A brace by Stevan Jovetic either side of half time and a record goal for Sergio Agüero saw Manchester City ease to a 3-1 win over Liverpool in a Premier League match at the Etihad Stadium.

Agüero again started on the bench for Manchester City while former City striker Mario Balotelli was in the stands to watch Liverpool hours after completing a £16m move from AC Milan.

The encounter between last season’s top two sides saw Liverpool trouble the Man. City defence for much of the first half though could make nothing of their slight dominance.

The home side ended the half strong and duly took the lead when Jovetic stole in from behind Liverpool full-back Albert Moreno to fire a shot past Liverpool keeper Simon Mignolet.

Daniel Sturridge thought he had levelled for Liverpool five minutes into the second half but the effort was correctly ruled out for offside. And soon after Liverpool were 2-0 down, as Jovetic slammed in a pass from Samir Nasri.

Agüero then made it 3-0 for City only 23 seconds after coming on for Edin Dzeko, latching on to a long pass by Jesus Navas to score his second league goal in as many matches.

The Reds finally got a goal back in the 83rd when Pablo Zabaleta turned the ball beyond his goalkeeper, under pressure from Liverpool substitute Rickie Lambert who had seen Joe Hart keep out his initial header on goal.

The goal proved a consolation for the visitors that also finished the match with 10 men after defender Glen Johnson went off injured late on, with all three subsitutions already made by Liverpool.

Manchester City meanwhile held on for a win that takes it to joint second on the league table with Chelsea on six points from two matches, behind Tottenham Hotspur on goal difference.