The Reds lost some bite after midfielders Xabi Alonso, Jermaine Pennant and Mark Gonzalez were ruled out after a bruising Champions League encounter on Wednesday night.
But ever present Steven Gerrard popped up to fire home the winner with a classic swashbuckling goal to hand his side the three points.
It may be a worry for manager Rafael Benitez that his side can rely so heavily on one player, but they look adept at squeezing wins from average performances.
Two teams playing five in midfield looked like a recipe for a shaky afternoon with the away team's dismal away record meaning defence, not attack, was on their mind.
Benitez opted for a three-man backline of Jamie Carragher, Sami Hyypia and Daniel Agger, so John Arne Riise and Steve Finnan had licence to get forward.
England coach Steve McClaren was in the stands checking on the progress of new cap Micah Richards, who City manager Pearce had asked to play in the centre of midfield.
After a couple of tentative half chances, it fell to Gerrard to provide the first sight of danger.
Richard Dunne gave away possession on the edge of the area and the Liverpool midfielder nipped in to lash a shot inches wide of goalkeeper Nicky Weaver's post on 18 minutes.
City also had a clear cut chance on 25 minutes, Joey Barton's neatly weighted throughball sent Richards through in the right channel.
His clever drag-back sent in Bernardo Corradi, on a good run following his two goals against Fulham, but his aim deserted him as he wasted the space Richards created.
The home side should have had the lead on 31 minutes, Hyypia's arching crossfield ball from the halfway line found Luis Garcia on the left side of the area.
The Spaniard's expert control beat Nedum Onuoha and earned him a one-on-one with Weaver, but he contrived to scuff the shot into the side-netting.
Garcia had another chance on 41 minutes as Dirk Kuyt sent him in from the left flank, but his tame shot was easily gathered.
Liverpool's lack of creative resources, brought on by the injury crisis made it increasingly difficult to make headway in the City area.
An air of frustration crept in as the visitors, sensing a draw away from home was possible defended well in numbers.
And they could have put themselves ahead when Ben Thatcher's lob forward found Darius Vassell.
He and Micah Richards were crowded out, but the ball fell to Corradi who flashed his volley wide on 60 minutes.
The temperature went up another notch when Merseysider Barton had a claim for a free-kick on the edge of the penalty area.
It appeared as if Finnan took his legs away from him but referee Rob Styles waved away the loud claims.
Benitez threw on ex-City player Robbie Fowler, now succeeding on home turf, as it was clear Peter Crouch's aerial threat would not break down a stubborn defence.
And indeed when the goal came on the 66th minute it was loose play on the floor which created the goal from the Liverpool captain.
Crouch pounced on a dangerous pass from Barton across the area to lay it into the oncoming form of the midfield maestro.
A couple of touches later the ball was lying in the back of the net after the Reds hero despatched a classic low drive past a hapless Weaver.