Tune in at 12:30 PM ET as Man City takes on QPR. Dan Frankel will be liveblogging for your enjoyment.
Thanks for joining me today as QPR travel to Etihad Stadium to take on Premier League Champions Manchester City. Please feel free to send in your comments and questions.
This is the first matchup between the two clubs since Sergio Aguero’s famous goal in injury time on the last day of the 2010/2011 season, to beat QPR 3-2 and secure City the EPL title for the first time in 44 years. Despite the loss to City, QPR were spared relegation as Bolton slumped to a 2-2 draw away to Stoke City.
City comes into the game today having conceded 2 goals in each of their first two games and trailing 2-1 in each match. Despite the defensive disorganization and lack of early game concentration, they have managed to remain unbeaten with a 3-2 victory over Southampton and a 2-2 draw against Liverpool. Mancini’s side will look to get back to playing sharp defensively after conceding a league low 29 goals last year.
QPR enter Etihad stadium today after a much more positive result in their second game against Norwich City (1-1) compared to their opening fixture against Swansea in which they were embarrassed 5-0.
Transfer deadline was fairly lively for both squads yesterday as both clubs made some changes.
After summer signings midfielder Park Ji-Sung from Man United and forward David Hoilet from Blackburn, QPR added goalkeeper Julio Cesar from Inter Milan and midfielder Esteban Granero from Real Madrid right before the transfer window closed yesterday. QPR was also able to finally completely the signing of Stephane Mbia from Marseille, with Joey Barton moving in the opposite direction on a season-long loan.
After a very quiet summer, City was able to bring in right back Maicon from Inter Milan, winger Scott Sinclair from Swansea, midfielder Javi Garcia from Benfica and defender Matija Nastasic from Fiorentina. Mancini sold holding midfielder Nigel de Jong to AC Milan, Stefan Savic goes to Fiorentina and striker Roque Santa Cruz goes to Malaga on a season-long loan.
QPR should have their hands full today with the reigning champions, especially considering City have won 28 and lost none of their last 30 Premier League games at the Etihad Stadium and QPR finished with a league-low 11 points away from Loftus Road last season.
Manchester City Starting 11: (4-2-3-1) Hart, Zabaleta, Kompany, Lescott, Kolarov, Yaya, Rodwell, Silva, Nasri, Tevez, Dzeko.
Subs: Pantilimon, Clichy, Kolo, Milner, Sinclair, Razak, Balotelli.
QPR Starting 11: (4-4-2) Green; Bosingwa, Nelsen, Ferdinand, Fabio; SWP, Granero, Faurlin, Park; Zamora, Johnson.
Subs: Murphy, Onuoha, Dyer, Cisse, Hoilett, Derry, Mackie.
We are just a few minutes away from kick-off. City are in their familiar blue, QPR in red.
Disappointed to see Hoilett dropped to the bench. Enjoy watching his pace and skill and I am still holding on to some hope that he plays for Canada in the future.
Can’t wait to watch Granero with QPR. He could really shine in the EPL now that he has the chance to play consistent first-team football. There was just simply too many world-class midfields at Madrid for Mourinho to find consistent playing time for Granero. Playing time shouldn’t be an issue with QPR now.
City with early possession. Silva hits an errant ball over everyone into the hands of Green.
Granero's first touch with QPR is poor. Turnover.
Dzeko wins a corner for City. Gets the ball on the left and swing in a cross that is blocked.
Corner is too close to Green and punched away. City back in possession.
2' - City with completely control so far. Have not given up the ball .
3' - Zabaleta with a good surgin run down the right, plays in a good whipped cross. Goes through everyone and out for a QPR throw.
QPR seem content so far to sit back and defend in their own half.
4' - Another corner won for City. Ball over the top for Tevez. cleared out by Ferdinand.
4' - Off of the ensuing corner ,Dzeko rises above everyone at the top of the 6 yard box but his header is glanced wide of the far post.
5' - City back in possession and moving it around the back calmly.
6' - Rodwell coming back deep and receiving the ball for City. Starting the attack.
7' - City continue to play the ball around the back. No penetration yet.
7' - Zabeleta appeals for a hand ball inside the box. Ref doesn't want anything to do with it.
8' - QPR hasn't maintained possession for more than a few seconds so far.
9' - Silva with a corner, finds Yaya's head at the far post, header goes harmlessly into Green's arms
10' - Yaya and Rodwell have seen a lot of the ball so far.
Camera shows Mourniho in the stands. Puzzling why he would be there.
11' - Zabelata does well to break up the first QPR attack.
12' - Tevez does well to turn and play in Nasri on the left. Nasri whipps in a good cross, QPR hits it out and concedes a corner
12' - Off of the corner, Dzeko agains gets his head on it, Fabio slides on the goal line and hits it out!
QPR new signing Granero I do not think has touched the ball more then once or twice.
14' - Rodwell goes in hard for a tackle hits it out for a QPR corner. Corner comes to nothing.
14' - City again with possession around the back. QPR sitting deep not opening up to give any holes away.
15' - Another corner won for City. Ball comes back to Yaya, shot goes off of Fabio and out.
GOAL CITY! Yaya with the goal.
16' - Off of the corner, tevez shot gets blocked and the ball falls to Toure who side volley has too much power for Green to handle and it finds the back of the net
