Sunday, December 9

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5 things we learned from Chelsea's victory over Manchester City

Chelsea ended City's unbeaten start.

Manchester City's unbeaten start to the Premier League season ended after they suffered a 2-0 defeat at Chelsea.

N'Golo Kante emphatically opened the scoring at Stamford Bridge before David Luiz headed home a second.

Here, Press Association Sport highlights five things we learned from Saturday's clash.

City are not invincible

Manchester City were beaten at Stamford Bridge (Adam Davy/PA)

Pep Guardiola's champions have maintained the fine form which saw them waltz to the title last season in the early months of this campaign. But, despite dominating possession in west London, Chelsea proved they can be beaten. The defeat – City's first Premier League loss since April – leaves them a point behind title rivals Liverpool.

Hazard is versatile

Chelsea's Eden Hazard was influential in Chelsea's win (Adam Davy/PA)

Much was made of both managers opting to start without recognised strikers, particularly Maurizio Sarri's decision to pick Eden Hazard as a 'false nine'. After being starved of the ball in the first half, Belgium forward Hazard – who also operated in the role against City in March – showed his class in the crucial moments of the match by creating both goals.

Injury issues mounting for City

City were without key players Kevin De Bruyne and Sergio Aguero at Stamford Bridge and manager Guardiola may have further injury concerns to contend with. With the busy festive period approaching, midfielder Fernandinho required treatment in the first half before the influential David Silva limped off with an apparent hamstring issue in the second half.

Potency beats possession

For all of their possession and pressing in attacking areas, City were guilty of creating little. Chelsea would have been grateful to go in goalless at half-time but Kante gave them an undeserved lead from which City could not recover. While the visitors had a handful of decent openings, they failed to register a meaningful attempt on goal until a Gabriel Jesus effort in injury time.

Chelsea unlikely to mount title challenge

Chelsea were tested defensively by City (Adam Davy/PA)

Despite this victory, it appears unlikely that the Blues can sustain a serious title challenge. They struggled to touch the ball in the opening period and rode their luck in securing an unexpected victory. Their spirit and second-half performance will provide Sarri with plenty of positives but City and Liverpool remain the standout sides.

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Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool1613303462842
2Manchester CityMan City1613214593641
3Tottenham HotspurSpurs16120430161436
4Chelsea16104233132034
5Arsenal16104235201534
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd167542826226
7Everton156542117423
8Bournemouth167272526-123
9Leicester CityLeicester166462120122
10Wolverhampton WanderersWolves166461719-222
11West Ham UnitedWest Ham166372325-221
12Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton166371922-321
13Watford156271821-320
14Cardiff CityCardiff1642101530-1514
15Newcastle UnitedNewcastle163491322-913
16Crystal Palace1633101323-1012
17Burnley1633101532-1712
18Huddersfield TownHuddersfield1624101027-1710
19Southampton161691330-179
20Fulham1623111640-249
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Select and display your favourite team's news and scores in this panel
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool1613303462842
2Manchester CityMan City1613214593641
3Tottenham HotspurSpurs16120430161436
4Chelsea16104233132034
5Arsenal16104235201534
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd167542826226
7Everton156542117423
8Bournemouth167272526-123
9Leicester CityLeicester166462120122
10Wolverhampton WanderersWolves166461719-222
11West Ham UnitedWest Ham166372325-221
12Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton166371922-321
13Watford156271821-320
14Cardiff CityCardiff1642101530-1514
15Newcastle UnitedNewcastle163491322-913
16Crystal Palace1633101323-1012
17Burnley1633101532-1712
18Huddersfield TownHuddersfield1624101027-1710
19Southampton161691330-179
20Fulham1623111640-249
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