WE MAY ONLY be in Gameweek 2 of the 2014/15 campaign, but already the fixtures have thrown up a mouth-watering meeting between Manchester City and Liverpool.

The big news today is that former City striker Mario Balotelli has been confirmed as a Red after sealing his £16m move from AC Milan.

And Super Mario is back at Eastlands for tonight’s game.

Asked by Sky Sports presenter Ed Chamberlain what Balotelli will bring to the Liverpool squad, Brendan Rodgers gave a great response earlier:

Here are the teams:

Manchester City: Hart, Demichelis, Kompany, Zabaleta, Clichy, Fernando, Nasri, Toure, Silva, Jovetic, Dzeko.

Subs: Caballero, Sagna, Kolarov, Milner, Fernandinho, Navas, Aguero.

Liverpool: Mignolet, Johnson, Lovren, Skrtel, Moreno, Allen, Gerrard, Coutinho, Henderson, Sterling, Sturridge. 

Subs: Jones, Toure, Lambert, Sakho, Manquillo, Can, Markovic.

It’s been a rainy evening in Manchester.

Martin Rickett Martin Rickett

Both teams began the season with wins last weekend and victory for either will put them level with Chelsea, Tottenham and Swansea on six points from two games.

So, how do you see this one going?

For what it’s worth, I’m going for a 1-1 draw.

The team captains Vincent Kompany and Steven Gerrard shake hands and we’re all set to get going.

Sky Sports Sky Sports

Five minutes in and nothing of note to report. A couple of nice touches from both sides in the opposing halves but the final pass hasn’t been there.

Jovetic flicks a Clichy pass into the path of Dzeko and, with Lovren slipping, the Bosnian striker has a couple of yards to line up the shot. It’s a poor one, however, and rolls harmlessly wide.

Sterling collects a long ball beautifully on his chest and swivels to connect with the volley but can’t direct it on target.

Moments later, the young England winger wins his side a free-kick in a wide position out right but Gerrard’s delivery leaves a lot to be desired.

Zabaleta arrives late at the back post to get onto the end of a cross but the Argentine full-back can only blast his attempt over the bar.

New team-mates get acquainted in the stands with Kenny Dalglish close by.

Peter Byrne Peter Byrne

Gerrard whips free-kick in which is punched clear by Hart. Henderson then looks to recycle the ball and cross but the ball goes out off him and Man City have themselves a goal-kick.

Coutinho races beyond Yaya Toure having been picked out by Morena and the big Ivorian pulls his opponent to the ground to earn himself a yellow card.

Liverpool looking slightly sharper here at the moment with Sterling, Henderson and Coutinho all lively.

Spanish full-back Alberto Moreno, a summer signing from Sevilla, has also impressed in his first half hour of Premier League football.

Sturridge takes a ball down, skips by Kompany with ease and shoots at goal but Hart is well-placed to make a block.

Zabaleta plays a one-two with Dzeko to break into the Liverpool box at pace. Gerrard has read the situation perfectly and clears the danger.

GOAL! Man City 1-0 Liverpool (Stevan Jovetic)

The home side go ahead. Lovren only half-clears after David Silva gains possession with his back to goal inside the box and Morena hesitates to allow Jovetic to blast past Mignolet.

Half-time: Man City 1-0 Liverpool 

Second half, here we go. No changes on either team.

Liverpool have the ball in the back of the net after patient build-up play. Johnson crosses for Sturridge, who beats Hart, but the linesman’s flag is raised to signal offside.

City break in numbers down the other end and Dzeko appears to be through on goal. He checks back though, and allows Moreno to make a challenge.

Fernando brings down Sterling 30 yards out from goal, meaning Gerrard will most likely have a pop at goal.

He fakes to shoot but instead picks out Henderson, who wins a corner.. which is dealt with by Hart.

GOAL! Man City 2-0 Liverpool (Stevan Jovetic 55′)

2-0 to City and a second of the night for Jovetic. He’s part of the initial then latches on to Silva’s cut-back and drives the ball into the ground and over the line.

Serbian international Lazar Markovic, who joined from Benfica in the summer, is on for Coutinho.

Sturridge fizzes a shot on target and Hart’s outstretched arm bats it away.

Meanwhile, David Silva has made way for Jesus Navas.

Here comes Sergio Aguero. The striker is on for the injured Edin Dzeko.

GOAL! Man City 3-0 Liverpool (Sergio Aguero)

Talk about making an instant impact. Aguero, on the field 23 seconds, gets onto the end of a fine pass and leaves Lovren for dead before drilling beyond Mignolet. That’s the three points wrapped up.

GOAL! Man City 3-1 Liverpool (Zabaleta og) 

The Reds have one back. Rickie Lambert, not long on the field, connects to a cross with his head and finds the target, but Hart blocks. The ball comes back off Zabaleta and crosses the line to hand Liverpool a very slim lifeline.

Things going from bad to worse for Liverpool as Skrtel and Moreno both go down injured. The pair are able to play on and City look content to run down the final minutes now.

Full-time: Man City 3-1 Liverpool