and open an eight-point advantage over Chelsea.

    The Stamford Bridge side’s underwhelming start to the season continued despite Radamel Falcao’s first goal for the club, Joel Ward grabbing the Palace winner nine minutes from time to put his side second in the table.

    “Raheem played very well, it was good for him to score,” City manager Manuel Pellegrini told the BBC. “He worked very hard and I’m sure he’ll score more goals. “You can’t expect to win the game inside 45 minutes against a team who defends well. We made some changes and we created more chances and won the game.”

    City had begun the season in ominous form with impressive wins over West Bromwich Albion, Chelsea and Everton, scoring eight goals and conceding none. The hosts, however, struggled to break down a Watford side, which had not tasted defeat in three matches following its promotion to the top flight.

    After a frustrating first half against a spirited Watford, Sterling ghosted into the box and converted Bacary Sagna’s cross in the 47th minute to open his account in sky blue. That lifted the tension, which had been building and City played with added freedom, doubling the lead nine minutes later through Fernandinho following a sublime one-two with David Silva.

    Chelsea has yet to get going having cantered to the title last season and was frustrated by Alan Pardew’s well-marshalled Palace side. Chelsea dictated possession and had 13 shots in the first hour but looked uncomfortable against Palace’s razor-sharp counter-attacks.

    (SD-Agencies)