LONDON — 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 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. 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 host, however, struggled to break down a Watford side who 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 were frustrated by Alan Pardew's well-marshaled Palace side. Chelsea dictated possession and had 13 shots in the first hour but looked uncomfortable against Palace's razor-sharp counter-attacks. With Chelsea fans beginning to grow restless at their side's lack of final product, Bakary Sako pounced to convert Yannick Bolasie's dangerous cross — his second goal in as many games since joining the south London club. Falcao headed home his first Blues' goal 14 minutes later to restore parity before Ward stabbed in a late winner as Jose Mourinho suffered only his second league defeat in 100 home games as Chelsea manager. Liverpool, which had taken seven points from its opening three games, slumped to a surprise 3-0 home defeat by West Ham United and had midfielder Philippe Coutinho sent off. Manuel Lanzini and Mark Noble, who was later sent off, gave West Ham a 2-0 halftime lead before Diafra Sakho sealed the visitors' first win at Anfield since 1963 with a goal in stoppage time. Newcastle United's Fabricio Coloccini scored an own-goal as Arsenal labored to its second win of the season with a highly-charged 1-0 victory over its 10-man host at St James' Park. Aleksandar Mitrovic was dismissed early in the first half. Sunderland remained bottom after an eventful 2-2 draw at Aston Villa with goals from Yann M'Vila and Jeremain Lens cancelled out by Scott Sinclair's brace for the hosts. 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. Guingamp stuns Marseille Sloan Privat and Nicolas Benezet gave Guingamp their first goals of the season in a 2-0 win which send Marseille crashing back to earth in Ligue 1's only game Friday. Marseille had been riding a tide of euphoria since the arrival of new coach Michel with a 6-0 rout of Troyes last weekend following losses in their opening two games, but cold reality hit again in Brittany. “The rhythm of the game was very fast and the opposition very strong,” said Spaniard Michel, who took over after Argentine Marcelo Bielsa quit after the first game of the season. “We lost a lot of individual duels not just defensive, but also for the possession and it was very difficult to take the ball. That's something that we didn't expect. “The team did what they could but they are very young. We lacked assurance in our game.” Its first points of the season lift Guingamp off the bottom of the table just behind Marseille which is 13th, also with three points from four games. It ended a series of eight consecutive defeats for Jocelyn Gourvennec's Guingamp against Marseille. Villarreal beats Espanyol New signing Cedric Bakambu scored two late goals to give Villarreal a 3-1 win over Espanyol Friday in the Spanish league. Bakambu put the hosts ahead in the 87th minute and then netted again in injury time to complete a come-from-behind victory at El Madrigal stadium. Felipe Caicedo had put Espanyol ahead in the sixth minute after Villarreal turned the ball over near the halfway line. But Roberto Soldado — who joined from Tottenham in the offseason — equalized with a volley in the 67th and then set up both goals for Bakambu, who had come one as a substitute. The win gives Villarreal four points from the opening two games, while Espanyol remained on three. Cologne rallies to beat 10-man Hamburg Cologne rallied to beat 10-man Hamburger SV 2-1, while promoted Ingolstadt and Darmstadt both picked up points in the Bundesliga Saturday. Ingolstadt won 1-0 at Augsburg, which was last season's surprise team and qualified for the Europa League. Darmstadt earned its third draw in as many games, holding Hoffenheim 0-0. Eintracht Frankfurt won 4-1 in Stuttgart and Mainz overpowered Hannover 3-0. Last-placed Stuttgart has lost all three games so far. Hannover is winless as well. Hamburg's defender Emir Spahic was sent off late in the match for pushing down Anthony Modeste and the striker converted the resulting penalty for Cologne's victory. Stuttgart also finished with 10 men as Luc Castaignos scored twice. — Agencies
