This could be Liverpool's year of living dangerously. They seem to be approaching their football this season as a game of two halves, except that one half is their attack, the other their defence.

Their attack, spearheaded by Emile Heskey and Michael Owen, is irresistible, but their defence, charged with protecting a panicky goalkeeper Sander Westerveld, is all over the place.

Liverpool have already distinguished themselves by letting slip one three-goal lead, at Southampton. Against Manchester City on Saturday they tried a different permutation, scoring two, letting in two, scoring again and then being fortunate to see Alf-Inge Haaland's "goal" disallowed in the 85th minute after Westerveld dropped another cross.

Defences may be becoming more generous, but a team with title expectations can usually afford to let in only 40 or so goals in total. If Liverpool continue on their present rate, it will be up around the 60 mark.

Gerard Houllier, however, was sanguine. "It's the beginning of the league," he shrugged. "I know there are plenty of things we have to improve. But the good thing is that, even if we're not too good, we get points at the moment."

But at least he can rely on his attack to bail him out, Michael Owen taking just 11 minutes to continue his remarkable run of form with his sixth goal in five league games.

The German Dietmar Hamann gave England something to think about on the volley, but the game really picked up with the introduction of George Weah in the 57th minute.

First the Liberian pulled a goal back, then he put through Haaland who was tripped by Djimi Traore, Trevor Horlock converting the penalty. Hamann had to go to work again for Liverpool's third, but it was a nervous end to a match Liverpool should have wrapped up by the hour.

Joe Royle afterwards refused to attend the press conference, but he appeared on television to suggest that the Professional Footballers' Association "should name and shame the divers", a reference to a spat that had occurred when Heskey took a typical tumble.

Liverpool: Westerveld, Henchoz, Song, Babbel, Heskey, Owen (Meijer 87), Hamann, Gerrard (Ziege 70), Barmby, Carragher, Traore. Subs Not Used: Murphy, Arphexad, Diomede. Booked: Carragher, Heskey, Hamann. Goals: Owen 11, Hamann 56, 82.

Manchester City: Weaver, Wiekens, Horlock, Prior, Dickov, Haaland, Ritchie, Whitley, Wanchope, Howey, Kennedy (Weah 57). Subs Not Used: Wright, Grant, Wright-Phillips, Granville. Booked: Whitley, Howey, Dickov, Wanchope. Goals: Weah 67, Horlock 81 pen.

Referee: G Barber (Tring).