You'll have plenty to celebrate when you subscribe to the Liverpool FC newsletter Sign me up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Brendan Rodgers has warned Manchester City that Liverpool are ready to challenge them for the big prize once again as Mario Balotelli flies in to complete his £16million move from AC Milan.

The Italian striker will return to the UK on Monday after spending the weekend back in his homeland.

Balotelli will head for Melwood to put pen to paper on a three-year contract.

Liverpool are then expected to announce the deal subject to his registration with the Premier League as due to the Bank Holiday the paperwork can't be filed until Tuesday.

If everything goes according to plan, Balotelli could link up with Brendan Rodgers' squad at their Manchester hotel and attend Monday night's clash with his former club at the Etihad Stadium.

That decision will be taken on Monday.

Balotelli won't be eligible to feature with his debut likely to come against Tottenham next Sunday.

(Image: James Maloney)

City pipped Liverpool to the Premier League title back in May and Rodgers believes they will be the team to beat again this term.

However, the Anfield boss says he possesses a squad capable of competing with Manuel Pellegrini's men.

“City are the champions and I think you have to regard them as favourites for the title,” Rodgers told the ECHO.

“They'll probably look at themselves and think with the squad they’ve got and the additions they've made they'll expect to be up there.

“Chelsea will be strong and Arsenal have strengthened so it’s looking like being a really competitive league this season.

“Every year the competition grows and gets stronger. But we will become stronger as well.

“We just got pipped by Manchester City over 38 games last season. But it’s a new season with a new team here which is evolving.

“We've done some great business this summer and I'm delighted with the squad I've got.

“We played very well in the two games against City last season so we'll go there with great belief. We're going into it after a winning start to the season and confidence is high.”

In pictures: Reds train ahead of City clash

Rodgers must decide whether to keep faith with Glen Johnson or hand a debut to £12million left-back Alberto Moreno.

There could also be a change in midfield with Lucas Leiva's place under threat from Joe Allen and Emre Can.

Lucas was a surprise selection for the opening weekend win over Southampton as Rodgers went with two holding midfielders before changing his formation in the second half.

Most of Liverpool's success last term was based on operating with just one deep-lying playmaker in captain Steven Gerrard.

“Ideally, my teams don’t play with two defensive midfield players,” Rodgers said.

“It was just for that game. Each game I look at differently.

“When you look at last week's game, it showed the great adaptability of the players.

“We changed the system three times. We started 4-2-3-1 and then at 1-1, when we started to lose some of our control, we stuck Joe Allen on and were able to regain control of the game.

“We went 4-3-3 and then with 15 minutes to go to try to win the game we went to a diamond and we got the result.

“Systems can change but the key for us is to retain our positivity and know we are always in with a chance of winning.”

Anfield sources insist the Reds have not received any offers for Lucas.

Reports in Italy have suggested that the Brazilian midfielder is on the brink of joining Napoli on loan with a view to a permanent deal.

*More on the City match: Alberto Moreno desperate to make Liverpool debut against Man City.