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It also bailed out a defence that Wenger admitted in his post-match press conference was “insecure” after the late withdrawal of first-choice centre-backs Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny due to injury.

Manuel Pellegrini’s side needed to make a statement of intent in their league opener and did so with the long-striding central midfielder Toure leaving the West Brom players floundering in his wake on numerous occasions with powerful runs and incisive passing.

But that scoreline was the real truth.

A similar situation two years prior had seen Manchester City fail to win any silverware and sack then manager Roberto Mancini before the conclusion of the Premier League season and less than a year after the club had won their first top division title since 1968.

The 32-year-old starred as he scored two first-half goals to help his side beat West Bromwich Albion 3-0, and manager Manuel Pellegrini later claimed that he is back to his best.

Adebayor, 31, has scored 18 goals in his 54 appearances for the club but often found himself out of favour at White Hart Lane during the various different regimes in North London in recent years.

After moving to Liverpool from Manchester City on a free transfer earlier in the summer, midfielder James Milner is confident that he’ll be at his best in a central role, and that his new side have what it takes to get back into the Champions League places.

“But until that happens he is an Aston Villa player and we are all very pleased about that”.

What is important to note is that Benteke can play football with the ball at his feet as well as being a threat in aerial duels, he also is quite a good dribbler.