Liverpool improved their slim hopes of qualifying for Europe next season when they dominated Manchester City from start to finish at Anfield last night to win 3-0 on the back of two goals from Andy Carroll and one from Dirk Kuyt. They were club record Carroll’s first goals for the club in any competition and the powerful centre forward was obviously delighted to have opened his accounts in front of the Kop. The crowd chanted his name as he put the Anfield giants in front after only 12 minutes with a powerful shot from outside the box that whistled past the flailing arm of City’s England number one Joe Hart.

It was breathtaking stuff from Kenny Dalglish’s men as they outplayed City from the beginning and on 33 minutes, they doubled their lead. After a host of chances as City tried desperately to clear their box, the ball finally fell to Kuyt off a deflection from a Carroll shot and the Dutchman arrowed it accurately into the far bottom corner of Hart’s goal.

More woe was to fall on City after going two goals down and seeing their captain and talismanic goalscorer Carlos Tevez hobbling off with a hamstring injury – the Argentinian will now miss the club’s FA Cup semi final this weekend against Manchester United – when Carroll scored his second just a minute later. The giant hitman surged into the box chasing a cross from Raul Meireles and Aleksandar Kolarov headed the ball off Carroll’s head which then looped over Hart into goal. It was Liverpool 3-0 Manchester City after a little over half an hour and the contest was effectively over.

Liverpool had plenty of other chances to score with Luis Suarez hitting the post early in the half before Carroll scored after a good fingertip save by Hart. The City keeper was a busy man throughout and had to reach with his fingers to stop a looping shot from Meireles in the second half from going in. Suarez then had a good half chance to rub salt into Roberto Mancini’s side when he found himself in space on the right but shot wide past the near post. Meireles also had another chance on 81 minutes when he was freed on the left but his shot was again well saved by Hart. Meanwhile, City only had one real chance of note when a late Yaya Toure thunderbolt was saved by Pepe Reina. Carroll then nearly had the final say in the game when his head on 87 minutes looped onto the crossbar of the goalmouth and out of play.

It was one of Liverpool’s best displays of the season as they attacked with a rare show of pace and penetration going forward while City had the worst possible preparation for their important weekend FA Cup date with their last opportunity for silverware this season. Watch the key match video highlights for Liverpool vs Manchester City below.

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