Premier League: Manchester City 3 Liverpool 0

Manchester City took a three-point lead at the top of the table with a comfortable win over Liverpool on Tuesday.

The hosts went ahead thanks to a Sergio Aguero strike, which went under Pepe Reina’s body after just 10 minutes and doubled their lead before half-time from a Vincent Kompany header.

A Gareth Barry red card, for a second bookable offence, gave the visitors hope of a comeback in the second half but James Milner’s penalty, after Yaya Toure had been tripped in the box by Martin Skrtel, ended those dreams.

The visitors carved the first chance of the match after seven minutes.

A wonderful exchange between Jose Enrique, Andy Carroll and Jordan Henderson saw Stewart Downing one-on-one with Joe Hart.

However, the winger has yet to score in his Anfield career and betrayed his lack of confidence in front of goal by toeing weakly at the City keeper.

There was a touch of fortune about City taking the lead after 10 minutes.

Dirk Kuyt needlessly lost the ball in his own half, only to see it pounced upon by Milner before David Silva released Aguero.

His shot had little venom, and should have been a comfortable take for Reina, but the Spaniard misjudged it and the ball went under his body.

The visitors went looking for an equaliser and a patient exchange gave Kuyt space on the right before his cross was met by Andy Carroll, who nodded over the bar from a difficult angle.

City, who have yet to drop a point in their nine fixtures at home in the league this season, felt aggrieved not to have been awarded a penalty as Silva’s pass allowed Aguero into the box and he appealed as Skrtel seemed to have handled in dispossessing the Argentine.

If the hosts felt some injustice at that decision, they went about setting it right in typical fashion.

A Reina save from Kompany’s header from a corner had gone some way to atoning for his error but the Spaniard could do little to prevent the next set piece.

Yaya Toure headed home in the 33rd minute from Silva’s free-kick after escaping Glen Johnson’s attention.

Liverpool had undoubtedly contributed to the contest up until that point but the second goal, so softly conceded, took the wind from their sails.

Manager Kenny Dalglish made his first change 10 minutes into the second half with Steven Gerrard replacing Adam and the ineffective Kuyt giving way to Craig Bellamy in a double substitution.

City were reduced to 10 men 20 minutes from time when Gareth Barry needlessly took down Daniel Agger in midfield for his second yellow card.

Dalglish’s joy was to prove only temporary as Yaya Toure broke up the field seconds later before being seemingly tripped by Skrtel in the box to win a penalty which Milner duly dispatched.