Manchester City lead 2-0 at half time against Liverpool in the Premiership game at the City of Manchester Stadium on Sunday.

The Reds came into this game with unbeaten record this season, and after a confident start, went behind in the 21st minute as Stephen Ireland found the target. Mark Hughes’ side doubled their lead in the 41st minute through Javier Garrido.

It was Rafa Benitez’s side who had the early attacks going with Joe Hart called to make a save from Albert Riera.

At the other end, Robinho’s attempt proved too comfortable for Pepe Reina to be troubled before Dirk Kuyt skied his shot from 10 yards to waste another good chance for the Merseysiders.

The home side, however, took their chance and went into the lead when Ireland fired a sharp volley into the net after poor defending by Alvaro Arbeloa off Shaun Wright-Phillips’ cross. Full-back Garrido curled a 22-yard freekick into the top corner to double the advantage for the Eastlands club.

Teams:

Man City: Hart, Zabaleta, Dunne, Richards, Garrido, Kompany, Ireland, Elano, Wright-Phillips, Robinho, Jo.

Substitutes: Schmeichel, Ben-Haim, Petrov, Fernandes, Hamann, Evans, Sturridge.

Liverpool: Reina, Arbeloa, Carragher, Skrtel, Aurelio, Mascherano, Gerrard, Riera, Kuyt, Alonso, Torres.

Substitutes: Cavalieri, Dossena, Agger, Keane, Benayoun, Babel, Lucas.