City put on show for Sheikh Mansour

Torres couldn’t make a breakthrough for Liverpool on his first start this season [AFP]

Carlos Tevez claimed two second-half goals as a confident Manchester City overwhelmed Liverpool 3-0 to underline their English Premier League title
credentials.

With Abu Dhabi’s Sheikh Mansour given a standing ovation by the fans on attending his first home game since buying the club two years ago, big-spending City provided plenty for their billionaire owner to savour on a wet Monday night at Eastlands.

Newly-signed England midfielder James Milner enjoyed an impressive debut, setting up the 13th minute opener by surging into the box and stroking the ball back for former Aston Villa teammate Gareth Barry to sidefoot home.

Tevez made it 2-0 in the 52nd, claiming a classic poacher’s goal from point-blank range after seemingly adding the final snatched touch to a powerful Micah Richards header.

Richards told Sky Sports television that the goal was his.

“It’s definitely mine, I’m definitely going to claim it,” he said.

There was no doubt about the third, with the Argentine striker calmly sending Pepe Reina the wrong way as he slotted home from the penalty spot in the 68th after Adam Johnson was felled in the box by Martin Skrtel.

City, who have spent more than $155.9 million on players since they finished fifth last season, moved up to fourth overall after beating Liverpool for the first time since 2005.

Champions Chelsea, who thrashed Wigan Athletic 6-0 on Saturday, have a maximum six points from two games with Arsenal second on four after crushing Blackpool by the same scoreline.

Balotelli rested

“The mentality is very important,” said City manager Roberto Mancini, who rested new Italian signing Mario Balotelli with Tevez alone up front.

“If the squad has a good mentality, it can beat everyone.”

It was City’s best league result in 73 years against the once-mighty visitors, whose own aspirations have been fuelled by the arrival of manager Roy Hodgson and some high-profile summer signings.

“We were a little bit unlucky to get beaten so heavily,” Hodgson told Sky.

“I didn’t think we really deserved to get beaten 3-0.

“Pepe Reina wasn’t called into action that often and I thought we had one or two good spells in the game but we were playing against a very effective and strong Manchester city side.”