Manchester City started their English Premier League title defense with a 2-0 victory over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday. The match was filled with excitement and controversy, both on and off the field.

In the 18th minute, Erling Haaland gave Manchester City the lead, assisted by Bernardo Silva. After a VAR review, the goal was awarded, despite suspicions of offside. Chelsea had their chances to equalize, with Cole Palmer and Nicolas Jackson coming close, but they were denied by City goalkeeper Ederson and the offside flag, respectively.

The second half saw changes for both teams, with Phil Foden replacing the injured Savinho for City, and Pedro Neto coming on for Christopher Nkunku for Chelsea. Chelsea continued to press for an equalizer, but it was City who found the back of the net again in the 84th minute through Mateo Kovacic. The former Chelsea midfielder scored a long-range effort that goalkeeper Robert Sánchez could only help into the net.

The match saw some standout individual performances, with Rico Lewis and Josko Gvardiol impressing for Manchester City, while Romeo Lavia and Moisés Caicedo showed promise for Chelsea. However, the performance of goalkeeper Robert Sánchez was heavily criticized by fans on social media, with many questioning why Chelsea continue to invest in unproven goalkeepers.

Despite the loss, some Chelsea fans remained optimistic, pointing out the positives from the match, such as the performances of Lavia and Fofana. However, there were concerns about Enzo Fernández, who was described as having a negative performance by a number of fans. The high expectations placed on the expensive signing were met with disappointment.

The match also sparked a debate about Manchester City's ability to consistently perform well, with some fans noting that the team often starts seasons slowly before going on strong runs. Others highlighted the absence of Rodri, who was not included in the starting lineup, but emphasized that City still looked comfortable in their victory.

Overall, it was a convincing performance by Manchester City, who showed their title-winning credentials in the opening game of the season. Chelsea, on the other hand, will need to regroup and find consistency in their performances if they hope to challenge for the title.