Manchester City 3 - 0 Liverpool: City surge clear again as Liverpool put to the sword

Reds goalkeeper Jose Reina allowed a soft Sergio Aguero shot go under him before slack marking at a corner allowed Yaya Toure to power home the second with his head.

Even when Gareth Barry was sent off for a second bookable offence with 18 minutes remaining City added a third from James Milner’s penalty after Yaya Toure had been brought down by Martin Skrtel.

Liverpool were without Luis Suarez for after accepting the striker’s eight-game ban prior to kick-off. In his absence, Andy Carroll continued up front while Dirk Kuyt replaced former City striker Craig Bellamy. Reds captain Steven Gerrard continued his comeback from an ankle injury from the bench. City made six changes following their defeat at Sunderland on New Year’s Day, with forward Mario Balotelli, who has had a slight ankle injury, again failing to make the squad. Aguero and Edin Dzeko led the forward line while playmaker David Silva returned.

City’s first sight of goal came in the seventh minute when Silva picked out Micah Richards’ run and his cross was laid off by Aguero into the path of Dzeko, only for the striker’s first touch to let him down.

Liverpool had a much better chance almost immediately when Jordan Henderson’s through-ball sent Stewart Downing racing through but his left-footed shot was well saved by Joe Hart.

Even early on both goalkeepers were proving to be key players and Reina diverted Dzeko’s neat turn and shot behind with his legs. However, it was a major misjudgment by the Spain international which led to City’s 10th-minute opener.

Kuyt lost possession from a throw-in on the right, Silva laid the ball off to Aguero and while his 25-yard shot dipped slightly Reina somehow dived over the top of it.

The goal was followed by a good spell of possession from Liverpool.

Martin Skrtel was lucky to escape conceding a penalty when the ball bounced up onto his raised arm as Aguero tried to go past him.

Reina went some way to redeeming himself with a sharp save from Vincent Kompany’s glancing header but he was left helpless by Toure’s powerful header off the underside of the crossbar from Silva’s corner in the 34th minute. It was only the second time this season Liverpool, who prior to kick-off had the meanest defence in the league, had conceded twice in a league match.

Ten minutes into the second half Adam was replaced by Gerrard, who had been the catalyst for victory over Newcastle on Friday, and Bellamy came on for Kuyt. The latter cut in from the left in the 65th minute to drive in a right-footed shot but it was well off target.

Liverpool had certainly been energised by the substitutions but with City content to hold their lead and hit them on the break it remained a long way back for the Reds.

Aguero made way for Adam Johnson with 18 minutes remaining but the momentum appeared to have swung Liverpool’s way when Gareth Barry, having been booked late in the first half, was sent off for a second caution after blocking Daniel Agger.

Seconds later, though, the result was wrapped up when the visitors conceded possession inside City’s half and Skrtel fouled Yaya Toure on the breakaway to allow James Milner to make it 3-0 from the penalty spot.

The hosts made their numerical disadvantage imperceptible and almost added a fourth when Johnson’s shot beat Reina but rebounded off the post.

Gerrard responded with a long-range drive and substitute Maxi Rodriguez from much closer but, like Liverpool’s performance, they failed to hit the mark.

Even with the match won, City’s concentration did not waver and Hart produced a point-blank block to deny Rodriguez.

The result highlighted the difference between title contenders and top-four hopefuls but worryingly for Liverpool they still have to face City twice more this month in the Carling Cup semi-final.

Manchester City: Hart, Richards, Kompany, Toure, Clichy, Yaya Toure, Barry, Aguero, Silva, Milner, Dzeko. Subs: Pantilimon, Zabaleta, Lescott, Johnson, Kolarov, Savic, De Jong.

Liverpool: Reina, Johnson, Agger, Skrtel, Jose Enrique, Adam, Kuyt, Henderson, Spearing, Downing, Carroll. Subs: Doni, Gerrard, Maxi, Carragher, Shelvey, Kelly, Bellamy