GARETH BARRY has described Manchester City’s 3-0 defeat at Liverpool on Monday night as their worst performance of the season but believes there will be no lingering hangover in Saturday’s FA Cup semi-final against Manchester United at Wembley.

City’s prospects of a top-four finish are, for the second successive season, under threat from Tottenham Hotspur after the Anfield mauling left them three points clear of Harry Redknapp’s team having played one game more.

City manager Roberto Mancini took full responsibility for the defeat afterwards, citing his preparation and tactics as instrumental factors, but Barry said it was a collective failure that produced City’s joint-worst defeat of the campaign.

“It was definitely our worst performance of the season,” Barry said.

“It’s difficult to put your finger on anything in particular. I’m not sure we can blame Saturday too much. Obviously it’s a massive game but this was, too, for our league position.”

In contrast to the meagre contributions from the City strikers Edin Dzeko and Mario Balotelli, who was withdrawn in the 83rd minute having replaced the injured Carlos Tevez, the Liverpool forward line of Andy Carroll and Luis Suarez excelled at Anfield.

“Liverpool’s front two were probably the difference between the two teams,” Barry said. “Their movement caused us a lot of problems. They pinned us back and created a lot of chances.”

The England international added: “At times like this you just have to bounce back. We need to concentrate on ourselves now and come back from this. It should be easy to pick ourselves up because it’s such a massive game for the club.

“It’s a semi-final at Wembley. If you can’t get yourself up for that, then you shouldn’t be in the game. So the fact it’s that sort of game coming up should maybe help us rather than hinder us.”

* Guardian Service