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Daniel Taylor, The Guardian, on Liverpool’s early possession:

They made every kind of pass, indeed, apart from the killer one. They had been the better side until Jovetic’s first goal, five minutes before the break, but they never played with the menace that was associated with Liverpool last season and did not threaten Joe Hart’s goal with any sustained momentum until a header from their substitute, Rickie Lambert , came back off the goalkeeper and went in off Pablo Zabaleta seven minutes from the end.

Henry Winter, The Telegraph, on Mario Balotelli ’s arrival:

They could do with Balotelli’s presence. Luis Suárez has gone, removing the X-Factor (as well as the occasionally X-rated). Daniel Sturridge worked hard, Rickie Lambert came on and provided a more aerial threat but Balotelli will give them something different, an ability to destroy defences with his first touch and clever movement. He could prove a good signing - if he behaves.

Oliver Kay, The Times:

Only two points separated City, the title winners, from Liverpool in the Premier League table last May, but this was an evening to reinforce the feeling that the gap will widen this season. City are more settled now under Manuel Pellegrini, fortified by some astute summer additions and the potential impact of a fit Jovetic. Liverpool, by contrast, looked exactly what they are; a team who, after their outstanding progress under Brendan Rodgers last season, will find it hard to reach the same heights again after losing Luis Suarez to Barcelona.

Martin Samuel, The Daily Mail, on Liverpool missing Suarez:

Liverpool are now trying to prove that selling Elvis and buying The Beatles can work, but while the first-half showed signs of a tunefulness emerging, there was little melody beyond half-time.

Losing your best players, no matter the fee, is rarely successful – not for Tottenham with Gareth Bale, and maybe not for Liverpool with Luis Suarez, although he would have been banned from this match anyway. Liverpool had good possession but lacked the magic that happened when City got close to goal. Suarez was a magician.

Martin Lipton, Daily Mirror:

Last Christmas, in the corresponding game, City got away with it, big-time, the contentious calls going their way, Liverpool leaving with a sense of grievance that cost Brendan Rodgers £8,000 for questioning referee Lee Mason.

That was certainly not the case last night. Not at all. No arguments. No doubts.

Yes, for 40-odd minutes, City were second-best to a Liverpool side which was bright and inventive in possession, Raheem Sterling threatening to make the night all about him.

Chris McKenna, Daily Star:

But in the early stages it looked as though it would be challengers Liverpool who would come out on top of this tussle with the champions.

Brendan Rodgers' side dominated possession and controlled the tempo of the game with Daniel Sturridge working Joe Hart early on.

Rodgers is hoping Balotelli's arrival will send Sturridge to even greater heights.

John Dillon, Daily Express, on what Balotelli will bring to Liverpool’s attack:

So if anyone was wondering why a certain Mario Balotelli was sitting among the Liverpool hierarchy at this game, clad in a black bandana and scarf against the English rain he apparently once despised, a quick glance at the firepower listed among City’s squad would have supplied an instant answer.

An assessment of the energetic and daring way Liverpool set about this game would then have confirmed that they are going to rampantly take on this season in the same way they did the last one, when they scored 101 goals and still narrowly missed out on the title.

*Read James Pearce's verdict of last night's defeat by clicking here.