Rodgers positive of claiming three points as Liverpool travel to face Man City

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers is confident his side can beat Manchester City when the two heavyweights lock horns in the English Premier League's highly-anticipated Monday encounter at the City of Manchester Stadium.

Liverpool last season came painstakingly close to laying their fingers on the title after brushing aside opponents Arsenal, Tottenham, Everton, and Manchester United over the course of the 38 games.

However, a streak of unfortunate results towards the end of the 2013-14 season, including that infamous Steven Gerrard slip in the Reds' 2-0 Anfield loss to Chelsea, saw the Merseyside club lose out to Manuel Pellegrini's side, who won the title by a mere two point gap.

But after a summer of rebuilding, signing eight new players in this transfer window, and with Mario Balotelli set to arrive for £16m, Rodgers remains hopeful over his squad's capabilities this season.

"There is no doubt we are stronger,’ Rodgers argued. "The competition in the squad is much greater and hopefully that will drive us on. Our squad is stronger but you show that on the field.

Brendan Rodgers holds confidence in his side, ahead of their mouthwatering Monday encounter with Man City

Liverpool kicked off their season with a win, claiming a narrow 2-1 home victory over Southampton in the EPL's opening week

"We have had good games against them and the last game (at Anfield, which Liverpool won 3-2) in April was fantastic. We’ve gone there and played really well the last couple of years but we want to come back with a better result."   

‘Now I am happy with the team I send out each week, with the group of players I have, knowing the principles of the team, the work, the ethic, the mentality is there.

‘We are certainly in a much better place two years on. It feels like my team, absolutely, and the club itself has improved."

Balotelli is close to joining the Merseyside club from Serie A giants AC Milan for a bargain £16m fee

Rodgers also revealed that the Monday game could see a debut for newly-signed Spanish left-back Alberto Morena, who arrived at Anfield from La Liga side Sevilla for £12m.

"At 22, he's hungry to succeed," the Liverpool boss added. "He has got improvements to make but he's one of the players we've brought in this summer who is ready to play straight away."

£12m Spanish left-back Alberto Moreno is "ready to play straight away", claims Rodgers