MANCHESTER, England -- Sitting in the executive seats high up at Etihad Stadium, Mario Balotelli began life at Liverpool by watc

MANCHESTER, England -- Sitting in the executive seats high up at Etihad Stadium, Mario Balotelli began life at Liverpool by watching his new team ruthlessly dismantled by the club he left 19 months ago. Harry Carson Youth Jersey . Manchester City showed just how difficult it will be to dethrone as English champion by beating one of its predicted title rivals 3-1 on Monday, making it two wins from two tough opening games of the Premier League season. Stevan Jovetic scored twice and fellow striker Sergio Aguero netted seconds after coming on as a substitute for City, demonstrating that the champions strength in depth up front has hardly diminished since selling the combustible Balotelli to AC Milan in January 2013. In fact, it has probably got even better. With Balotelli added to the ranks for 16 million pounds ($26.5 million) on Monday, Liverpool strengthened the one area of its squad that looked light following the departure of Luis Suarez to Barcelona last month. On this evidence, though, the Reds will struggle to close the two-point gap they finished behind City last season. "These games are games of six points," City manager Manuel Pellegrini said. "When you play at home, it is important not to drop points against important teams. Liverpool is an important team and will be fighting for the title at the end." Jovetic was a forgotten man last season after his big-money move from Fiorentina, his career stalling during a year that was blighted by injury and failure to break into Citys star-studded attack. The Montenegro striker starred for City in preseason, though, and with Aguero working his way to full fitness after the World Cup and Alvaro Negredo out injured, Jovetic is taking his chance to make a statement to Pellegrini. He pounced on a defensive lapse by Liverpool debutant Alberto Moreno to open the scoring in the 41st minute with a fierce low drive before starting and finishing a move that also involved Samir Nasri for his second goal in the 55th, leaving Liverpool to regret not making the most of a decent start to the match. Aguero added the third in the 69th with his first touches of the ball after coming on for the injured Edin Dzeko, running onto Jesus Navas curling pass, taking a touch and sidefooting in at the near post. There were barely 20 seconds between Aguero jogging onto the pitch and wheeling away in celebration at his second goal of the season -- both as a substitute. City defender Pablo Zabaleta turned the ball into his own net under pressure from Rickie Lambert in the 83rd minute to deny the hosts a second straight clean sheet after an opening 2-0 win at Newcastle. But its so far, so good for Pellegrinis side, which joined Tottenham, Chelsea and Swansea on six points. For Liverpool, there is excitement at the arrival of Balotelli, but a fear that City may again be too good this season. "I am really looking forward to working with him," Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers said of Balotelli. "One thing he doesnt lack is confidence. "I have been very encouraged by the guy himself. He is very honest. He knows his flaws and faults and he is looking for someone to help him. There is no better club for him." Balotelli is one of nine signings Liverpool has made this summer with the proceeds of the Suarez sale. It will take them time to bed in and what Liverpool doesnt have is time, especially with City and Chelsea starting the season in such unforgiving mood. "Up until they scored, we were arguably the better side," Rodgers said. "But we switched off and Jovetic has finished it very well. We started the second half reasonably well and then we gave away two poor goals." Pellegrini said Dzekos injury wasnt serious and the striker is likely to be fit for Stoke at home on Saturday. Phil Simms Womens Jersey .com) - Blake Griffin led five Clippers in double figures with 24 points and the LA Clippers got back on track with a 101-97 win over the Utah Jazz. Phil Simms Youth Jersey . In the calls, Hernandez discussed the murder of Odin Lloyd, including his "belief about his criminal liability" and the "extent of his control over persons charged as accessories," according to the request filed Thursday in Fall River Superior Court. http://www.giantsrookiestore.com/Giants-Eli-Manning-Jersey/ .com) - The Oakland Athletics needed to rely on a lot of young pitchers to win an American League West title this season.Wayne Gretzky became the NHLs all-time goal scoring leader on March 23, 1994 when he scored his 802nd career goal for the Los Angeles Kings against the Vancouver Canucks. With the 20th anniversary of that record-breaking night coming up, Gretzky sat down with Ray Ferraro on the NHL on TSN to discuss his memories of the event and talk about how he is enjoying his life nowadays at the age of 53. Ferraro asked Gretzky how he remembered the goal that broke Gordie Howes record, and the former King gave credit to long-time teammate Marty McSorley. "Marty was a little bit better of a player then people really give him credit for - he had pretty good vision," explained Gretzky. "Marty was a pretty good playmaker and I was probably in more shock than anybody that that puck ended up on my stick. He made such a good play that he basically took a defenceman and the goaltender out of the play to ultimately leave me the empty net. "So he made the whole goal happen and I just happened to be in the right spot." The fanfare that followed goal number 802 was a special moment, even among the many NHL records that Gretzky broke during his stellar career. "I really savoured the moment, I really took it all in - as far as my family being there and my friends being there," said Gretzky. "It was an historic day for me, it was a nice event. "As a child everybody knows Gordie was my idol and I was fortunate enough to be friends with Gordie and to have that opportunity to break his record. Phil McConkey Youth Jersey. ..obviously I played with a lot of great players." Switching from the past to the present, Ferraro asked Gretzky if the competitive fire that drove him through his hockey life still burns the same way today. "Im really not competitive now," answered Gretzky. "When I play golf with friends or family I just enjoy playing. I always felt like my whole life and everything I have in my life is because of hockey and I gave every ounce and all my energy to being the best I could be. I was very competitive when I played, and for that matter very competitive when I ran Team Canada and then the involvement with the Coyotes. "But to me now, that winning is sort of behind me now. My life is more of...okay, Im going to enjoy my life, enjoy my friends, enjoy my family, and if I have a good round of golf Im happy and if I have a bad round of golf Im thrilled." Ferraro took the opportunity to ask Gretzky if he would one day entertain a return to a job in the National Hockey League. "Listen, never is a long time but right now Im really enjoying my life what Im doing," explained Gretzky. "The stress and pressure of having to win and compete every night, its sort of, Im enjoying being a fan. I love the game, I love the players that are in the game today, I enjoy it, I sit back, I enjoy going to games here and there. "Right now I dont know. If something wonderful came along obviously Id be all ears, but at this point in time Im just a fan." ' ' '