Winning is all that matters to Liverpool midfielder James Milner after his side's scrappy opening victory.
Liverpool midfielder James Milner is happy for his team to continue winning ugly after an unconvincing start to the season.
Brendan Rodgers' men needed a stunning long-range strike from Philippe Coutinho to start their campaign with a 1-0 win at Stoke City on Sunday.
It was far from their most fluent display, but Milner said being able to leave the Britannia Stadium with three points was all that mattered.
"It is always about the results. If we played rubbish every game of the season and won every one of them then everybody would be happy with that," he said.
"Ultimately it is about getting that win whether it is a game where we can move the ball about or whether it is a game where it is a battle and we have to grind it out.
"You have to assess the situation and be able to adapt to those games and play in all these different formations and against different sides.
"A top team can adapt and win the games when things maybe aren't playing to your strengths."
Milner was full of praise for Coutinho after the Brazilian's 30-yard effort in the 86th minute gave Liverpool all three points.
The England international was on the receiving end of one of Coutinho's long-range strikes last season, when Manchester City suffered a 2-1 loss at Anfield on March 1.
"I think he is going to keep improving all the time. I saw him do that a few times last year, so it was nice to have him do that while I was on the field and on his side," Milner said.
"He has got that quality and we know we have quality all over the field."
Transfer window 'unfair' - Martinez
As reports around John Stones continue to swirl, Everton manager Roberto Martinez is unhappy the transfer window is still open.
Everton manager Roberto Martinez described the transfer window as "very unfair" as Chelsea's interest in John Stones persists.
Stones, 21, has been heavily linked to the Premier League champions throughout the close-season, but a £30million offer will reportedly be rejected.
Martinez is unhappy that the window is still open when the season has started, with transfers possible for English clubs until September 1.
"The window, when it is open and we have to prepare for official games, is very, very unfair. I don't think it is right," he told Sky Sports.
"I think we should have a period where we assemble our squad, and then once the first league game starts everyone is focused.
"I think we forget that footballers have a human side and it can really affect. Players like Stones and [Ross] Barkley have an incredible future and will attract interest from the outside."
The impressive Barkley scored during Everton's 2-2 draw with Watford on Saturday, and has also been linked with a move away.
Martinez talked up the England international and believes Barkley will become one of the best players in the Premier League.
"Ross is a phenomenal footballer, if you want to analyse him from a physical point of view, he's someone quite unique," the Spaniard said.
"When you bring in the technicality he has, the low balance, the symmetry he has, it's quite impressive.
"He’s taken a real learning curve from the last campaign, he's got a very important role, and he's someone that is a joy to work with.
"That personality and that maturity will make him one of the best players in the league, down to his personality."
Pellegrini leaves De Bruyne door open
Wolfsburg star Kevin De Bruyne is reportedly set to join Manchester City.
Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini refused to rule out the arrival of Wolfsburg midfielder Kevin De Bruyne.
De Bruyne is reportedly close to making the move to the Premier League, with City said to have made a formal bid in the region of €45million.
Pellegrini was quizzed about the 24-year-old Belgium international following City's 3-0 win over West Brom on Monday and said: "It is just rumours so it is not important for me to answer all different names that can come and go.
"We will see what happens from now until the end of August when the window closes.
"I think we can have a stronger squad because we are playing in four competitions. So if we can do it with a player that can improve our squad, we will try to do it."
West Brom 0 Manchester City 3: Two for Toure in dominant display
Manchester City picked up a 3-0 win at West Brom to kick off the Premier League season, with Yaya Toure and Vincent Kompany finding the net.
Yaya Toure scored twice as Manchester City began their bid to regain the Premier League title with a straightforward 3-0 win at West Brom.
Vincent Kompany netted the third for a City side that put in an assured performance at The Hawthorns as they look to atone for last season's meek surrender to Chelsea in the title race.
Manuel Pellegrini's men were in control from the off but there was an element of good fortune about Toure's opener – the ball taking a double deflection on its way past a flat-footed Boaz Myhill.
In contrast, his second was pure quality. The Ivory Coast international linked up with compatriot Wilfried Bony before guiding a superb effort beyond Myhill from the edge of the box.
Kompany wrapped up the win when he headed home from a corner after 59 minutes, sending City top of a fledgling Premier League table, which is exactly where they intend to be in 37 matches' time.
West Brom handed debuts to Rickie Lambert, James McClean and James Chester, but it was Manchester City's inclusion of Raheem Sterling that garnered most attention in the build-up.
The England international's arrival from Liverpool in an estimated £49million deal was the highest-profile move of the close-season, but it was long-serving Toure who had City in front after nine minutes.
Having received the ball from a Jesus Navas cutback, the Ivory Coast international scuffed an effort that fortuitously found its way in via deflections off David Silva and Craig Dawson.
It was no more than City deserved, with the visitors totally dominating possession in the early stages, and Toure doubled the advantage with a sweetly struck effort 15 minutes later.
Latching onto Bony's perfectly weighted lay-off, Toure emphatically curled into the top right-hand corner, past a helpless Myhill.
Another nick off Dawson saw a Bony shot drift wide shortly after the half-hour mark, before Sterling missed a golden opportunity to mark his debut with a goal – his effort saved after being sent through one-on-one with the former Wales goalkeeper.
West Brom, who announced the club-record signing of Salomon Rondon from Zenit earlier on Monday, barely threatened during a miserable first half from a home perspective and when Saido Berahino did eventually find the net just before the break, he was flagged offside.
Sterling again saw a tame effort kept out by Myhill early in the second half, while Lambert curled over a free-kick and Berahino squandered a great chance at the other end.
Victory was all but assured for City one minute short of the hour when Kompany escaped static home defending to turn Silva's corner beyond Myhill from a tight angle.
James Morrison headed straight at Joe Hart as the home side looked to restore some pride, but West Brom's race was run as City collected a welcome three points, particularly in the context of dropped points for Chelsea and Arsenal over the weekend.
Kompany: City motivated by doubters
Manchester City answered their doubters with a 3-0 Premier League win at West Brom, according to captain Vincent Kompany.
Vincent Kompany believes Manchester City showed what they are capable of in their season-opening 3-0 Premier League victory over West Brom on Monday.
The City captain netted his side's third at The Hawthorns after Yaya Toure had put the visitors in control with two first-half efforts.
And, with City's title bid having been written off by some in the build-up to the opening weekend, Kompany was happy to fire a warning signal to their Premier League rivals.
"I think, for us, we have something to prove," he told Sky Sports. "Last season was below what we are used to and, if you were to look at the training sessions we did - especially last week - it's a team that has great intent.
"Obviously there are a lot of favourite teams now - we're not part of it I've heard!
"It's something that gives us extra motivation. We came out here today knowing that we had a point to prove."
Asked whether he needed to answer his own critics after a disappointing campaign last term, Kompany added: "More than anyone else, I think. I've worked hard.
"Sometimes you get judged on how you finish a season. Until November I was having a good season, but it didn't matter in the end because we didn't win anything
"I think as a team we all have to improve this season, but for me I just want to get back to my best level and games like today are giving me the confidence.
"I'm extremely hungry for more silverware and extremely hungry for great performances."
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