Liverpool came back from two goals down at half-time to secure a dramatic injury time victory at the City of Manchester Stadium.

Manchester City took an early lead when Alvaro Arbeloa failed to close down Shaun Wright-Phillips' cross and Stephen Ireland was quick to zip on to the ball and blast it into the roof of the net.

After City's goal Liverpool struggled to find any rhythm with their passes and they looked out of sorts.

City went two goals up shortly before half time as Javier Garrido curls a stunning free-kick into the top left-hand corner leaving Pepe Reina with no answer.

Liverpool pulled back one goal as Steven Gerrard crossed in to Alvaro Arbeloa from the midfield. Arbeloa swept the ball to Fernando Torres who nudged the ball in from six yards.

City went down to ten men as Brazilian Pablo Zabaleta was given a straight red for his dangerous tackle on Reds midfielder Xabi Alonso.

Liverpool drew level in the 73rd minute when Gerrard took a corner on the left and an unmarked Torres came up at the near post to nudge it in.

Reds defender Martin Skrtel had to be stretchered off after he went down with a painful-looking injury to his right leg, and it was ten against ten

And then in injury time Yossi Benayoun crossed in to Torres who saw his shot blocked, before under-rated striker Dirk Kuyt slipped the winner into an empty net.

The result sees Liverpool remain in second place on the Premier League table, just behind Chelsea on goal difference, while City slip down from tenth to 12th.

Man City: Hart, Zabaleta, Dunne, Richards, Garrido, Wright-Phillips, Ireland, Kompany, Elano, Robinho, Jo. Subs: Schmeichel, Petrov, Fernandes, Hamann, Evans, Ben-Haim, Sturridge

Liverpool: Reina, Arbeloa, Carragher, Skrtel, Aurelio, Mascherano, Kuyt, Gerrard, Alonso, Riera, Torres. Subs: Cavalieri, Dossena, Agger, Keane, Benayoun, Babel, Leiva Lucas

Referee: Peter Walton (Northamptonshire)

Man City: Hart, Zabaleta, Dunne, Richards, Garrido, Wright-Phillips, Ireland, Kompany, Elano, Robinho, Jo. Subs: Schmeichel, Petrov, Fernandes, Hamann, Evans, Ben-Haim, Sturridge

Liverpool: Reina, Arbeloa, Carragher, Skrtel, Aurelio, Mascherano, Kuyt, Gerrard, Alonso, Riera, Torres. Subs: Cavalieri, Dossena, Agger, Keane, Benayoun, Babel, Leiva Lucas

Referee: Peter Walton (Northamptonshire)