VINCENT KOMPANY EXCLUSIVE: Manchester City's captain discusses the title race, facing Daniel Sturridge and more

After Manuel Pellegrini’s Manchester City opened the defence of their Premier League crown with an impressive victory over Newcastle United last Sunday, there is a deserved sense of eminence surrounding 2013/14’s champions.

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City have since had to wait more than a week for their next fixture, Monday night’s mouth-watering visit of a Luis Suarez-less Liverpool side - who they beat to the title last season by two points, but the manner of their win at St James’ Park reminded everyone they were back and better than ever.

Captain Vincent Kompany is the perfect example of City’s determination and, having joined many of his fellow team-mates in signing a new contract over the past couple of months, the centre-back is hugely ambitious for the rest of the campaign and beyond. 

So, when Sky Sports was offered the opportunity to exclusively put some questions to Kompany in the build-up to the showdown with Liverpool, the Belgian did not disappoint in tackling this season’s title race, taking on former City man Daniel Sturridge, legacy ambitions and much more.

AFTER FINISHING AS RUNNERS-UP BEHIND MANCHESTER CITY LAST SEASON, WILL BRENDAN RODGERS' LIVERPOOL AGAIN BE YOUR CLOSEST TITLE RIVALS? 

“It is so hard to say. I look at what teams do in the transfer window and although they have lost a very important player, I do think Liverpool are more stable than they have ever been, in my time in England, anyway. 

“I do not look at Liverpool as a team who have a question mark over them but Liverpool are now a team who are a title contender and that has to be accepted in that way and those games are vital to the Premier League season. 

“We are getting a title contender at the Etihad Stadium on Monday and we will have to approach the game in that way. But that does not mean we will change our philosophy; we will attack and play to our strengths.”

WILL LIVERPOOL BE LESS OF A THREAT ON MONDAY NIGHT NOW THEY HAVE LOST LUIS SUAREZ?

“Suarez is a world-class striker and he is almost irreplaceable. However, Liverpool have strengthened in other areas and they still have one of the best strikers in the Premier League and in the world in Daniel Sturridge, who is still improving every season. 

“We certainly will not be viewing them as any less of a threat from last season. If anything, we will be expecting an even tougher game and we have to make sure we are at our very best to get all three points.”

You see players who have won a lot of trophies for the club, players who have been very successful for the club, stating they see their future with City

WHAT IS IT LIKE TO PLAY AGAINST YOUR FORMER TEAM-MATE, DANIEL STURRIDGE? HOW DIFFICULT IS HE TO DEFEND AGAINST?

“He was a City player, obviously, so I played with him while he was at the club and against him at Chelsea, Bolton and now Liverpool. All the way through he has always shown great talent and great ability. 

“Outside the games against us, he is someone I have always wished the best for because he is a great person and a great player. He is hard to play against but, at the same time, I enjoy playing against the top strikers in the world and I consider him in that bracket.”

HOW IMPORTANT IS IT FOR CITY TO DEFEND THE PREMIER LEAGUE TITLE? WHAT WOULD IT MEAN FOR CITY AS A CLUB IF YOU WON BACK-TO-BACK TITLES?

“It is important because we are looking to build a team that can compete in all competitions and continue to improve every year. Winning the title again would be another building block for the future.