We've got a treat coming up in Manchester tonight, as City host Liverpool in an early showdown of Premier League bug guns.

The spectre of Mario Balotelli will be looming over the Etihad, where he was such a colourful and controversial figure.

The Italian might be swapping blue for red, but the defending champions still have plenty of top players.

They also have an excellent manager in Manuel Pellegrini, who even at this very early stage of the season, has labelled this clash a ‘six pointer’.

Liverpool gave City a real run for their money last season.

And Pellegrini (inset) knows the importance of striking an early blow against one of their biggest rivals – particularly on home soil.

Liverpool, of course, are now without talisman Luis Suarez, who rattled 31 goals in 33 league games last time around.

He was a very important player for them, but they have brought in some impressive new faces.

We have first hand knowledge of two of them, Adam Lallana and Rickie Lambert both having played against Town for Southampton.

Brendan Rodgers has also raided St Mary’s for £20m Croatian defender Dejan Lovren.

There are others like Sevilla left-back Alberto Moreno, Leverkusen midfielder Emre Can and Benfica winger Lazar Markovic on board.

Rodgers can also call on exciting existing talents like Raheem Sterling, Daniel Sturridge and Brazilian midfielder Philippe Coutinho.

Both City and Liverpool kicked off with wins, and making it two on the trot would be a big thing for either side.