Manchester City and Liverpool, last season’s top two in the Premier League, were both made to sweat by determined opposition before opening their campaigns with hard-fought victories on Sunday.
David Silva and Sergio Aguero scored as City began their title defense with a 2-0 success at Newcastle United, after Daniel Sturridge struck late in the game to earn Liverpool a 2-1 win at home to Southampton.
City manager Manuel Pellegrini gave a debut to Brazilian midfielder Fernando and saw his side take the lead in the 38th minute at St James’ Park.
Photo: AFP
Yaya Toure found Edin Dzeko with a lofted pass over the top and as Newcastle’s centerbacks rushed across, the Bosnian teed up Silva with a clever back-heel and the Spain midfielder coolly beat Tim Krul.
Newcastle improved after the interval, with Paul Dummett and debutant Remy Cabella spurning opportunities to hit the target.
Newcastle substitute Ayoze Perez then saw a curling effort deflected agonizingly wide by Fernando, before Aguero ran through and beat Krul at the second attempt in stoppage-time.
Earlier, Sturridge snaffled a late winner as Liverpool edged Southampton at Anfield.
Raheem Sterling put Liverpool ahead midway through the first half, but Nathaniel Clyne lashed home an equalizer shortly before the hour mark following a neat exchange with debutant Dusan Tadic.
Brendan Rodgers’ Liverpool looked destined to drop points in their first competitive game since the sale of Luis Suarez to Barcelona, but with 11 minutes to play Sterling teed up Sturridge to flick home the winning goal.
Liverpool dominated possession in the early stages and took the lead in the 23rd minute.
The goal owed much to the tenacity and vision of Jordan Henderson, who helped Javier Manquillo dispossess Tadic, won a 50-50 with Morgan Schneiderlin and then freed Sterling to beat Fraser Forster with a first-time finish.
Southampton equalized in the 56th minute when Clyne passed to Tadic, who back-heeled into the path of his teammate for the shot into the top-right corner.
After Steven Davis had shot meekly at Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet, Sterling headed on for England teammate Sturridge to score the close-range winner.
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