Enzo Maresca’s first Premier League game in charge of Chelsea ended in a hard-fought 2-0 defeat to reigning champions Manchester City.

The Blues created chances and had penalty appeals turned down in either half but the game was ultimately decided by Erling Haaland’s neat finish on 18 minutes and a late strike from Mateo Kovacic.

Maresca made four changes to his starting line-up compared to the side which drew 1-1 with Inter Milan, with Moises Caicedo, Christopher Nkunku, Cole Palmer and Nicolas Jackson all promoted into the XI.

The Blues started in a more traditional-looking 4-2-3-1 formation, with Caicedo starting alongside Romeo Lavia in a deeper position and Enzo Fernandez central, Nkunku off the left and Palmer the right.

Chelsea enjoyed a good start to the game and Wesley Fofana – playing in his first Premier League match for 448 days – volleyed over from a corner inside the opening ten minutes.

But it was Man City who went ahead in the 18th minute when Jeremy Doku’s pass from the left wing was toe-poked beyond Levi Colwill by Bernardo Silva and after controlling well, Haaland drove towards the six-yard box and dinked the ball over the diving Robert Sanchez. After a VAR check for offside, the goal was confirmed.