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Pablo Zabaleta returns in place of Aleksandar Kolarov as Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini makes just one change to his starting XI from last week's opening 2-0 Premier League win at Newcastle for the visit of Liverpool on this Monday night. Sergio Agüero will again start on the bench despite his late goal last week.
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Manchester City starting XI: Hart, Demichelis, Kompany, Zabaleta, Clichy, Fernando, Nasri, Y Toure, Silva, Jovetic, Dzeko.
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Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers is unable to hand new signing Mario Balotelli his debut against former club Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium following his signing from AC Milan earlier today. However new boy Alberto Moreno makes his debut and Joe Allen also starts as Lucas and Javier Manquillo drop out in two changes from the XI which beat Southampton 2-1 at Anfield last week.
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Liverpool starting XI: Mignolet, Johnson, Lovren, Skrtel, Moreno, Allen, Gerrard, Coutinho, Henderson, Sterling, Sturridge.
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This game is already being billed as Premier League title six-pointer despite being the second match of the new season. City, who edged Liverpool by two points for the title last term, are unbeaten in their last seven at home. Liverpool have not lost away this year. Something might give tonight? There could be goals too as both sides broke through the 100 barrier last term.
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The Premier League action is up and running at a gloomy Etihad Stadium with these two expected title rivals hopefully set to light the night up with a thrilling head-to-head a few goals into the bargain.
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A bright opening from City as they look to make inroads down the right but Liverpool have comfortably held them at bay.
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City are playing keep-ball here inside the Liverpool half as the Reds look for a quick break.
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Joe Hart gets down well to take a neat pass into the City box and Martin Demichelis prevents Daniel Sturridge getting on the end of a Joe Allen pass into the box from the left.
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Edin Dzeko fails to get a clean strike on the ball and fires wide from just outside the area after as Dejan Lovren fails to cut out a pass to the big striker.
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Steven Gerrard picks out the run of Raheem Sterling in the City and he chests it down before trying a first-time strike which is off target.
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A free kick chance for Liverpool as Raheem Sterling is brought down, Steven Gerrard's ball into the box from the right is straight into the hands of Joe Hart.
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Pablo Zabaleta hits a volley over the bar from an angle after a good move by City down the left saw Gaël Clichy whip a lovely cross to the back post.
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City win a free kick from a Liverpool corner when Vincent Kompany is dragged over by Martin Skrtel in the area. City break and Yaya Toure's effort from distance is easy for Simon Mignolet.
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Steven Gerrard's effort deflects out for a corner to Liverpool. Joe Hart flaps the first one behind again and the second is cleared by City.
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Vincent Kompany bravely dives in front of a Joe Allen shot to block it as he went for a goal from just outside the area as Liverpool enjoy a good spell.
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We are still waiting for a first real chance here as we break through the 20-minute barrier.
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Steven Gerrard plays a free kick into the box from the left but Joe Hart does well to punch away. City then win a goal kick off Jordan Henderson who is ignored in his pleas for a corner.
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Simon Mignolet gets up well to claim a Samir Nasri corner for City down the right before Fernando barges him over to concede a free kick.
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Martin Demichelis cuts out a Alberto Moreno cross from the left and City clear Steven Gerrard's right-wing corner.
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City are struggling to get anything created in the Liverpool half as the Reds are putting in a resolute display so far.
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Great awareness by Martin Skrtel to cut out a ball that was heading towards Stevan Jovetic in the Liverpool area as City again look for an opening.
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City's Yaya Toure fouls Philippe Coutinho and is the first player in the book.
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Joe Hart punches away a Steven Gerrard right-wing free kick. Liverpool return the ball to Jordan Henderson down the left of the box. His chip back into the centre is cleared. A good move by Liverpool though!
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Daniel Sturridge picks up a Raheem Sterling pass down the left of the area, gets away from Vincent Kompany and hits a strong effort which Joe Hart pushes away at his front post.
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City left-back Gael Clichy knows he is in a game tonight as Raheem Sterling has been buzzing all over him so far.
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Joe Hart is alert again to pick up a Raheem Sterling pass into the City box that was trying to find the run of Philippe Coutinho.
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Pablo Zabaleta bursts into the area but Steven Gerrard is back to help out as he knocks the ball behind for a corner. Samir Nasri's corner is hacked away by Jordan Henderson.
