Carroll double helps Liverpool crush Man City

England striker Andy Carroll scored twice, his first goals for Liverpool, in a 3-0 defeat of fourth-placed Manchester City on Monday to maintain their faint hopes of Champions League football next season.

Carroll, the most expensive English player after his £35million transfer from Newcastle in January, lashed in the opener from the edge of the box after 13 minutes and added his second shortly after Dirk Kuyt's strike.

City's first half went from bad to worse after striker and captain Carlos Tevez hobbled off with a hamstring injury, and the Argentine could be a doubt for the FA Cup semi-final against Manchester United on Saturday.

Kuyt slotted the ball neatly into the net on 34 minutes before Carroll's second left Liverpool in sixth place on 48 points with six games remaining. City remain fourth on 56 points from 32 matches.