By Stuart Condie (CP)
LONDON — Roberto Mancini has finally assembled the squad he wants at Manchester City and will put it into Premier League action for the first time against Liverpool on Monday.
Former Inter Milan coach Mancini guided City to fifth place last season with the squad he inherited but says the signings of James Milner and Mario Balotelli over the past week will be his last in the summer transfer window.
With Chelsea at Wigan and Manchester United at Fulham (Setanta Sports Canada, 11 a.m. ET) after winning starts, City could give a league debut to both Milner and Balotelli against visiting Liverpool (TSN, 3 p.m. ET). With four more high-profile new signings in his squad, Mancini will have few excuses if City does not win its first home game of the season.
"The last thing he said to me was, 'Be ready for the next game'" Milner said. "And then he said, 'Be ready to win the Premier League.'
"That's my ultimate aim. That's what I want to do and why I'm here."
City was mostly undone last season by dropping points in the first half of the campaign, so a strong start this time is crucial. City was dominated last weekend by Tottenham, the team that edged it to fourth place and the final Champions League qualifying berth, but escaped with a 0-0 draw.
Liverpool almost beat Arsenal before a last-minute own-goal by goalkeeper Pepe Reina handed the Gunners a 1-1 draw, but midfielder Joe Cole will be suspended after a red card on his debut, giving Mancini an opportunity to select a more attacking lineup.
With home advantage and without the dangerous Cole to mark, Mancini is unlikely to play three defensive midfielders as he did last weekend. Yaya Toure and Nigel de Jong could continue in central midfield but Milner could replace Gareth Barry.
"He is a good young player, who can play in every position in the middle and out wide," Mancini said.
New signings Aleksander Kolarov and Jerome Boateng will miss the match after picking up injuries against Spurs. Leftback Kolarov damaged ankle ligaments and could be out for six weeks, while central defender Boateng is likely to be on the sidelines for two weeks because of a deep cut on the inside of his knee.
But Mancini's biggest test could be off the field, as he tries to keep all of his highly paid stars happy.
Craig Bellamy has already left on loan after being told he will not be in City's 25-man Premier League squad and other big names are reportedly disaffected.
Goalkeeper Shay Given has been linked with Arsenal and Fulham after Mancini selected Joe Hart to face Tottenham and again for a midweek Europa League match, while Roque Santa Cruz and Robinho are also being linked with other clubs.
Arsenal hosts Blackpool (TSN, 10 a.m. ET) in a fixture that looks a lot trickier after the unheralded newcomer won its Premier League debut 4-0 at Wigan.
Arsenal will still be favourite to win despite the absence of midfielder Samir Nasri following minor knee surgery, but Blackpool showed it can pass the ball as well as many topflight sides.
Also Saturday, Birmingham hosts Blackburn, Everton hosts Wolverhampton, Stoke hosts Tottenham, West Bromwich Albion hosts Sunderland, West Ham hosts Bolton and Wigan hosts Chelsea.
After routing West Brom 6-0 in its opening match, Chelsea heads to a team it beat 8-0 on the final day of last season.
United has a tougher match Sunday after a 3-0 opening win over Newcastle on Monday. Fulham drew its opener 0-0 at Bolton and beat United 3-0 in last season's corresponding fixture.
Newcastle hosts Aston Villa in Sunday's other game.
Early season League Championship co-leaders Millwall face Leeds at Elland Road in Saturday's biggest second-tier match, while Queens Park Rangers hosts Scunthorpe and Nottingham Forest is at Reading.
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