Carling Cup Semi-Finals: Man City 0-1 Liverpool

Steven Gerrard scored from the penalty spot to help Liverpool to a 1-0 victory over Manchester City in the first leg of their Carling Cup semi-final. It was the second successive home defeat for City after Manchester United knocked them out of the FA Cup on Sunday.

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Liverpool were awarded an early penalty in the 13th minute after Daniel Agger was brought down by Stefan Savic. Gerrard promptly hit the back of the net from the spot kick and it was enough to give the Reds an advantage going into the second leg to be held in a fortnight. City keeper was forced to make a succession of saves in the first half as Liverpool put the City defence under constant pressure.

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City finally started to exert some influence over the game after the break. With Vincent Kompany suspended and Yaya Toure on international duty, the Blues lacked stability in the midfield and David Silva's skill was missed in the offens. Mari Balotelli also had a poor game, with Roberto Mancini substituting the striker before the half time whistle.

Kenny Dalglish's side were confident and dominating throughout the match though. Luis Suarez was missing from the line up, but this did not hold them back and they should have had added more goals to their total if it were not for Joe Hart's gallant performance in the City goal. His full length save of a deflected Stewart Downing volley was truly remarkable. City rightfully felt let down by the referee's decision in the closing stages to not even award a free kick for a terrible two-footed challenge by Glen Johnson on Joleon Lescott. Mancini claimed the tackle was deserving of a red card.

So City will have to go back to the drawing board if they wish to come out of the second leg victorious. The return leg at Anfield in two weeks time promises to be an exciting showdown.