Manchester City 3 Liverpool 0:Normal service was resumed for 10-man Manchester City as they once again put daylight between themselves and rivals Manchester United at the top of the Premier League table with victory over Liverpool at the Etihad Stadium.

After just one point and no goals from two matches, they were given an easy ride on their way to opening up a three-point cushion over their neighbours, who will try to reduce the gap again at Newcastle tomorrow.

Despite their recent wobble Roberto Mancini’s side are still a formidable force, especially at home, and they extended their 100 per cent home league record this season to 10 matches and made it 55 points out of a possible 57 in at the Etihad Stadium in the last year and three days.

It was only the second time this season Liverpool had conceded more than one in a league match — and their worst result since losing 4-0 at Tottenham in September — but it could easily have been more.

Sergio Aguero and Yaya Toure did the damage in the first half after benefiting from defensive lapses and even after Gareth Barry was sent off, City added a third with James Milner’s penalty.