Manchester City narrowed the gap on English Premier League leaders Liverpool to six points on Monday with a comfortable 3-1 victory over West Bromwich Albion at Eastlands.

Pablo Zabaleta, Sergio Aguero and Martin Demichelis all scored for City as three different Argentine players netted in an EPL match for the first time.

West Brom pulled the score back to 2-1 through Graham Dorrans but, ultimately, City had too much quality.

City will close further on Liverpool should they win their game in hand, although they still need the Merseyside club to drop points in their remaining three games if they are to take the title.

Manuel Pellegrini, City manager, responded to his side’s 2-2 draw with Sunderland with three changes as Gael Clichy, David Silva and Edin Dzeko came in for Aleksandar Kolarov, James Milner and Alvaro Negredo.

The hosts were also still without influential midfielder Yaya Toure, who is recovering from a groin injury.

A much more fluid City side took the lead in the third minute with a header from right-back Zabaleta.

A weak header from West Brom defender Liam Ridgewell fell to Aguero who struck a powerful first-time volley which was parried by Ben Foster, but Zabaleta anticipated the rebound to head into the vacant net.

West Brom’s defence backed off Aguero in the 10th minute and were punished as he arrowed a low shot into the corner of the net from just outside the penalty area.

The visitors pulled a goal back six minutes later through Dorrans with a brilliant goal on the counter-attack after a breakdown in communication between Fernandinho and Silva at a free-kick in West Brom’s half.

Dorrans received the ball on the edge of the box from Matej Vydra and expertly lifted it over City left-back Clichy with his right foot before he spectacularly volleyed past goalkeeper Joe Hart with his left.

City always looked more likely to add a third goal before the interval and it duly arrived from a Samir Nasri corner flicked on by Vincent Kompany for Demichelis to guide the ball home.

City fans will nervously await updates on Spanish playmaker Silva who was taken off on a stretcher with an ankle injury after an awkward tangle with Morgan Amalfitano in the 70th minute.

The Baggies are still just three points above the relegation zone.