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MANCHESTER CITY splashed their way to a three-point lead at the top of the Premier League � thanks to a helping hand from Pepe Reina. Liverpool's Spanish keeper somehow allowed Sergio Aguero's weak 10th-minute shot to slither under his body at the rainswept Etihad. Yaya Toure and James Milner's penalty sealed victory for City, who had Gareth Barry sent off. But Reds boss Kenny Dalglish refused to blame Reina, saying: "The ball took a hell of a dip and I notice they changed the ball afterwards which for us sums up what the night is about. "There were a lot of mistakes made by a lot of our players. Unfortunately, when a keeper makes one, there isn't much comeback. "But we're going to move ahead as a squad, not as individuals." Barry picked up a yellow card in each half to see red in the 73rd minute. But when Martin Skrtel took out City's Yaya Toure in the area moments later, the only punishment was a penalty. That had City boss Roberto Mancini holding up an imaginary card on the touchline.He complained: "I did not agree with the second yellow card for Gareth. We have now lost a player for nothing."And I didn't understand why, for the penalty, it was not a red card. "Maybe I made a mistake for this but I was very nervous."This was a very, very important win for us because it was ridiculous to have to play again so quickly after Sunderland."My players were tired in the second half and Liverpool pushed a lot of players forward. But the players stayed strong which really pleased me. "If we can stay at the top after January then we have a great chance to win the title." Dalglish, whose side face City again in the Carling Cup semi-finals, said: "The one lesson we must learn from this game is that we have to be more clinical. "We had a great chance to score when it was 0-0 and we did not take it. "Then we find ourselves 2-0 down. City are a successful side because they take their chances."