City strolled to victory last night at the Etihad beating Liverpool convincingly without hitting top gear. The game was billed as the first big game of the season but City certainly took it in their stride.

Liverpool had spells of sustained possesion as the first half started but as the game wore on City began to build momentum with Dzeko shooting wide, Zabaleta volleying over, and Yaya Toure working Simon Mignolet from 20 yards. A mistake by Alberto Moreno was all Jovetic needed to blast a shot in to the Liverpool net.

Liverpool emerged for the second half long before City. And as the half started a clever dead-ball routine involving Gerrard and Henderson came to nothing before the Reds fell further behind on 55 minutes to a brilliantly-worked move.

Jovetic's clever flick released Nasri down the right who then returned the pass for the Montenegrin unmarked to slot the ball home.

Rodgers reacted by introducing Serbian winger Lazar Markovic for his first appearance since a £20 million switch from Benfica, but there was more woe in store for the away team.

Worringly Dzeko limped off with visible stud marks up his leg. Aguero entered the field of play and needed just 23 seconds to put the game beyond doubt.

Aguero raced on to a pass from Navas and capitalised on poor positioning from Mignolet to score.

Liverpool did pull one back seven minutes from time when Sturridge won the ball down the right before chipping a cross into the middle for Lambert to get on the end of. The striker got his header at goal but Hart managed to block it on the line only for the rebound to bounce into the net off Zabaleta's knee.

Photo: Action Images

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