Manchester City face their first away test as champions as they travel to Liverpool on Sunday.<br /><br />Roberto Mancini's side began the defence of their Barclays Premier League crown with a hard-fought 3-2 win over promoted Southampton last weekend.<br /><br />City needed to come from behind to ensure a winning start after conceding twice in the second half at the Etihad Stadium.<br /><br />It was far from the 4-0 stroll against Swansea with which City began last season and Mancini is not expecting things to get any easier at Anfield.<br /><br />"We always play a tough match in the second game," said the Italian, whose side held off Bolton 3-2 in their second outing last term. "Liverpool will be a very strong game."<br /><br />Liverpool caused City problems last term as the sides fought out a 1-1 league draw at Anfield before the Merseysiders beat Mancini's men in the League Cup semi-finals.<br /><br />The Reds have opened their campaign badly, crashing 3-0 at West Brom in new manager Brendan Rodgers' first league game in charge, but Mancini feels his own men must step up.<br /><br />"We played a bad game, we were not a team," he said of the Southampton match.<br /><br />"We were 10 players that tried to score. We showed our character but we didn't play as a team.<br /><br />"This could be normal in the first game but if we want to win, we have to play as a team."<br /><br />City will be without last season's top scorer Sergio Aguero, who suffered a knee injury early in the opening win but is not likely to be missing as long as first feared.<br /><br />In his absence fellow Argentinian Carlos Tevez, rejuvenated after last season's problems, is likely to continue to lead the line.<br /><br />Midfield talisman Yaya Toure is confident City can cope with the challenges facing them this season.<br /><br />The Ivory Coast international said: "The Premier league is not easy, it is going to be very tough this year.<br /><br />"But I have full confidence in my team-mates, we always fight and try to win games."
