Stevan Jovetic scored twice as champions Manchester City beat last season’s runners-up Liverpool 3-1 on Monday in the first major showdown of the new Premier League campaign. Mario Balotelli was in the stands to watch new employers Liverpool take on former club City after completing his £16 million move to Anfield from AC Milan, but it was another 24-year-old who took centre stage at the Etihad Stadium.
Jovetic’s debut campaign at City was spoilt by injury, but the Montenegro striker scored either side of half-time to send Manuel Pellegrini’s side towards victory over the team they pipped to last season’s title.
The events of last season’s run-in were clearly fresh in the minds of City’s fans, who goaded visiting captain Steven Gerrard over his costly slip in Liverpool’s loss to Chelsea in April by chanting: ‘He’s gonna slip in a minute!’ The home supporters saw their side make the more positive start beneath steady rain at the Etihad, with Dzeko shooting wide, Zabaleta volleying over, and Yaya Toure working Simon Mignolet from 20 yards.
Left-back Alberto Moreno was enjoying his Liverpool debut following his move from Sevilla, but four minutes before half-time, 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 Mignolet.
Sturridge had a goal ruled out for offside early in the second period, but after Moreno had alertly thwarted Dzeko and Jovetic had headed over, the hosts made it 2-0 in the 55th minute with a fine goal. Jovetic was both creator and finisher, freeing Samir Nasri with a delicate back-heel flick and then haring into the box to meet the Frenchman’s low centre with an unerring left-foot finish.
Jovetic’s debut campaign at City was spoilt by injury, but the Montenegro striker scored either side of half-time to send Manuel Pellegrini’s side towards victory over the team they pipped to last season’s title.
The events of last season’s run-in were clearly fresh in the minds of City’s fans, who goaded visiting captain Steven Gerrard over his costly slip in Liverpool’s loss to Chelsea in April by chanting: ‘He’s gonna slip in a minute!’ The home supporters saw their side make the more positive start beneath steady rain at the Etihad, with Dzeko shooting wide, Zabaleta volleying over, and Yaya Toure working Simon Mignolet from 20 yards.
Left-back Alberto Moreno was enjoying his Liverpool debut following his move from Sevilla, but four minutes before half-time, 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 Mignolet.
Sturridge had a goal ruled out for offside early in the second period, but after Moreno had alertly thwarted Dzeko and Jovetic had headed over, the hosts made it 2-0 in the 55th minute with a fine goal. Jovetic was both creator and finisher, freeing Samir Nasri with a delicate back-heel flick and then haring into the box to meet the Frenchman’s low centre with an unerring left-foot finish.