Title hopes hurt by Balotelli exit

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini, whose side are 7/2 with bet365 to retain the title, accepts that his squad will be weakened by the expected move of Mario Balotelli to AC Milan.

Mancini does not expect to be able to bring in a replacement for the Italy striker, leaving him with just Sergio Aguero, Carlos Tevez and Edin Dzeko as his main options in attack. "We only have two days and it is difficult to buy a good player in this moment," Mancini stated after a 0-0 draw at QPR left his side four points adrift of league leaders Manchester United, who host Southampton on Wednesday evening. "It is difficult because I lost one important striker and that could be important in the next 14 games." Next up for City is a tough test at home to Liverpool on Sunday, a fixture which the Citizens won 3-0 last season on their way to the Premier League title.

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