Champions City have two wins from two games
Substitute Aguero scores with his first touch
Stevan Jovetic scores twice in first half
New Reds signing Balotelli watched from stands
It is Manchester City's turn to break with pace as David Silva drives forward, he tries to feed a pass into the box for Stevan Jovetic, but Martin Skrtel gets across to stab the ball away. Edin Dzeko then pulls a shot wide from just outside the box.
Image source, AFPSome good, patient build-up play by Manchester City in these early stages but they are finding themselves stifled in the final third by a well-marshalled Liverpool defence. Liverpool are clearly looking to catch the hosts on the counter and they break quickly through Daniel Sturridge, but his low ball into the area is pounced on by Joe Hart.
Image source, Getty ImagesFrom Mark, Lancashire, via text: "A £16m "huge liability". A step backwards for LFC. Rodgers has certainly lit the "blue touch paper" with this signing!"
Robbie Savage
BBC Radio 5 live
"Set pieces will be interesting tonight. Skrtel loves to grab the shoulder - it happened a lot when he was defending set-pieces in the games last season. When are referees going to clamp down on this?"
Image source, PAManchester City gets things under way with the fans still in fine voice.
A Karim:, external "Shane Long for £12m is a gamble! Ballotelli for £16m is a bargain. #lfc have nothing to lose. Really excited by this."
Hannah Stockton:, external "Balotelli may be volatile and unpredictable but he's a match winner. Plus at £16m he's cheap by modern football standards."
Rian Hoskins:, external "Balotelli on form over a season could get 20 goals and can win Liverpool matches. The key is his relationship with Rodgers."
Image source, PASuperb atmosphere at the Etihad Stadium as Manchester City fans greet their 2013-14 title-winning players for the first time at home this season.
Blue and white cards are held up along one side of the stadium but the photographers in attendance are not too fussed about it though, their cameras are pointed at the tunnel and the directors' box as they wait for a sight of Mario Balotelli.
Image source, AFPMario Balotelli is renewing acquaintances with the Manchester City players in the tunnel as they wait to head out, shaking hands with Pablo Zabaleta and a few others before heading off to the directors' box.
A few familiar faces in there, with England boss Roy Hodgson braving the elements, as well as Burnley boss Sean Dyche. No game against either side on the horizon for the Clarets, so it seems Dyche just fancied popping over for a bit of Monday night football.
With the news that Angel Di Maria seems close to following Mario Balotelli with a move to the Premier League with Manchester United, who do you think will make the bigger impact? Di Maria or Balotelli?
Let us know via #bbcfootball,, external text us on 81111 (UK only), or have your say on the BBC Sport Facebook and Google+ pages.
From Jenni, Newtownards, via text: "Liverpool signing Mario Balotelli is a very bold and frankly brave move. He is undoubtedly a great striker on his day, capable of producing some world-class moments. But due to his volatile personality he doesn't produce those moment of brilliance on a consistent enough basis. Brendan Rodgers' man-management skills will certainly be put to the test this season."
Not long until kick off so just to remind you that you can get the goals as they go in from tonight's game and the final result as the referee blows his whistle straight to your mobile device.
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Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini has been speaking to Sky Sports, discussing his team selection, which sees Sergio Aguero remain on the bench, despite scoring last Sunday against Newcastle.
"We are working with Sergio in a mix of pre-season and games," says Pellegrini. "Last week he played 10 minutes, today he might play more and in the next game he might play even more. But it is very important for him to have a pre-season and he has just been working for 20 days.
"Last season Liverpool were near us to win the title, but now it's a new season, a different season, and it's always important to start winning and being at the top of the table. Both teams have very good attacking players and score lots of goals. The team that defends better will win the game."
Man Utd
A big day in the transfer market for Liverpool and it seems Manchester United could be about to follow suit. Real Madrid forward Angel Di Maria is due in Manchester tomorrow morning, possibly even this evening, to finalise his move to Old Trafford.
Phil McNulty
BBC Sport Chief Football Writer at the Etihad Stadium
"Liverpool give a debut to defender Alberto Moreno but there is a very positive look about the team manager Brendan Rodgers has picked. Lazar Markovic, the £20m summer signing from Benfica is on the bench and Rodgers is excited about the pace and verve he believes he will bring to Liverpool's attack.
"Life after Luis Suarez has seen Liverpool bring in nine new signings and this meeting with the Premier League champions will provide a serious test of the transition."
Gloomy, overcast and raining at the Etihad Stadium as the players head out for pre-match warm up. Those long, hot summer nights seem like a long time ago.
Still, as long as there is plenty of action on the pitch, those fans who have braved the conditions won't care, and these games rarely lack in the entertainment stakes.
Image source, Getty ImagesMore from Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers.
On Mario Balotelli, Rodgers says: "He is a very bright boy and he knows this is his last chance. He's a really good guy and I'm excited to work with him. Mario is someone we can improve both as a footballer and as a person.
"We're going to show him what we demand from our front players. He is super quick, strong and powerful, but he can improve his transition moment from losing the ball to getting it back."
On Manchester City, Rodgers adds: "We respect the opponent and understand their quality, but for us it's about imposing our game. They're a very good side here, but we're looking to get on the ball and defend strongly."
Spanish La Liga
It has been coming. Real Madrid finally break the deadlock against a defence-minded Cordoba through France striker Karim Benzema. He rises highest inside a packed Cordoba penalty box to powerfully nod in Toni Kroos' corner. That could lead to a hatful for Carlo Ancelotti's side tonight....
Robbie Savage
BBC Radio 5 live
"I think Martin Demichelis proved a lot of people wrong last season. Under the steadying influence of Vincent Kompany he improved and he ended the season as one of City's best players. He - and City - must be wary of Liverpool's pace, they will have to play deeper than normal tonight."
How has our man Lawro called this game then?
"On paper, this game suits the Reds better than their home game against Southampton last week because they are set up to hit teams on the break," he says.
"But, because this game is so early on in the season, I think it will be a much cagier affair than previous encounters. 1-1."
Read the full prediction from football expert Mark Lawrenson here.
Ian Dennis
BBC Radio 5 live
"Only Barcelona have spent more than Liverpool this summer. Brendan Rodgers has spent £117m strengthening a team that finished second - are fans now expecting Liverpool to go on that one stage further and win the league?"