LONDON: Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho suffered only his second Premier League defeat at Stamford Bridge as Crystal Palace clinched a shock 2-1 win over the spluttering champions on Saturday.

Mourinho was taking charge of his 100th home fixture in England’s top-flight, but Palace ensured that milestone won’t be remembered with any fondness by the Portuguese coach as they inflicted his first league loss on home soil since Sunderland’s victory in April 2014.

It was the latest setback for Mourinho’s side, winners only once in their first four matches and already languishing eight points behind leaders Manchester City, who extended the last 100 percent record in the top tier with a 2-0 win against Watford at Eastlands.

Just seconds after clearing a Gary Cahill header off the line, Mali forward Bakary Sako struck at the other end, sweeping high into the net from Yannick Bolasie’s cross to give Palace a 65th minute lead.

LONDON: Crystal Palace’s Bakary Sako (L) shoots to score during the English Premier League match against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.—AFP

Colombia’s Radamel Falcao looked to have rescued a point for Chelsea when the on-loan Monaco striker headed in a Pedro Rodriguez cross for his first goal for the Blues in the 79th minute.

However, parity was short-lived as defender Joel Ward headed home from Sako’s cross in the 81st minute to give second placed Palace their first win at the Bridge since 1982.

Raheem Sterling’s first goal for City since his 49 million pound ($75.4 million, 67.4 million euros) pre-season switch from Liverpool broke Watford’s stubborn resistance in the 47th minute as the England winger stabbed in Bacary Sagna’s cross.

Fernandinho bagged City’s second goal in the 56th minute, the Brazilian lashing home after a one-two with David Silva to seal a club record 10th successive league win dating back to last season.

Liverpool were beaten for the first time this season as West Ham’s 3-0 victory gave the east Londoners their first league triumph at Anfield since 1963.

LIVERPOOL: West Ham United’s Mark Noble (L) scores during the English Premier League match against Liverpool at Anfield on Saturday.—Reuters

After 42 fruitless visits to Anfield, the Hammers, who have already won at Arsenal this term, took the lead in the third minute.

Martin Skrtel’s poor headed clearance fell at the feet of Aaron Cresswell and his low cross was prodded in by Manuel Lanzini, a 22-year-old Argentine midfielder on loan from Al Jazira.

Slaven Bilic’s team doubled their lead in the 29th minute when Mark Noble side-footed home after Reds defender Dejan Lovren carelessly allowed Lanzini to seize possession.

A dismal day for Liverpool was completed when Brazilian playmaker Philippe Coutinho was sent off for his second booking in the 56th minute.

Referee Kevin Friend also sent off Noble in the closing stages for a lunging tackle, but there was still time for Diafra Sakho to complete Liverpool’s embarrassment with a third goal in stoppage-time.

Arsenal clinched their second league win of the season as Fabricio Coloccini’s own goal gifted the Gunners a scrappy 1-0 success at 10-man Newcastle.

Although they were below their best again, Arsene Wenger’s team got back on track at St James’ Park with the help of hot-headed Newcastle striker Aleksandar Mitrovic’s latest indiscretion.

The turning point came in the 16th minute when referee Andre Marriner sent off Mitrovic after the Serbia international needlessly stamped on Francis Coquelin’s ankle as he stretched in a failed attempt to reach a loose ball.

Wenger’s team eventually took advantage of their numerical superiority in the 52nd minute when Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s low drive beat goalkeeper Tim Krul via a deflection off Coloccini.

Leicester left it late to rescue a 1-1 draw at Bournemouth thanks to Jamie Vardy’s 86th minute penalty after the hosts went in front through striker Callum Wilson’s 24th minute acrobatic overhead kick.

Sunderland remain without a league win despite a battling 2-2 at Aston Villa.

Yann M’Vila put Sunderland ahead in the eighth minute but Scott Sinclair equalised from the penalty spot three minutes later.

Sinclair struck again in the 41st minute, yet Sunderland drew level through Jeremain Lens in the 52nd minute.

West Bromwich Albion won 1-0 against nine-man Stoke at the Britannia Stadium.

Stoke forward Ibrahim Afellay was sent off for slapping Albion midfielder Craig Gardner before Charlie Adam was dismissed after catching Craig Dawson.

Venezuela striker Salomon Rondon headed Albion in front in first half stoppage-time with his first goal since his 12 million pound club record move from Zenit St Petersburg.—AFP

Published in Dawn, August 30th, 2015

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