Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini has insisted that Liverpool's greater proportion of English players was not the decisive factor in their match on Sunday.

The table-topping Reds won a thrilling contest at Anfield by a 3-2 scoreline to move seven points clear of the Citizens in the Premier League title race.

The hosts named six Englishmen, one of whom was goalscorer Raheem Sterling, in their starting XI on Merseyside, while goalkeeper Joe Hart was the only British player in City's lineup, although James Milner did appear as a substitute.

However, Pellegrini has claimed that it was the officiating that cost them three crucial points, and not his overlooking of homegrown talent.

"It is important to have English players in all English teams," he told reporters. "But that is not why Liverpool won the game. In this game, three or four important decisions went against us."

Pellegrini has only used Three Lions internationals such as Jack Rodwell, Joleon Lescott and Micah Richards sparingly this season, while Gareth Barry and Scott Sinclair have both been loaned out.