Joe Hart had already made top-class saves, keeping out efforts from Andy Carroll, Gerrard and Stewart Downing, but he was powerless against the England international's precision in the penalty kick.
Referee Lee Mason immediately pointed to the spot after Stefan Savic's irresponsible challenge caught Daniel Agger and Gerrard scored with a powerful shot from the awarded penalty kick in the 13th minute.
City were dismal in the first half, with Samir Nasri substituting Mario Balloteli before the half-time, but improved in the second period, with Liverpool defending deep in numbers.
However, they were unable to find a way in Pepe Reina’s goal, with the Spain international making superb stop from a close-range Micah Richards header.
Lacking key men, including Vincent Kompany who began a four-match ban, and drained by the energy exerted at having to play for 78 minutes with 10 men against Manchester United at the weekend, City were a shadow of their usual selves.
The only consolation came from knowing they could still reach final against either Crystal Palace or Cardiff if they can reverse this result in the second leg at Anfield in a fortnight.
Savic had a trick up his sleeve though as Agger forced his way into the box from the corner. The youngster panicked, attempted to clear when he was nowhere near favourite to reach the ball and Agger bit the dust.
Referee Mason awarded the spot-kick and Gerrard drove it past England team-mate Hart to put the visitors ahead.
That all this occurred inside the opening 13 minutes emphasised the difficulties City were having, and no one epitomised them more than Balotelli.
An injury doubt beforehand, the combustible Italian reacted in anger when Charlie Adam bundled him over, then tapped him on the head as he ran away from the scene. Balotelli belted the subsequent free-kick into the wall and then hobbled away for no discernable reason.
After a few more minutes of relative inactivity, during which he let a straightforward pass roll out for a throw-in and gave a free-kick as he tried to make amends, Mancini decided he had seen enough. Balotelli headed straight for the tunnel, bringing an end to another bizarre chapter in his career.
It was not until the last moments of the half that City finally roused themselves, only for Nasri to be denied by Reina and James Milner to fire Richards' cut-back over.
This time around, they just encountered frustration as Reina stayed on his feet long enough to prevent Aguero getting a shot on target after the South American had spotted Martin Kelly about to play a blind backpass.
Unusually poor in a heavy defeat on the same ground eight days ago, Reina was also in the right place to deny Richards' close-range header after the stand-in City skipper had met Nasri's corner.
The disappointment was that instead of going for the jugular, against opponents so lacking in verve compared to their thrill-a-minute efforts earlier in the season, Liverpool grew increasingly more negative.
By the time Carragher replaced Craig Bellamy 11 minutes from time to take up a midfield holding role, the visitors had six defenders on the field.
Little wonder City failed to make a chance of note as they continued to run into a red brick wall in what time remained.
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