Liverpool 3 Manchester City 0: John Lennon’s ‘Instant Karma’ was played before kick-off and Liverpool delivered it with a perfect response to their Capital One Cup final defeat at the weekend.

There will be no route back to Italy for Mario Balotelli this January, according to Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers.

Any preconceived ideas we had before the World Cup have been cast aside in an amazing tournament

Liverpool midfielders Phillipe Coutinho and Lucas Leiva, AC Milan playmaker Kaka, below, and Atletico Mineiro forward Ronaldinho were among the big names to miss out as Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari unveiled his 23-man World Cup squad yesterday.

Tomorrow’s meeting of Liverpool and Manchester City is probably the most eagerly anticipated Premier League game for neutrals this season, as England’s two highest-scoring teams meet in a game which will go a long way to deciding the outcome of the 2014 title race.

Liverpool XI 0 Glasgow Celtic XI 1

Southampton 3 Liverpool 1

Lionel Messi scored twice in the last 15 minutes as Barcelona survived a scare against 10-man Osasuna to continue their winning start to the new season.