Exciting revenge as Liverpool dent a huge blow to City’s title challenge

Liverpool avenged their Capital One Cup final defeat with an emphatic 3-0 victory to put a huge hole in Manchester City’s title aspirations.

A replay of their Wembley encounter three days ago produced a completely different game and result, with goals inside the first hour from Adam Lallana, James Milner and Roberto Firmino earning the home side a comfortable win.

It inflicted City’s third successive Premier League defeat, a run they had not experienced for seven years — and more significantly left them trailing leaders Leicester by 10 points, with a match in hand.

Worrying for Manuel Pellegrini as he enters his final three months in charge, it left fourth-placed City looking over their shoulder with Manchester United and West Ham now breathing down their necks.

City, without injured captain Yaya Toure and with 19-goal striker Sergio Aguero given little space to operate were a pale imitation of the side which has so often lit up the Premier League.

For Liverpool, however, this was a performance which highlighted all of their characteristic inconsistency as once they got into their stride they cut through City with apparent ease.

City, who for a side of their quality have incredibly won just once in 25 league visits to Anfield, barely put up a fight and that will be a concern for Pellegrini as the title race enters its final 10 matches.