Negredo gives Manchester City 2-1 victory over Liverpool

Manchester: Manchester City ended Liverpool's short stay at the top of the Premier League and moved ahead of its title rival after Alvaro Negredo secured a 2-1 victory in their Boxing Day encounter on Thursday.

England's most potent attacking team quickly recovered after Phillippe Coutinho put Liverpool ahead in the 24th minute. Vincent Kompany headed City level seven minutes later and Negredo's high shot was fumbled into the net by Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet on the stroke of halftime.

City ended the day as it started: a point behind the leaders. But Arsenal are now back atop the standings, and City moved up a place to second. Liverpool dropped from first to fourth as a four-match winning run ended.