EPL: Manchester City maintain perfect start, Chelsea slump at home

Manchester City’s Fernandinho, right, fights for the ball against Watford’s Jose Manuel Jurado during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Watford at the Etihad Stadium. (Source: AP)

Manchester City maintained their perfect start to the season with a 2-0 victory over promoted Watford as champions 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 their fourth successive win and open an eight-point advantage over Chelsea.

Chelsea’s Diego Costa, center, competes for the ball with Crystal Palace’s Scott Dann, top right, during the English Premier League soccer match between Chelsea and Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge stadium in London. (Source: AP)

The Stamford Bridge side’s underwhelming start to the season continued at Stamford Bridge 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.

Liverpool, who had taken seven points from their opening three games, slumped to a surprise 3-0 home defeat by West Ham United and had midfielder Philippe Coutinho sent off.

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Newcastle United’s Fabricio Coloccini scored an own-goal as Arsenal laboured to their second win of the season with a highly-charged 1-0 victory over their 10-man hosts at St James’ Park.

Sunderland remained bottom after an eventful 2-2 draw at Aston Villa and promoted Bournemouth drew 1-1 with Leicester City after Jamie Vardy cancelled out Callum Wilson’s fourth goal in two games.

Club-record signing Salomon Rondon scored to give West Bromwich Albion a 1-0 victory over Stoke City who had Ibrahim Afellay and Charlie Adam sent off.