Sterling starts for Reds against champions

Mario Balotelli made his first start for Manchester City since April as the Barclays Premier League champions made five changes at Liverpool this afternoon.

The controversial Italy striker replaced the injured Sergio Aguero while there was an unexpected recall for defender Kolo Toure in place of Joleon Lescott.

Playmaker David Silva and new signing Jack Rodwell dropped to the bench and Gael Clichy missed out as James Milner, Nigel de Jong and Aleksandar Kolarov came in.

Liverpool handed a first league start to 17-year-old striker Raheem Sterling in a side which also included Luis Suarez and Fabio Borini. Sebastian Coates took the place of suspended defender Daniel Agger.

Liverpool: Reina, Kelly, Skrtel, Coates, Johnson, Lucas, Allen, Borini, Gerrard, Sterling, Suarez.

Subs: Jones, Jose Enrique, Carroll, Henderson, Downing, Carragher, Shelvey.

Man City: Hart, Zabaleta, Kompany, Toure, Kolarov, Toure, De Jong, Milner, Tevez, Nasri, Balotelli.

Subs: Pantilimon, Lescott, Dzeko, Savic, Rodwell, Silva, Razak.

Referee: Andre Marriner (W Midlands)