Manchester City down Arsenal, Liverpool get routine win

LONDON, Aug 13 (Reuters): Manchester City, the Premier League champions, and Liverpool, who are strongly fancied to challenge them this season, put down markers with impressive wins in their opening games of the new campaign on Sunday.

City won 2-0 away to Arsenal, who were sixth last season, and the country's highest spenders Liverpool demolished West Ham United 4-0 at Anfield.

The champions, attempting to become the first team since Manchester United in 2009 to retain the title, were too good for an Arsenal side playing under new Spanish manager Unai Emery.

England's Raheem Sterling went past two weak challenges to put City ahead in the first quarter of an hour with his 50th league goal.

Soon after debutant Riyad Mahrez was substituted in the second half, having earlier forced Petr Cech into a good save, Bernardo Silva added the second goal in the 65th minute from an assist by Benjamin Mendy.

City have now lost only one away game in the league -- at Liverpool -- of their last 21, and manager Pep Guardiola was delighted with them.

"We made a good performance in general and day by day we will get better and better," he said.

Sunday's other game was a goalless draw between Southampton and Europa League contestants Burnley.