(Premier League 2024/2025): Highlights Chelsea - Manchester City

...that they are formidable. Now they'll set about lifting an unprecedented five titles in a row. They added the 18th major trophy of Pep Guardiola's tenure by clinching the Community Shield last weekend. Today the defence of their Premier League title begins and there are very few observers who don't anticipate that come next May they will again have their names engraved on the silverware that has quite simply become their property. Ruben Diaz now with the turquoise boots in the shadow on the left-hand side plays it to Guardiola. Back it goes to Ruben Diaz again and City just inching towards the middle third under no real pressure from Chelsea. They make their way to the halfway line with Guardiola. Guardiola into Savino. Savino on his first run really it's all good ball as well Bernardo Silva in the area oh he was just slightly off balance and it takes a deflection and goes out for a corner but terrific from Savino and Bernardo Silva. Savino faces uses that pace pushes it out in front of him a nice sliding pass positive move from City. To Edison meanwhile. Edison finds Ruben Diaz. Diaz inside his own half. Plays it out to Guardiola. Down the left-hand side goes Doku, De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva, Haaland, Lewis all involved in front of him goes through towards Haaland. First chance for Haaland and he's taken it of course he's taken it. 100 appearances for City and now 91 goals for Erling Haaland. It was his first genuine sight of goal and well just typical of the man. He is so ruthless he was outstanding during the summer in the US tour. He got a hat-trick against Chelsea in a friendly in America and he's on target again to give City the lead. Remember in that game against Chelsea that ended 4-4 City took the lead they were ahead a couple of times including right at the very end of the match when they thought they'd won it and it ended 4-4 so we know that anything but predictable the games between these two sides. Savino comes forward charges into the middle area of the pitch helps it on to De Bruyne, De Bruyne chance to shoot great effort fizzes by the upright Sanchez I think pulled his arms away just at the end because he was confident it was going wide but it was a good hit from De Bruyne. He opens that right foot I thought here we go let's have a look at it just goes wide but good effort. Oh but City win it back again Doku now on the edge of the area tries to shot deflection brilliant save. Terrific save from Sanchez because he had to kind of readjust in midair Doku shot was arrowing to the corner but it took a deflection and it kind of went higher and Sanchez had to thrust out an arm that is a great save. Ball is in the arms of Lewis throws it to Kovacic, Kovacic under pressure loses the ball and Kunku's on to it and now Jackson Chelsea come forward on Kunku he's got it he lays it out to Palmer on the edge of the area Palmer hits it and Edison so he spilt it he spilt it Jackson's offside Jackson's offside oh it was an error from Edison and he's delighted that Jackson was offside to get the rebound well VAR will check it it's a tight one you know yeah he's foot his foot's in front it's gonna be offside yeah it is offside Kovacic stops taps it to Guardiola, Guardiola to Doku, Doku with Gusto gets beyond Gusto comes inside at pace plays it inside to Bernardo Silva, Bernardo Silva on to De Bruyne, De Bruyne midway inside the Chelsea half good ball finds Guardiola, Guardiola can't go forward so goes backwards to Kovacic and on to De Bruyne and wide to Doku, Doku against Gusto comes inside plays it to De Bruyne, De Bruyne into the gap oh it'll break for Bernardo Silva Haaland first time Sanchez with a parry didn't look like it would go beyond the goalkeeper I think you call it comfortable height for the save and he made it still 32 minutes of the second half to go Guardiola just inside the city half on to Kovacic who loses it to Caicedo, Lavia gets the better of De Bruyne and finds Caicedo now Chelsea come forward with Cole Palmer down the right wing come Chelsea to the edge of the area Palmer inside to Caicedo shooting position hits the shot blocked by Bernardo Silva on it goes to Fernandez across the face of the goal and Rico Luis helps it out for a corner excellent from Rico Luis tracked the run and guided it out before Pedro Neto could maybe put Chelsea level. Back post manages to put it away Neto must think here we go first touch Palmer plays it forward Luis should get there in front of Pedro Neto and he does do and he's in a little bit of bother but he thumps it out of harm's way up towards the halfway line picked up by Kukerea there's a real buzz around Stamford Bridge Pedro Neto's arrival has certainly inspired the home supporters Palmer has it now it's in to Kukerea Kukerea midway inside the City half Chelsea supporters getting noisy now Pedro Neto on the ball goes back to Enzo Fernandez on it goes to Kukerea up towards Caicedo City have got work to do in this game and plenty of it half an hour still remains Pedro Neto round the outside clips in a ball good header at the near but it's cleared Malagusto back into the box again headed away by Bernardo Silva back in by Romeo Lavia Jackson in front of the goalkeeper was he onside flag stays down good save by Edison or it would have been 1-1 technical area all the black trousers black t-shirt and a mild warm day actually in London Vardy Ostro up towards Harlan getting towards the corner flag Fafana all over him Harlan tries to win a corner I think battle is on who's gonna emerge Fafana gets away from Harlan and hooks it clip only as far as Vardy Ostro plays it to Bernardo Silva on now to De Bruyne De Bruyne on the edge tries the shot set it out too wide of the post I suspect six or seven games in De Bruyne would have scored here Michael do you agree well classic De Bruyne just wide he's getting a sight ever okay it's just Matt sharpness mind you Edison just played a wonderful ball out to Doku Doku holds off Gusto plays it back to Bernardo Silva midway inside the Chelsea half back it goes to Kovacic Kovacic away from Fernandez pushes it out wide to Foden Foden attacking down the right side Pedro Neto in front of him so he goes backwards understandably into the possession of Kovacic who's looked good so far today that's Rodri roll seven minutes to go city lead by a goal to nil towards Diaz Diaz out wide Doku now attacking Malo Gusto down this left-hand side goes outside of him hits in a low ball and Sanchez on the stretch makes it his good wing play by Doku but well handled by Sanchez who's about to clear it in front of Harland on to Fafana Fafana plays it down the line City win it back with Kovacic Kovacic darts forward good run from Kovacic great run from Kovacic terrific goal Mateo Kovacic well he won't celebrate out respect for his former employers but he's just settled the match for the Blues he took the ball down on his chest he darted forward he shot on target debatable whether Sanchez should have saved it or not but that surely means the points for City they lead 2-0 this is brilliant from Kovacic we talked about him all game he's got a little bit much on it at time but he sees the space he's done it all preseason he's glided past people want to make things happen and he gets his rewards he pushes it into the spaces has a little look and it's those eyes he just does that late reverse wonderful finish from Kovacic we were calling for a second City goal we now have it Kovacic makes it 2-0 who was booked earlier and scored earlier he's up into the air chested down by Diaz and that will do the perfect way to start the new season for the defending champions Chelsea nil City to three points away from home