Manchester City dismissed Aston Villa 4-1 on Saturday to move two points clear of city rival Manchester United at the top of the Premier League after the defending champions were held to a 1-1 draw at Liverpool Mario Balotelli scored in the first half before Adam Johnson, Vincent Kompany and James Milner added goals after the break as City improved to 22 points _ two points clear of United. Steven Gerrard scored from a a 68th-minute free kick in his first Liverpool start for seven months before Wayne Rooney and Nani came off the bench to spur United. Javier Hernandez rescued a point with his 81st-minute header. In other matches it was: Norwich 3, Swansea 1; Queens Park Rangers 1, Blackburn 1; Stoke 2, Fulham 0; and Wigan 1, Bolton 3.