Manchester City chiefs Ferran Soriano and Txiki Begiristain kept their cool inside the Crystal Palace boardroom yesterday.

The Daily Mail says in the Palace boardroom before the game a delegation of City suits had sat nervously through lunch as Chelsea did them a surprising favour at Liverpool.

City's heavyweights - chief executive Soriano and sporting director Begiristain - muffled their delight when Demba Ba put Chelsea ahead.

Soriano and Begiristain were calmly watching on a giant screen, with their eyes wandering back and forth between the Anfield action and the cups of coffee being brought to their table.

When Willian sealed it for Chelsea, the City contingent were brisk and businesslike as they slipped on their overcoats and headed for the directors' box.