Liverpool 1 Man City 0:  Steven Gerrard single-handedly broke the defiance of a battling Manchester City in Liverpool's narrow Anfield victory today.

City gave Liverpool plenty of trouble during a close, competitive Premiership match. But it was Gerrard, with a blistering long-range drive, who produced the breakthrough and extended the Reds' unbeaten home league record to 23 matches - stretching back to October 2005.

City hardly looked like a side who have lost 16 of their last 19 away league games and are still without a victory on their Premiership travels this term.

If it had not been for Gerrard's driving inspiration from midfield - despite Joey Barton's desire to take him on at every turn - City may well have got something from the match.

But Gerrard's value to Liverpool is immense. He scored a tremendous goal in midweek to help secure top spot in their Champions League group - and was on hand to settle this contest when frustration was beginning to envelop Anfield.

Rafael Benitez deployed three centre-backs, Steve Finnan and John Arne Riise wide on the flanks - allowing Sami Hyypia to return in defence.

Manchester City brought in Nedum Onuoha for his first senior start of the season, with Georgios Samaras dropping to the bench alongside former Liverpool star Dietmar Hamann.

City defended with resilience and restricted Liverpool to only a few genuine chances. Peter Crouch wasted one opening after taking too much time and too many touches before lifting a shot over Nicky Weaver's bar, having been set up by Dirk Kuyt.

City were neat and quick on the break and responded when Claudio Reyna sent a long ball for Hatem Trabelsi down the right - but as he reached the area, he rushed his effort and put the ball into the Kop.

The visitors went closer when Barton put Richards in on the right, his pass inside finding Bernardo Corradi who shot wide across goal after a clever drag-back gave him the space for a shot on the edge of the box.

Liverpool should have taken the lead when Hyypia's 60-yard cross-field pass dropped into the box for Luis Garcia, who did the hard part by producing perfect control from a difficult angle but then managed to hit the side-netting from six yards.

The breakthrough came on 67 minutes when Kuyt robbed Distin, and Gerrard surged on to the ball and blasted it past Weaver from 20 yards.