Sven-Goran Eriksson still beleaguered

Liverpool 1 City 0

FERNANDO Torres rubbed salt into Sven-Goran Eriksson’s wounds with the only goal of the game to cap a miserable week for Manchester City.

The Liverpool striker scored a goal of real quality to kill off a listless City side, who hardly produced a display of defiance in defence of their beleaguered manager.

Eriksson looks almost certain to be heading for the exit door at Eastlands at the end of the season with Thaksin Shinawatra already eyeing up potential successors.

And if today’s visit to Anfield proves to be the Swede’s penultimate game in charge, it was one to forget.

Save for two second half free kicks, City looked completely devoid of attacking ideas and if not for wasteful finishing from Liverpool, combined with the excellence of Joe Hart, they could have been heading back along the East Lancs road on the back of a mauling.

As it was, Torres’ strike was enough to separate the sides, and the ease with which Liverpool’s leading scorer cut through City’s defence was typical of the home side’s superiority.

Picking the ball up outside the area on 58 minutes Torres’ shift of pace saw him skip past Richard Dunne and head towards goal.

Unleashing a shot from a tight angle, Hart could do nothing to keep him at bay as the ball made its way through the keeper’s legs and into the back of the net.

Just eight minutes earlier City might have found themselves ahead when Elano’s 25-yard free kick had Pepe Reina beaten, but struck the post before bouncing away to safety.

It would have been flattering on Eriksson’s men, though Liverpool had hardly provided much attacking inspiration to that point either.

A dour first half was short of chances, with off-target efforts from Torres and Steven Gerrard the best either side could muster in the opening half hour.

City’s best moment came on 31 minutes when Martin Petrov finished off a slick move by firing against the post.

It was out of keeping their performance to that point and wouldn’t have counted anyway with the offside flag already raised.

Immediately after Liverpool thought they had taken the lead when Gerrard arched a shot towards the top corner from inside the area.

The England international was already wheeling away in celebration when Hart shot out and arm to push the ball away for a corner.

The home side needed to improve and showed their intention straight from the restart with Gerrard cutting City open to find Torres.

The Spaniard tried to find the far corner with a side-footed effort, but saw the ball slide wide of the post.

Elano’s free kick then shook Liverpool into life with Torres breaking the deadlock on 58 minutes.

It might have been two shortly after when Dirk Kuyt's volley forced a parry from Hart.

Lucus tried to convert the rebound with a spectacular overhead kick, but fired straight into the arms of the City keeper.

It was a measure of Liverpool's growing confidence and dominance and they came close again when Kuyt flicked on a Sammi Hyppia cross that had the keeper beaten, only to come back off the bar.

If the Dutchman was unlucky in that instance, he would have been kicking himself soon after when, with a free header, he could only fire straight at Hart.

Wastefulness proved to be catching as Ryan Babel then saw another gilt-edged chance go begging, firing over from just six yards out.

City could barely believe they were still in the match and when Benjani’s long-range free kick found its way through the wall, it needed a smart save to push it away.

But it proved to be their last chance of earning an ill-deserved point, and if anything was going to force Shinawatra into a rethink, this was hardly it.

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez refused be elaborate on the futures of John Arne Riise and Peter Crouch after both players were left out of the squad.

"They have one more year left on their contracts so they are still our players."

He added: "Clearly we have some names and we are working to try to improve the squad."

Manchester City manager Sven-Goran Eriksson on his future:
"I've not been told anything regarding the (job) situation but at my age I don't need to be told what to do.

"I have my own conclusions and ideas. It's not good to talk before the season is finished.

"The support (from the fans) is very nice. They appreciate what they have seen this season and believe the team have a future. I think it's very, very nice."

Liverpool: Reina, Finnan, Hyypia, Carragher, Insua, Mascherano, Lucas (Alonso 74), Kuyt, Gerrard (Voronin 78), Babel (Benayoun 68), Torres.
Subs Not Used: Itandje, Skrtel.

Goals: Torres 58.

Man City: Hart, Corluka, Dunne, Ball, Jihai, Vassell (Garrido 81), Ireland, Johnson, Petrov (Castillo 67), Elano (Hamann 67), Mwaruwari.
Subs Not Used: Isaksson, Gelson.

Att: 43,074

Ref: Mark Halsey (Lancashire).