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MAN CITY 1-0 LIVERPOOL: Stevan Jovetic pounces on the loose ball in the area from Dejan Lovren's attempted clearance and fires in from close range off Simon Mignolet. Alberto Moreno was caught napping waiting for the ball by the City striker while David Silva played a part by putting Lovren under pressure.
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It is tough on Liverpool but City showed why they are champions by grabbing a goal out of nothing.
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HALF TIME MANCHESTER CITY 1-0 LIVERPOOL: Liverpool's good defensive counter-attacking play came undone late in the half by one lapse in concentration and City took full advantage despite having to create any decent chances before the goal.
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We are up and running in the second half as City look to defend and possibly add to their one-goal lead. Liverpool looked a danger at times in the first half and will no doubt fancy themselves to get back into the game in this half.
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Neither manager felt the need to make a switch at the interval. Liverpool have started brightly here as they look for a reply.
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Daniel Sturridge is offside as he puts the ball into the net from a Glen Johnson ball into the area from the right. City break but Edin Dzeko's poor touch allows Alberto Moreno to block his run to goal.
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Stevan Jovetioc gets on the end of a City corner down the left but can't direct his effort on target.
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Steven Gerrard puts a clever free kick to Jordan Henderson down the left of the City box but he can't beat Pablo Zabaleta with his ball back into the middle. Joe Hart then gets up to save from the following corner kick.
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MAN CITY 2-0 LIVERPOOL: Stevan Jovetic meets a Samir Nasri ball across the area from the right and hammers his effort past Simon Mignolet for his and City's second of the game.
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City are flying now and Liverpool just need to keep them at bay and make sure they stay in the game.
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Edin Dzeko is harshly adjudged to have fouled Martin Skrtel in the area as City almost walked the ball into the Liverpool net.
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Liverpool's new signing Lazar Markovic is coming on in place of Philippe Coutinho.
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Vincent Kompany to the rescue as he slides in to prevent Daniel Sturride from scoring a certain goal as Liverpool enjoy a good spell of play.
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Daniel Sturridge gets in down the right of the area but hits an angled effort across the face of goal and wide with Joe Hart covering.
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Jesus Navas is coming on for City in place of David Silva.
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Edin Dzeko is caught by the studs of Martin Skrtel during an aerial battle for the ball and is needing some treatment.
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MAN CITY 3-0 LIVERPOOL: Jesus Navas picks out the run of Sergio Aguero who gets into the area and beats Simon Mignolet 23 seconds after coming on the pitch in place of Edin Dzeko. How's that for an instant impact?
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City are enjoying themselves now as Liverpool could be on the end of a real hammering if the pattern of play continues in the same way in these final 20 minutes.
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City are happy to just play keep-ball at the moment to prevent Liverpool getting any encouragement by pulling one back.
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Emre Can is getting a run-out for Liverpool now as he replaces Joe Allen.
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Emre Can also makes an immediate impact as he barges Stevan Jovetic to the ground and picks up a yellow card.
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Emre Can heads a Liverpool corner wide as Rickie Lambert is coming on in place of Raheem Sterling for the final 10 minutes.
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City also make switch now as Fernandinho replaces two-goal hero Stevan Jovetic.
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City plays a quick corner from the right but Samir Nasri's pull-back is cut out.
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MAN CITY 3-1 LIVERPOOL: Rickie Lambert heads in a Daniel Sturridge cross from the right and it just beats Joe Hart on the line. Pablo Zabaleta might have got the final touch. One for the dubious goals panel. Liverpool are back in it.
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Rickie Lambert gets in down the left but his cross-shot is slid away by Vincent Kompany and City survive.
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Liverpool have to finish with ten men as they have used their subs up and Glen Johnson is forced out of the play with an injury.
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Martin Skrtel gets up after going down hurt following a challenge by Yaya Toure and he is able to carry on.
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Alberto Moreno is the latest Liverpool player to need treatment as he seemed to go over on his ankle over on the far side of the pitch. There are five minutes of injury time to play.
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Sergio Aguero hits one into the side-netting as City continue to press deep inside the Liverpool half of the pitch looking for a fourth goal.
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FULL TIME MANCHESTER CITY 3-1 LIVERPOOL: Champions City show they are going to be a force to be reckoned with in the Premier League once again with a resounding win against title rivals Liverpool. The visitors looked bright at times but didn't do enough in the final third to really trouble City who clinically took their chances.