Manchester City crush champions Chelsea in first heavyweight showdown of season

Sergio Aguero, Vincent Kompany and Fernandinho scored as Manchester City crushed Chelsea 3-0 on Sunday to establish a five-point advantage over the champions in the fledgling English Premier League soccer table.

After going close several times, Aguero celebrated his return to the starting XI by wriggling through Chelsea’s defence to score a 31st-minute opener before Kompany and Fernandinho made the game safe late on.

The well-earned victory continued City’s impressive start to the season following their 3-0 win at West Bromwich Albion and gave Manuel Pellegrini a first win over his nemesis Jose Mourinho since the Portuguese returned to Chelsea in 2013.

Pellegrini told Sky Sports: “It was important to get a clean sheet. To win 3-0 in two games, one against the champions, we are just starting the season but it’s important to play in the way we did today."

Kompany said: “There actually wasn’t much difference to how we played against Chelsea twice last season, but this time we managed to score and not make the same mistakes. It was a comfortable game. To start the way we did today is definitely the right signal but there’s still a lot to come.

“As a defender scoring is not what I take most pride in, but I am really happy with the two clean sheets – that is what makes me sleep well at night.”