Normal service was resumed for 10-man Manchester
City as they once again put daylight between themselves
and rivals Manchester United at the top of the Premier
League table with victory over Liverpool at the Etihad
Stadium.
• Jolly: City sink toothless Reds
After just one point and no goals from two matches,
they were given an easy ride on their way to opening
up a three-point cushion over their neighbours, who
will try to reduce the gap again at Newcastle tomorrow.
Despite their recent wobble Roberto Mancini's side
are still a formidable force, especially at home, and
they extended their 100% home league record this season
to 10 matches and made it 55 points out of a possible
57 in at the Etihad Stadium in the last year and three
days.
It was only the second time this season Liverpool had
conceded more than one in a league match - and their
worst result since losing 4-0 at Tottenham in September
- but it could easily have been more.
Sergio Aguero and Yaya Toure did the damage in the
first half after benefiting from defensive lapses and
even after Gareth Barry was sent off, City added a third
with James Milner's penalty.
Mancini's side were fortunate to escape from Anfield
with a 1-1 draw in November but this encounter was not
even close as they recorded only their second win in
14 matches against the Merseysiders.
Prior to kick-off Liverpool confirmed they would not
be appealing Luis Suarez's eight-match suspension for
racially abusing Manchester United defender Patrice
Evra.
If this is what life is like without the Uruguay international
then the Reds could be in for a difficult six weeks,
although the quality of opposition will rarely be matched.
In a battle between the league's top scorers and the
meanest defence, something had to give but few would
have predicted it would be the usually reliable Jose
Reina.
Having already denied Edin Dzeko at the foot of his
right-hand post, the Spain international made a complete
hash of judging Aguero's 25-yard dipping shot and the
ball flew underneath his body.
That was in sharp contrast to counterpart Joe Hart's
reactions in denying Stewart Downing moments earlier
when his England team-mate threatened to score having
been played in by Jordan Henderson.
The goal had a more positive effect on Liverpool, who
enjoyed their best spell of possession, than it did
City but Reina was almost exposed again when Dzeko's
shot deflected off Glen Johnson but crept just wide
of the post with the goalkeeper completely wrong-footed.
While Liverpool were creating half-chances, with Hart
pushing away Charlie Adam's low free-kick, City were
more threatening thanks to the prompting of David Silva
and Martin Skrtel was lucky to escape conceding a penalty
when the ball bounced up on to 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 was
left helpless by Toure's powerful header off the underside
of the crossbar from Silva's corner in the 34th minute.
Kompany showed his value at the other end of the pitch
just before the interval by blocking Dirk Kuyt's close-range
shot from Andy Carroll's knockdown.
In the technical area Reds boss Kenny Dalglish, hood
up on his coat, gave the impression of a man trying
to remain anonymous. Unfortunately for him most of his
team had been equally nondescript in the first half.
Ten minutes into the second half Adam was replaced
by Gerrard, who had been the catalyst for victory over
Newcastle on Friday, and former City striker Craig Bellamy
came on for Kuyt.
The substitutions produced the required lift but with
City content to hold their lead and hit them on the
break it remained a long way back for the Reds.
Liverpool appeared to have gained the momentum when
Barry, having been booked late in the first half, was
sent off for a second caution after blocking Daniel
Agger.
But seconds later the result was wrapped up when they
conceded possession inside City's half and Skrtel fouled
Toure on the breakaway to allow Milner to make it 3-0
from the spot.
The hosts made their numerical disadvantage imperceptible
and almost added a fourth when substitute Adam Johnson's
shot beat Reina but rebounded off the post. Gerrard
responded with a long-range drive and substitute Maxi
Rodriguez from much closer in 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.
|
