Flying start for City

MANUEL Pellegrini is confident Manchester City will be stronger for the second weekend of the new Barclays Premier League season than they were for the first.

The reigning champions head for Liverpool next Monday evening having launched the defence of their title with a 2–0 victory at Newcastle - harder-fought than the scoreline suggests.

But manager Pellegrini will spend the week working with players given an extended break after World Cup duty in Brazil - and he is sure much more is to come from them.

The Chilean said: “We have a lot of players for whom one week more will be very useful.”

City led from the 38th minute at St James’ Park when David Silva applied a decisive finish to Edin Dzeko’s sweet back–heeled pass, but the result remained in doubt until substitute Sergio Aguero doubled their lead in stoppage time.

There were impressive performances throughout the City side, but Dzeko was in particularly fine form as talks continue over a new deal.