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London, United Kingdom | AFP | Manchester City maintained their blistering start to the season as the Premier League leaders demolished Stoke City 7-2, while champions Chelsea crashed to a shock 2-1 defeat at lowly Crystal Palace on Saturday.
With second-placed Manchester United settling for a drab stalemate at Anfield earlier in the day, it was their Manchester rivals who provided the thrills as City moved two points clear at the top.
Pep Guardiola’s free-scoring side struck three times in the first 27 minutes at Eastlands, securing their sixth successive league win in swashbuckling style.
7-2 ?⚽? It is so much fun to play in this great team ??? #inSané #LS19 #MCISTK @ManCity pic.twitter.com/9c0vVw1Vfw
— Leroy Sané (@LeroySane19) October 14, 2017
City took the lead through Gabriel Jesus in the 17th minute and Raheem Sterling doubled the advantage two minutes later with a tap-in that capped a flowing move.
David Silva got City’s third with a simple finish after another incisive raid in the 27th minute.
Stoke’s Mame Biram Diouf reduced the deficit with a deflected effort in the 44th minute and City’s defence was breached for just the fourth time in the league this season when Kyle Walker scored an own goal two minutes after the interval.
But Jesus’s second goal in the 55th minute restored order and his compatriot Fernandinho put the result beyond doubt five minutes later.
City reached six goals in a game for the second time this season as Leroy Sane netted in the 62nd minute.
Buzzing to be back! Great team performance & delighted to get on the scoresheet. Thanks for the support ????❤️? #GodIsGreat #CPFC pic.twitter.com/s8LbbUuNRb
— Wilfried Zaha (@wilfriedzaha) October 14, 2017
Bernando Silva’s first City strike, in the 78th minute, made it 24 goals in his team’s last five league games.
They are first team to net 29 goals in the first eight games of an English top-flight campaign since Everton in 1894-95 and Guardiola said: “We can always do better but I cannot deny today was the best performance since I arrived here.
“I am here to win, I am not here to entertain, but this is the way we want to play. Our confidence is high.”
Bottom club Palace had lost their opening seven league games without scoring a goal, the worst start to a season in English top-flight history.
But stunningly it was Chelsea who were the victims as they finally ended that goal drought at Selhurst Park.
Palace took the lead in the 11th minute when Yohan Cabaye’s effort was deflected in for an own goal by Chelsea defender Cesar Azpilicueta.
RH: Don’t embrace the idea this is our season starting. 38 game season, each match it’s own story. We’d like to read this chapter again! pic.twitter.com/OL1ks9hNsk
— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) October 14, 2017
Tiemoue Bakayoko equalised for Chelsea seven minutes later as the France midfielder headed his first Premier League goal from a Cesc Fabregas corner.
However, Chelsea were already without injured duo Alvaro Morata and N’Golo Kante and they suffered another setback when Victor Moses limped off in the first half.
There was even worse to come for Chelsea as Wilfried Zaha restored Palace’s lead with a fine curling strike in first-half stoppage-time.
– Infuriated –
Fabregas hit the crossbar but Chelsea were unable to avoid a second successive league defeat after their damaging 1-0 loss to Manchester City before the international break.
Antonio Conte’s fourth-placed side, beaten three times this term, are now nine points behind City.
“The performance level today was not up to the standard it should be. We played poorly,” Chelsea captain Gary Cahill said.
At Anfield, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp was left infuriated by United boss Jose Mourinho’s ultra-cautious game-plan.
It’s a point apiece at Anfield. pic.twitter.com/AR38o4404t
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) October 14, 2017
Mourinho’s team had just six touches in Liverpool’s penalty area as United goalkeeper David De Gea made a superb save from Joel Matip to maintain the visitors’ unbeaten start to the season.
Klopp’s spluttering side have only one win in eight games in all competitions.
“I think Man United came here for the point and they got it,” Klopp moaned.
“I’m sure if we played like this, you could not do this at Liverpool. Obviously for Man United it is OK.”
Inevitably, Mourinho had no regrets, saying: “The second half was a bit of chess, but my opponent didn’t open the door for me to win the game.”
Tottenham Hotspur finally won for the first time at Wembley in the Premier League with a 1-0 victory over Bournemouth.
Mauricio Pochettino’s side had failed to win their first three league games since moving into Wembley while White Hart Lane is redeveloped, but Christian Eriksen’s deft 47th-minute finish ended that frustrating streak.
Chris Wood’s 85th-minute equaliser rescued Burnley in their 1-1 draw against 10-man West Ham United at Turf Moor.
Swansea City climbed out of the relegation zone as Tammy Abraham’s brace sealed a 2-0 win against Huddersfield Town.
