Gerrard strike claims points for Reds

England midfield player Steven Gerrard broke the defiance of battling Manchester City with the only goal in Liverpool's 1-0 victory at Anfield.

But the valiant visitors hardly looked like a side who have lost 16 of their last 19 away league games.

They defended with organisation and resilience and restricted Liverpool to only a few genuine chances.

Peter Crouch wasted one opening after taking too many touches before lifting a shot over Nicky Weaver's bar, having been set up by Dirk Kuyt.

Then Bolo Zenden saw a 20-yard shot drift wide, before Gerrard went much closer from a similar range.

City 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 Joey Barton put Micah Richards in on the right, his pass finding Bernardo Corradi who shot wide across goal after a clever drag-back.

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

Reds boss Rafael Benitez opted to replaced Luis Garcia with Jermaine Pennant on 59 minutes. But it City who threatened next, wasting a good chance when Darius Vassell surged at the heart of Liverpool's defence. The ball was only partially cleared to Corradi, who fired a low drive just wide.

Liverpool sent on Robbie Fowler for Crouch on 65 minutes and two minutes later Kuyt robbed Sylvain Distin, Gerrard surged on to the ball and blasted it past Weaver from 20 yards. Barton led the fightback, taking on Gerrard and driving City forward, but Liverpool held on.