Intro:

English Premier League champions Manchester City play host to Liverpool at Eastlands on Monday (August 25) in a meeting of last season's top two sides.

Script:

SOUNDBITE (English): Manuel Pellegrini, Manchester City manager

"It is so difficult to say just in one game, but I think that maybe they (Liverpool) are missing ... they always will miss Luis Suarez because he is a very important player. But also I think that they brought a lot of important new players, that they continue being a very strong squad."

SOUNDBITE (English): Manuel Pellegrini, Manchester City manager

"I always say to the players these games are games of six points - especially when you play at home - which is the most important squads of the Premier League, as Liverpool or Chelsea or Arsenal - are matches of six points. So it is important for us because we are just starting the season and maybe we don't have our whole squad in the best fitness moment. But I think that this week, we worked very hard and very well. So I hope that we can do a very good game and win the three points."

SOUNDBITE (English): Manuel Pellegrini, Manchester City manager

"I think that we always have to be better. You always have to improve every season. It does not matter what happened in the last season, it does not matter what happened with the other squads or the other teams. I think that here in the Premier League, you always have four or five strong teams that can win the title. So if we want to continue winning titles, of course we must improve."