Manchester City began their Premier League title defence with a 2-0 victory over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, marking Erling Haaland's 100th appearance for the club with his 91st goal. Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca defended his decision to exclude senior players like Raheem Sterling and Ben Chilwell from the squad, asserting he is working with a reduced squad of 21 players. Mateo Kovacic, a former Chelsea player, secured the win with a late goal, while Chelsea struggled despite their hefty transfer window expenditure. Sterling and Chilwell, along with other notable absentees, have been training separately as Chelsea aims to reduce its squad size. VAR decisions played a significant role, including disallowing a potential Chelsea equalizer for offside. Pep Guardiola's team demonstrated their depth and continuity, aiming for another successful season.