UK Back Pages: City Crush Liverpool, Balotelli Arrives, Di Maria Deal Imminent

Manchester City made an early statement of Premier League title defense with a 3-1 defeat of Liverpool at the Etihad on Monday night. 

The day was supposed to be Liverpool's, as they had confirmed the capture of mercurial Italian Mario Balotelli earlier in the day. 

City's triumph stole the headlines, but Balotelli's arrival was hailed, and reports swirled that Manchester United's deal for Angel Di Maria could be completed anytime. 

And if you like puns on Stevan Jovetic's last name, Tuesday's back pages will be right up your alley. 

Daily Express runs a piece with Balotelli's quotes about how he should have never left England and a piece on Di Maria's arrival in Manchester.

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Tuesday's Daily Express back page - "City show champion pedigree" #tomorrowspaperstoday #bbcpapers #mcfc pic.twitter.com/Xq0SxyXakR

— Nick Sutton (@suttonnick) August 25, 2014"

The Star reports that the deal for Di Maria has been completed. 

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Tuesday's Daily Star back page - "Just the Jov" #tomorrowspaperstoday #bbcpapers #mcfc pic.twitter.com/tZ6PfuMuaG

— Nick Sutton (@suttonnick) August 25, 2014"

The Mirror runs City as its main package but also has an image of Di Maria spotted in a vehicle in Manchester. 

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Tuesday's Daily Mirror back page - "All you need is Jov" #tomorrowspaperstoday #bbcpapers #mcfc pic.twitter.com/4C0wkx1l4j

— Nick Sutton (@suttonnick) August 25, 2014"

The Sun simply focuses on Manchester City's demolition of their title rivals.

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Tuesday's Sun back page - "By Jove" #tomorrowspaperstoday #bbcpapers #mcfc pic.twitter.com/36gwd0ULKk

— Nick Sutton (@suttonnick) August 25, 2014"