Christmas lights up for menacing City

Manchester City 2 Liverpool 1

The visitors, increasingly thrust forward as a credible challenger to City and Arsenal at the summit of the table, led deservedly through a Philippe Coutinho goal.

And in Luis Suarez they had not only the most dangerous performer on the field but, it seems increasingly likely, a rehabilitated character who will win player of the year accolades in the new year.

But the growing evidence, and home form which has yet to see City drop a point this season, suggests that Brendan Rodgers was completely accurate in his assertion last week that the title is Manuel Pellegrini’s to lose in 2014.

First, Rodgers will have to face an inevitable FA backlash after questioning the integrity of referee Lee Mason, who performed poorly but — more to the Liverpool manager’s disgust — is registered as being based in “Greater Manchester.”

“I was surprised we’re playing in Manchester with a referee from Greater Manchester,” said Rodgers. “I didn’t think we got any decision.

“Hopefully we don’t get a Greater Manchester referee again in a Liverpool-Man City game. I will ask the question (of the FA). I don’t think we would get someone from the Wirral refereeing a Liverpool-Man City game.”

Rodgers’ inference that Mason was biased is not only factually weak — Mason hails from Bolton which, while technically in Greater Manchester could never be considered part of the city — but will also land him with a disrepute charge and punishment.

However, it was hard to disagree with Rodgers on his key points. Liverpool repeatedly tested City at the back and found them wanting, such as an early instance when Suarez played Raheem Sterling clean through on goal only for his young teammate to be hauled back on an incorrect offside flag.

There was also a strong Suarez appeal for a free-kick on the edge of the area and a late penalty claim by the same player who had his shirt clearly held by Joleon Lescott, even if he tumbled theatrically in the process.

“I thought on the offside, the linesman wasn’t even on the same cut of grass,” said Rodgers. “If you are working at this level, you’ve got to get it right.

“There was another incident in the second half when Luis didn’t get a free-kick on the edge of the box when Joleon Lescott came right through him and you can argue there was a penalty at the end. Luis can’t jump because he is tugging at his shirt.”

In such context, it had come as no surprise when Liverpool opened the scoring after 24 minutes, thanks to a clever touch from Suarez who steered Jordan Henderson’s pass forward for Sterling. The England winger rounded goalkeeper Joe Hart before Coutinho took over and calmly planted the ball into the open goal.

This was a true test of City’s title pretensions and, within six minutes, they were level. Kompany was the source, the big defender rising powerfully to meet a David Silva corner with a precisely headed finish which covering Liverpool midfielder Joe Allen could only help into his own net.

Liverpool continued to impress but on the stroke of half-time, City were in front, thanks in part to an error from Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet who badly misjudged Negredo’s shot after the City forward chased through on the counter and appeared on the end of slick passing from Samir Nasri and Jesus Navas.

That was the culmination of a thrilling first half, opened when Navas almost headed City into the lead after just five minutes, meeting Aleksandar Kolarov’s far-post cross with a superb effort that scraped the upright.

But Liverpool, and Suarez in particular, are playing with the confidence and verve of a team that even their cautious manager Rodgers now admits may have a chance of winning the title in 2014 and even after going behind, they refused to cower.

They came closest to levelling in a 50th minute scramble when Hart saved Sterling’s through ball with his leg as Henderson almost connected. Kolarov gifted the rebound to Suarez who appeared to have turned it into the open net only for the ball to hit Henderson who was offside.

“It was very important,” said Pellegrini of the victory. “Because Liverpool was the best team in the Premier League and top of the table before the match. If they beat us, they would have taken a four point lead on top of us. It was very important, especially when we were losing 1-0, to show the personality to go for the game.”

MAN CITY (4-2-3-1): Hart 7; Zabaleta 6, Kompany 8, Lescott 6, Kolarov 5; Y Toure 7, Fernandinho 7; Navas 8, Silva 7 (Garcia 86), Nasri 8 (Milner 72, 7), Negredo 7 (Dzeko 76, 6).

LIVERPOOL (4-1-4-1): Mignolet 6; Johnson 7, Skrtel 7, Sakho 6, Cissokho 6; Lucas 7 (Aspas 81); Sterling 8, Allen 7, Henderson 7, Coutinho 8 (Moses 68, 6); Suarez 9.

Referee: Lee Mason.