Edu was well placed to level the game on the hour when a Whittaker flick-on found him near the penalty spot but the American shot tamely at the advancing goalkeeper AndreasIsaksson.
The Englishman was left clutching his left knee after a collision with PSV Eindhoven's Swedish goalkeeper, AndreasIsaksson, with just a few minutes of the 1-0 defeat left to play at Ibrox.
But both sides kept up the entertaining pace and Heskey's replacement, Ryan Taylor, broke free down the left to connect with a deep Melchiot cross forcing a strong save from City keeper AndreasIsaksson.
At the other end, Laizans twice served notice of his danger, first firing wide from 20 yards, then bringing a fine save from Sweden stopper AndreasIsaksson, who turned the ball out for a corner.
Roy Hodgson's side were on top in the first half and their pressure told when Steven Gerrard sent an inch-perfect cross into the box for Carroll to plant a trademark bullet header past AndreasIsaksson.