Gerrard seals Liverpool win from spot
Source: Agencies |
January 13, 2012, Friday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
MANCHESTER City suffered a third loss in four matches as Steven Gerrard earned Liverpool a 1-0 victory in the first leg of its League Cup semifinal at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday.
Captain Gerrard, who has just returned from a long layoff with a groin injury, clinically converted a 13th minute penalty to put seven-time winner Liverpool in the driving seat for the second leg at Anfield in a fortnight.
City, which was knocked out of the FA Cup by Manchester United on Sunday, improved after the break following a woeful first half but was still well short of the form that has propelled it to the top of the Premier League.
"The first half we didn't play well because after six months it can happen for the first time," City manager Roberto Mancini said.
"It is clear that without three or four players it's more difficult but in the end we didn't deserve to lose the game.
"We played poorly in the first half but the result is not right. The right result was a draw."
The winners of the semifinal will face either Crystal Palace or Cardiff City, both of the Championship (second division), in the Wembley final.
Palace also took a 1-0 lead to Wales for its second leg.
In the Premier League, Tottenham Hotspur continued its push for a first top flight league title since 1961 with a 2-0 win over Everton to put it level on points with second-placed champion Manchester United and three behind Manchester City.
Goals in either half from Aaron Lennon and Benoit Assou-Ekotto lifted the north London club to 45 points from 20 games, eight clear of fourth-placed Chelsea which is a point ahead of Tottenham rival Arsenal.
Everton stayed 11th on 24 points, eight points clear of 18th-placed Bolton Wanderers.
Captain Gerrard, who has just returned from a long layoff with a groin injury, clinically converted a 13th minute penalty to put seven-time winner Liverpool in the driving seat for the second leg at Anfield in a fortnight.
City, which was knocked out of the FA Cup by Manchester United on Sunday, improved after the break following a woeful first half but was still well short of the form that has propelled it to the top of the Premier League.
"The first half we didn't play well because after six months it can happen for the first time," City manager Roberto Mancini said.
"It is clear that without three or four players it's more difficult but in the end we didn't deserve to lose the game.
"We played poorly in the first half but the result is not right. The right result was a draw."
The winners of the semifinal will face either Crystal Palace or Cardiff City, both of the Championship (second division), in the Wembley final.
Palace also took a 1-0 lead to Wales for its second leg.
In the Premier League, Tottenham Hotspur continued its push for a first top flight league title since 1961 with a 2-0 win over Everton to put it level on points with second-placed champion Manchester United and three behind Manchester City.
Goals in either half from Aaron Lennon and Benoit Assou-Ekotto lifted the north London club to 45 points from 20 games, eight clear of fourth-placed Chelsea which is a point ahead of Tottenham rival Arsenal.
Everton stayed 11th on 24 points, eight points clear of 18th-placed Bolton Wanderers.
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