Manchester City suffered a third loss in four matches as Steven Gerrard earned Liverpool a 1-0 victory in the first leg of their League Cup semifinal at the Etihad Stadium Wednesday. Captain Gerrard, who has just returned from a long layoff with a groin injury, clinically converted a 13th minute penalty to put seven-time winner Liverpool in the driving seat for the second leg at Anfield in a fortnight. City, which was knocked out of the FA Cup by Manchester United Sunday, improved after the break following a woeful first half but was still well short of the form that has propelled them to the top of the Premier League. “The first half we didn't play well because after six months it can happen for the first time,” City manager Roberto Mancini told the BBC. “It is clear that without three or four players it's more difficult but in the end we didn't deserve to lose the game. We played poorly in the first half but the result is not right. The right result was a draw.” The winners of the semifinal will face either Crystal Palace or Cardiff City in the Wembley final. Palace takes a 1-0 lead to Wales for its second leg. Spurs close in Tottenham moved within three points of Premier League leader Manchester City Wednesday after Aaron Lennon and Benoit Assou-Ekotto clinched a 2-0 victory over injury-hit Everton. The north London club now only trails second-place Manchester United on goal difference after playing a match originally scheduled for the season opener but postponed due to rioting near White Hart Lane earlier that week. That postponement may have worked in Spurs' favor, as they went on to lose their opening two matches in August before finding the form that has turned them into a credible title contender. Lennon put Spurs in front in the 35th minute with a scuffed shot after cutting through the Everton defense and Assou-Ekotto netted in the 63rd with a fierce long-range strike. Lyon in semifinals Lisandro Lopez earned 10-man Olympique Lyon a 2-1 home win against Lille as his side recovered from one goal down to advance into the French League Cup semifinals Wednesday. Lyon will next travel to Lorient, which went through with a 1-0 win at Ligue 2 Le Mans earlier Wednesday. Nice saw off Dijon 5-3 on penalties after the game had ended in a 3-3 draw following extra time and will travel to Olympique Marseille, which strolled past Caen with a 3-0 away win Tuesday.
