Manchester City's expensively assembled team finally delivered some promise with an emphatic 3-0 victory over a disappointing Liverpool at Eastlands. A Carlos Tevez brace, after Gareth Barry had given City an early lead, was enough to give Roberto Mancini's their first three points of the campaign against a poor Liverpool side.
Liverpool badly missed Javier Mascherano in midfield, left out because of a possible move to Barcelona, and slick City took full advantage.
Barry gave the home side the lead after 13 minutes when the former Villa man side footed home from recent signing James Milner's pull-back.
Liverpool rallied just before the break but barely had chance to regroup in the second half before City doubled their advantage.
Micah Richards headed Milner's corner goalwards and Tevez with the slightest of touches helped the ball over the line.
Minutes later came the visitor's best chance of the game as Steven Gerrard hit a post but keeper Joe Hart saved twice in the ensuing scramble.
On 67 minutes the game was over when Tevez converted from the penalty spot after Martin Skrtel had fouled Adam Johnson.
MAN CITY 25 Hart 02 Richards (yellow card) 04 Kompany 19 Lescott 28 Kolo Toure 07 Milner 11 A Johnson 18 Barry 34 De Jong 42 Yaya Toure (Zabaleta 84) 32 Tevez (Jo 84)
Substitutes 01 Given, 05 Zabaleta, 08 Wright-Phillips, 21 Silva, 24 Vieira, 09 Adebayor, 27 Jo
LIVERPOOL 25 Reina 02 G Johnson 05 Agger 23 Carragher 37 Skrtel (yellow card) 08 Gerrard 21 Lucas 09 Torres (Babel 78) 14 Jovanovic (Pacheco 85) 18 Kuyt 24 Ngog
Substitutes 01 Jones, 06 Aurelio, 16 Kyrgiakos, 17 Maxi, 28 C Poulsen, 12 Pacheco, 19 Babel
Scorers MAN CITY: Barry 13, Tevez 52, Tevez (pen) 68 LIVERPOOL:
Venue: City of Manchester Stadium, Manchester City Referee: Phil Dowd (Staffordshire) Attendance: 47,087
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