'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Two goals from Stevan Jovetic and one more by substitute Sergio Aguero was enough to give Manchester City a winning start to their home campaign.After a cagey start, the game exploded into action and in the end, mistakes by Liverpool and clinical finishing from the home side ensured that they sent out a statement of intent.Here are the major talking points from the game.
#1 Liverpool were masters of their own downfall
If the Reds had to have any chance of beating City on their own turf, not only did they have to take their chances but also ensure that they didn’t make any mistakes and grant the home side a goal or two.
But that is precisely what happened and that is why Liverpool went away from the Etihad with no points instead of three. Although City deserved the win, it came via two individual mistakes.
The first was debutant left back Alberto Moreno giving the ball away to Jovetic who slotted home the opening goal. The second was courtesy of Jordan Henderson. A well-worked free kick by Steven Gerrard should have made it 1-1 but Henderson’s attempt was awful and that meant that City went down the other end and made it 2-0, when it could and should have been 1-1.
The margin for error in the Premier League is almost non-existent and that showed as the Reds lost not because they played bad football but because they made two avoidable mistakes.
#2 Silva\'s performance outlines his importance
Stevan Jovetic might have scored the goals, but the player really responsible for the 3-1 victory over the Reds was none other than David Silva.
The Spaniard orchestrated each attack with great aplomb and showed just why he is regarded as one of the finest playmakers of his generation. More often than not Silva’s performances go under the radar for he isn’t a serial dribbler or a scorer of a ton of goals.
Against the Reds, Silva didn’t score but his understanding of space and ability to create opportunities for others in the final third was what was crucial as City beat Liverpool at home yet again.
He might not get all the plaudits that his play deserves. But the simple fact is that he is a vital cog in the City machine, one which has to function properly if they are to retain the League title this time around.
#3 Mario Balotelli can\'t come soon enough
For all of Liverpool’s possession in the first half, the main reason why they eventually went on to lose the game was their lack of killer instinct up front.
While the Reds got in behind the City back line on more than one occasion, they didn’t always make the most of their chances. Although they have spent wisely in their bid to replace Luis Suarez, none of their new signings in attack started the game and it showed.
For all of his qualities, Daniel Sturridge isn’t as effective when he is foraging alone up front and the arrival of Balotelli should change that.
The Italian striker will not only add clinical finishing and deadly set-piece ability to their ranks but also fill the X-factor void that is now left behind by the Uruguayan striker.
#4 Familiar failings continue to haunt the Reds
One of Liverpool’s biggest problems last season was their inability to defend and their tendency to concede a lot of goals. Although conceding three goals against Manchester City away from home isn’t a bad result, they were lucky that it was just three goals and not four or five.
For all the money spent on defenders, both Dejan Lovren and Alberto Moreno were far from convincing at the back and it was the latter’s mistake that resulted in the opening goal for City.
Both Lovren and Moreno didn’t quite look the part and lacked the positional nous required to cut it in the Premier League.
If the Reds are to have any chance of emulating their feats from last season, they need to start defending better and start doing that fast.
#5 Clinical City show why they could win the league yet again
Although they didn’t lead the league for even a month last season, they ended up winning the EPL title.
One of the main reasons for that is their ability to take their chances and close the game. In Edin Dzeko, Stevan Jovetic, Sergio Aguero and Alvaro Negredo, City have four world-class strikers all capable of scoring over 20 goals a season. Against Liverpool, the main reason City won was because they took their chances while Liverpool did not.
For all the talk of Chelsea walking away with the League because of Mourinho, City showed just why they are rightly considered favorites.
When you can bring on a player of the quality of Sergio Aguero from the bench, it only shows how strong and deep the current City squad is. And it is that strength in depth coupled with their clinical finishing that might just help them retain the League.
