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Mancini fears Liverpool title challenge as City prepare for Anfield test

Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini believes his side could be facing one of their title rivals as they travel to Liverpool.

The Italian is expecting the champions to be given a stern challenge at Anfield despite the Merseysiders' unimpressive start to the campaign.

Liverpool crashed 3-0 in their Barclays Premier League opener at West Brom, a result which underlined the difficulties facing their new manager Brendan Rodgers.

Ready for the challenge: Manchester City welcome 'a title challenger' to Etihad on Sunday

 

But Mancini, remembering last year's draw at Anfield as well as a League Cup semi-final defeat to the Reds, believes they will soon recover.

He said: 'I think Liverpool will fight for the title this year because they play well, they bought good players, they have a good manager and they have changed their style of play.

'Every game you play at Anfield is really tough. They come from a game against West Bromwich where they didn't deserve to lose but football is strange. For this I think it will be a hard game.'

City were made to come from behind for their opening win against Southampton while chief rivals Manchester United were beaten at Everton.

And with Liverpool having changed manager, Mancini does not believe much should be read into their result at The Hawthorns.

He said: 'They can have a problem in the first month like all teams when they change the manager or some players, but I think they have a strong team for the title. When Liverpool play at home it is always difficult for the opponents.'

Attacking talent: Despite Sergio Aguero's injury, City have plenty of options going into the match

City will be without last season's top scorer Sergio Aguero after the Argentina striker suffered a knee injury early in the 3-2 defeat of promoted Southampton at the Etihad Stadium.

The problem is not as bad as first feared but Aguero is still expected to be out until mid-September.

That has not stopped Argentina naming him in their squad for their World Cup qualifiers on September 7 and 11, as is their right under international rules, but Mancini says he will not be fit enough to play.

He said: 'Maybe after the international break he will be ready - three or four weeks. It's a bad knee injury but not for six months - two or three weeks. After two weeks he can start to train maybe and in four weeks he can play, maybe.'