Steven Gerrard’s penalty handed Liverpool an important advantage in their League Cup semi-final with Manchester City as the visitors came away from Eastlands with a 1-0 first leg lead. Liverpool, who have won the League Cup competition a record seven times, are seeking their first trophy in six years and are now favourites to advance to the final against Championship opponents Crystal Palace or Cardiff.
Given the negative publicity Liverpool have endured over their handling of the Luis Suarez racism case, victory at a ground where they were beaten 3-0 by the Premier League leaders just eight days earlier could not have come at a better time. “It’s set up for a cracking (second leg) match at Anfield,” Gerrard told BBC. “There’s still 90 minutes to play and I’m sure it will be a cracker at Anfield. The advantage is ours but it’s still not over.” City manager Roberto Mancini insisted his side did not deserve to lose. “The first half we didn’t play well because after six months it can happen for the first time. “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,” the Italian added.
“We played poorly in the first half but the result is not right. The right result was a draw.” Liverpool made an electrifying start to the tie and, but for City goalkeeper Joe Hart, could have been in total command of the match. As it was, they had to settle for the single goal, scored by Gerrard from the spot after back-up centre-half Stefan Savic, only playing because of the absence of Kolo Toure on international duty and the suspension of Vincent Kompany, had clearly brought down Daniel Agger at a corner.
Gerrard struck low past England keeper Hart and into the left-hand corner in the 13th minute. That goal was the culmination of a spell of concerted pressure and, after four minutes, Hart saved with his legs from Andy Carroll. Gerrard then chanced his arm from 20 yards with a right-foot strike the diving Hart, once more, kept out brilliantly. And, moments before the penalty, a Gerrard corner picked out Stewart Downing, lurking on the edge of the area, for the winger to unleash a superbly-struck volley, Craig Bellamy steering the shot towards goal and Hart making a stunning reflex save. City’s controversial forward Mario Balotelli summed up the hosts unease, looking out of sorts throughout the first half, being dragged away from an altercation with Charlie Adam and, finally, being replaced by Mancini after 40 minutes without it being immediately apparent whether or not he was injured.
