City and Liverpool start new season with wins

Sergio Aguero came off the bench to make sure of a winning start for defending Barclays Premier League champions Manchester City as they won 2-0 at Newcastle.

City were leading 1-0 when the Argentina international struck in stoppage time to end the home side's hopes.

David Silva had fired the visitors into a 38th-minute lead, making the most of Edin Dzeko's clever back-heel, and Manuel Pellegrini's men will feel they were good value for the points after creating the better chances, although the result remained in doubt until Aguero struck.

Their movement and passing were characteristically impressive - their finishing less so - although Newcastle were unable to work City goalkeeper Joe Hart to any real extent despite enjoying their fair share of possession in front of a crowd of 50,816 at St James' Park.

Liverpool opened their campaign with a 2-1 win over Southampton at Anfield thanks to goals from Raheem Sterling and Daniel Sturridge.

Sterling latched on to a defence-splitting pass from Jordan Henderson midway through the first half as he got his season off to a dream start with a composed finish beyond debutant goalkeeper Fraser Forster.

Ronald Koeman's men did threaten with James Ward-Prowse and Morgan Schneiderlin forcing saves out of Simon Mignolet, but it was Nathaniel Clyne who pulled them level with an emphatic finish just after half-time.

Southampton looked the more likely side to take all three points for the majority of the second half but Sturridge ensured Liverpool got off to a winning start with a close-range finish on 79 minutes.