LONDON, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- Manchester City kicked off their search for a fifth consecutive Premier League title with a 2-0 win away to Chelsea on Sunday afternoon.
City were without Spain international midfielder Rodrigo Hernandez and had just sold Julian Alvarez to Atletico Madrid, but Erling Haaland was in their starting 11 and the Norwegian opened the scoring in the 25th minute as he clipped the ball over Robert Sanchez from close range.
New City signing Savio impressed in the first half but was replaced by Phil Foden at halftime after suffering an apparent knee injury.
Former Chelsea midfielder Mateo Kovacic assured the points six minutes from time after controlling the ball on his chest, surging past two defenders and beating Sanchez with a powerful shot.
Chelsea's former Manchester City and England winger, Raheem Sterling was left out of Maresca's squad and the player released a statement before the game started saying he would look for "clarity" over his situation.
Bryan Mbuemo put Brentford ahead minutes after England international, Eberechi Eze had seen a goal controversially ruled out for a prior foul.
The visitors leveled 10 minutes after the break when Daniel Munoz's nod-down gave Ethan Pinnock problems and he put the ball into his own net, but Yoan Wissa poked home the winner for Brentford with 16 minutes left to play.
Brentford coach Thomas Frank admitted after the game that England striker Ivan Toney had been left out due to "transfer interest."
On Saturday, Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka swapped assists and goals as Arsenal got underway with a 2-0 win at home to Wolves, with Havertz nodding them in front after 25 minutes following a cross from Bukayo Saka. and Sake scoring following a pass from Havertz.
Ipswich got a taste of how tough life can be at the top as they impressed for 60 minutes, against Liverpool, before two goals in five minutes from Diogo Jota and Mohamed Salah gave Liverpool coach Arne Slot a winning start at the club.
Newcastle had one shot on target and won 1-0 at home to Southampton after playing for over an hour with 10 men after Fabian Schar was sent off for an aggressive movement with his head against Ben Brereton.
Newcastle's goal came on the stroke of halftime when Southampton goalkeeper Alex McCarthy passed to Alexander Isak, who left Joelinton with a simple tap-in.
Former West Ham target Jhon Duran got the winner as Aston Villa won 2-1 win at the London Stadium.
Duran scored the winner 11 minutes from time after Lucas Paqueta had leveled from the penalty spot to cancel Amadou Onana's headed opener for Villa.
Kaoru Mitoma, with Danny Welbeck and Simon Adingra all scored as Brighton outplayed Everton to win 3-0 and give 31-year-old Fabian Hurzeler a perfect start as the youngest coach in Premier League history.
Everton's misery was completed when defender Ashley Young, eight years older than Hurzeler, was sent off late in the game.
Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth drew 1-1, with Antoine Semenyo's late goal cancelling out Chris Wood's first-half goal for Forest, who lost midfielder Danilo with a broken ankle.
New Manchester United signing Joshua Zirkzee scored an 87th winner as his side opened the new Premier League season with a 1-0 win at home to Fulham after it looked as if missed chances would again be costly for Erik ten Hag's side. ■
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