MAN CITY 2- 2LIVERPOOL

Liverpool 2 Manchester City 2

One of Roberto Mancini’s favourite current mantras is that champions need to improve if they are to stay ahead of the rest.

At the moment, though, the opposite is true of Manchester City. Two games into the defence of their Barclays Premier League title and the Italian’s team look a shadow of their true selves.

City more than played their part in a lively game at Anfield on Sunday afternoon. One thing last season’s championship has given them is belief. For the third league game running, City came from 2-1 down to earn something from the match.

Capitalise: Carlos Tevez popped up to score Man City's second equaliser

deserved.

Boom: Martin Skrtel opens the scoring for Liverpool

Roar: Skrtel enjoys a wild celebration

One would imagine they will improve. Players such as David Silva and Mario Balotelli look as though they are still finding their sharpness after post-Euro 2012 lay-offs. The same can be said of England midfielder James Milner.

Mancini, though, will hope that improvement arrives soon. Games against Stoke City and Arsenal are on the horizon, as is the Champions League, and City need to find a better stride.

On Sunday, they found themselves facing a Liverpool team still settling down under the guidance of a new manager, Brendan Rodgers. After last week’s defeat at West Bromwich Albion, Liverpool’s anxious supporters came hoping for an afternoon of reassurance — and, for a while, looked as though they might get it.

One of the most impressive things about Rodgers’ management is its confidence. He chose a 17-year-old, Raheem Sterling, on the left side and left three products of the Kenny Dalglish era —  Stewart Downing, Andy Carroll and Jordan Henderson — on the bench.

Back level: Yaya Toure levels from close range

Nice one: Yaya Toure is congratulated

In the centre of the field, meanwhile, young Joe Allen — bought by Rodgers from his old club Swansea — looked an assured and confident footballer. Allen looked comfortable in his surroundings, passed the ball rhythmically and, though his influence waned late on, was the most impressive player on the pitch.

With City so uncertain early on, there was opportunity for Liverpool to impose themselves. For a while they didn’t really take it. Fabio Borini volleyed a chance wide from a Sterling cross, while at the other end Carlos Tevez ran on to a Samir Nasri pass to roll a shot against a post.

Midway through the half,  however, Liverpool began to gather momentum. A Borini shot was charged down by Kolo Toure, while another from  Suarez cannoned away off  Vincent Kompany.

Then, 10 minutes before half-time, a goal. Steven Gerrard curled a corner in from the right and Martin Skrtel, leaving  Aleksandar Kolarov in his wake, thundered in from the edge of the penalty area to send a punishing header high into the net.

Precision: Luis Suarez curls home Liverpool's second