Stevan Jovetic scored twice as champions Manchester City beat last season’s runners-up Liverpool 3-1 on Monday in the first major clash of this Premier League campaign.
Mario Balotelli was in the stands to watch new employers Liverpool take on former club City after completing his move from AC Milan, but it was another 24-year-old who took center stage at the Etihad Stadium.
Jovetic’s City debut was spoilt by injury, but the Montenegro striker scored either side of halftime to hand Manuel Pellegrini’s side a win.
Photo: Reuters
Leftback Alberto Moreno was enjoying his Reds debut following his move from Sevilla, but four minutes before halftime, his error allowed City to go ahead.
David Silva was unable to make anything of a throw-in from the City right, but just as Moreno looked set to clear, Jovetic darted in, nicked the ball off his toes and drilled a low shot past Simon Mignolet.
Daniel Sturridge had a goal ruled offside early in the second, but after Moreno thwarted Edin Dzeko and Jovetic headed over, the hosts made it 2-0 in the 55th minute.
Jovetic was both creator and finisher, freeing Samir Nasri with a back-heel flick and rushing to the box to meet the Frenchman’s low center with a left-foot finish.
Rodgers reacted by introducing Serbian Lazar Markovic for his debut since a switch from SL Benfica, but there was more woe in store.
Moments after Dzeko limped off following a fall, Sergio Aguero scampered onto an long pass from fellow substitute Jesus Navas before beating Mignolet.
Pablo Zabaleta inadvertently kneed the ball into his own net in the 83rd after Joe Hart parried a header from Rickie Lambert, but by then the damage had been done.
“It’s so important to get six points from our first two games as it was a very difficult start for us,” Pellegrini said, adding that Dzeko’s injury appeared to be “nothing important.”
It was a first away loss of the year for Brendan Rodgers’ side, making City one of four teams to have won their first two ties, alongside Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea and Swansea City.
“Up until they scored, we were the better side,” Rodgers said. “It is very early for this squad. As the season goes on, we will get better and better,” he added.
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