Liverpool 3-0 Manchester City: Pellegrini's title hopes left in tatters

Posted Thursday, March 03, 2016 by Goal.com

Liverpool 3-0 Manchester City: Pellegrini's title hopes left in tatters
Adam Lallana scored after missing a penalty at Wembley, and James Milner and Roberto Firmino were also on target in an impressive victory for Jurgen Klopp's side at Anfield

Liverpool exacted revenge for their League Cup final defeat with an emphatic 3-0 victory over Manchester City, leaving Manuel Pellegrini's Premier League title hopes in tatters.
Adam Lallana opened the scoring, beating Joe Hart from distance with a soft low drive which the England No.1 failed to reach.

James Milner added a second against his old club before the interval, before Roberto Firmino continued to torment City, sending a side-footed effort past Hart after the interval from just inside the penalty area.

The defeat leaves Pellegrini's side in fourth place, ten points behind league leaders Leicester City with 11 games left to play.

The visitors' weekend spot-kick hero, goalkeeper Willy Caballero, was replaced by regular No.1 Hart as Pellegrini made three changes, while Klopp switched out five and handed a first start since May 2014 to long-term injury victim Jon Flanagan, but there was no Daniel Sturridge.

Fernandinho, who scored for City at the weekend, headed just wide from David Silva's early free-kick, while Firmino's long-range effort was straightforward for Hart in a sluggish opening 20 minutes.

Former Liverpool forward Raheem Sterling tried to spark the contest into life, but his looping 25-yard strike lacked accuracy as Simon Mignolet – making his 100th Premier League appearance – waved it wide.

Even the usually dangerous Sergio Aguero, who saw two jinking runs ended inside the box before he could get a shot away, was failing to make an impact.

But Lallana – who missed his penalty in London – showed the City striker the way in the 34th minute, collecting the ball 40 yards out before advancing towards goal and unleashing a low shot that skidded past Hart as the England goalkeeper dived to his left.

Hart was beaten again before the interval when ex-City midfielder Milner gathered Firmino's pass and darted in to toe-poke a finish into the bottom-right corner.

Aguero then saw a point-blank header forced off the line by Milner amid suspicions of handball as the hosts took a two-goal advantage into the break.

Liverpool won 4-1 at the Etihad Stadium in November and looked hungry for more in a second half that saw Wilfried Bony replace Sterling.

The third arrived when a mistake from Nicolas Otamendi ultimately led to Lallana playing in Firmino to prod the ball home.

City's frustration was evident, as Jesus Navas went into the referee's notebook after a tangle with the impressive Lallana.

But a more constructive response was not forthcoming, as the away side were left without a win at Anfield since 2003 and quite possibly out of the title race in Pellegrini's farewell season.