Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish has said that Manchester City have become a better team since dropping controversial striker Carlos Tevez.

City boss Roberto Mancini has not played the 27-year-old since he allegedly refused to come on as a substitute against Bayern Munich in a Champions League tie in September. However, Dalglish believes that the club have lost none of their strength, as they are always able to buy replacements.

"[Tevez] would be a big miss if they didn't have Aguero," he said. "But they have bought another striker in Aguero and they're just going to bring people in if they feel they need to do so.

"Are they better now? I don't think you need to be very intelligent to realise they've got more points than last year and they're top so they must be better."

Following his arrival from Manchester United, Tevez scored 43 goals in 69 league appearances for the Citizens.