Manchester City have moved back to within six points of Premier League leaders Liverpool courtesy of a 3-1 victory over West Bromwich Albion at the Etihad this evening.

The hosts made a perfect start to the match when they took the lead inside three minutes as Pablo Zabaleta nodded home from close range after Ben Foster had parried Sergio Aguero's strike.

Aguero almost doubled his side's lead two minutes later as Samir Nasri slipped the ball through to the Argentine striker, but he couldn't keep his shot down.

He did get a goal in the 10th minute, however, reacting quickest to his own blocked pass to curl the ball past Foster from 25 yards.

Stephane Sessegnon threatened with a long-range effort moments later, but it was Graham Dorrans who pulled a goal back for the Baggies, flicking the ball over Gael Clichy before slamming his shot past Joe Hart.

City had their two-goal cushion back with nine minutes to go until half time as Martin Demichelis lost his marker in the box and swept home a corner at the back post.

The hosts almost got a fourth shortly before the hour mark when David Silva slipped a pass through to Zabaleta, whose drilled cross was poked narrowly wide by Nasri.

Morgan Amalfitano drew a routine stop from Hart with just under 20 minutes to go in the match, while Stevan Jovetic came close himself moments later as he fired an effort just wide.

City continued to push for a fourth in the closing stages and Edin Dzeko almost provided it, curling an effort off target from the edge of the box having been found by Nasri's pass.

James Milner also threatened late on with a powerful effort that drew a save from Foster, but they settled for the 3-1 win to keep the pressure on the teams above them in the table.