An uneventful first half saw Liverpool edge possession but both sides struggle to create any clear cut chances.
Whilst the home side looked comfortable knocking the ball around they were struggling to play with anything like the passion or tempo of their midweek game against Chelsea and chances were few and far between.
Indeed it wasn’t until midway through the first half that the first chance arrived, Ryan Babel heading over Dirk Kuyt’s cross. Torres and Gerrard followed that up with shots but neither of them troubled the City goalkeeper Joe Hart.
City meanwhile didn’t trouble Reina’s goal at all in a disappointing first half from the visitors and despite some fine support from their fans. Petrov and Elano were looking the most likely but they couldn’t link successfully with Benjani and Liverpool looked comfortable at the back.
The best moment of a fairly dire first half arrived just after the hour mark when Hart was finally called into action and responded marvellously.
The ball fell to Steven Gerrard on the edge of the box and the Liverpool skipper hit a great shot which looked destined for the bottom corner. However Hart was on hand to tip the ball away at full stretch at the last second. A great effort met by an equally good save and the only moment of real quality in a poor first half.
The second half started more promisingly with Gerrard releasing Torres for a good run and shot within minutes of the second half whilst at the other end a wonderful free kick from Elano cannoned off the post and away to safety.
The goal when it finally did come had more than an air of inevitability about it and once again it was that man Fernando Torres who did the damage for the home side. A dreadful error by Michael Ball in his own half saw City concede possession. Torres picked up the ball and raced past Dunne before slotting a fine finish past Joe Hart.
The goal perked Liverpool up and within minutes they had almost doubled their lead. A great volley from Kuyt was well saved by Hart and although he spilled the shot he managed to recover well to foil a Lucas overhead kick.
The home side began to dominate with chances coming thick and fast. Kuyt should have scored but put a header against the bar after a great cross from Hypia and then was allowed another chance from a corner but his free header went straight at the goalkeeper.
Ryan Babel was the next culprit. Some great work from Torres saw him once again beat Richard Dunne on the by line before putting a great cross in for Babel who was only a few yards out. Yet somehow the Dutchman managed to blaze the ball over from close range when it seemed easier to score.
Eriksson responded by throwing on former Liverpool man Hamann in an attempt to stem the tide as the game had become one way traffic. City were offering virtually nothing as an attacking force and couldn’t seem to shake off the end of season lethargy that has descended on their season.
Indeed the Manchester City fans had to wait until the 80th minute for their side’s first shot on target in the second half. A well struck Benjani free kick which was saved comfortably by Reina.
Despite Liverpool’s dominance their narrow lead left them vulnerable until the final whistle but City simply couldn’t fashion a chance to make them pay and in the end Torres’ strike was enough to give the home side all three points.
GOAL: 1-0 Liverpool (Torres, 58)
Liverpool: Reina, Finnan, Insua, Carragher, Hyypia, Lucas (Alonso, 75), Mascherano, Babel (Benayoun, 69), Kuyt, Gerrard (Voronin, 78), Torres.
Manchester City: Hart, Jihai, Dunne, Corluka, Ball, Johnson, Ireland, Petrov (Castillo, 68), Vassell (Garrido, 82), Elano (Hamann, 68), Benjani.
Referee: Mark Halsey
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