Liverpool's thrilling 3-1 victory over Manchester City at Anfield on Sunday was astonishing as well as outstanding.
Jurgen Klopp's side took the lead as early as the sixth minute when Fabinho drilled the ball past Claudio Bravo from 30 yards, but the goal was shrouded in controversy as City thought they should have had a penalty moments earlier when the ball struck Trent Alexander-Arnold's arm in the penalty area.
VAR checked the incident, but the goal stood to bring another huge roar from the Anfield faithful.
It appeared that the ball struck the arm of Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold in the penalty area before the Reds broke and scored the opening goal from Fabinho, but VAR ruled it not to be handball.
It was not long before Anfield erupted again as Mohamed Salah headed home Andrew Robertson's brilliant cross in the 13th minute to double the hosts' advantage and they had a third goal six minutes after half-time, with Claudio Bravo failing to keep out Sadio Mane's header at the back post.
Bernardo Silva's low shot found the bottom corner 12 minutes from time, but it was too little too late for City, who now find themselves nine points behind Jurgen Klopp's side in fourth.
How Liverpool stunned City
In what was a blistering start to the game, City were adamant they should have had a penalty when the ball deflected off Bernardo Silva before hitting Alexander-Arnold's hand in the penalty area.
However, play continued when the referee waved away City's appeals and, 22 seconds later, Fabinho's thunderous strike beat Bravo to give the hosts the lead after a VAR check.
Despite Liverpool's fast start, City had immediate chances to respond but Raheem Sterling and Sergio Aguero failed to convert Kevin De Bruyne's inviting free-kicks.
It proved costly as the hosts doubled their advantage seven minutes after their first.
Alexander-Arnold started the attack with an inch-perfect cross-field pass to pick out fellow full-back Robertson, who in turn curled a beautiful cross into the path of Salah.
The Egyptian, who has now been directly involved in 52 goals in just 44 Premier League appearances at Anfield for Liverpool, made no mistake at the far post to send the home fans wild again.
City created opportunities as they looked for a way back into the game, but Alisson Becker denied Aguero before Angelino's shot was deflected onto the post.
Aguero then found himself one-on-one with Alisson after being released by De Bruyne, but the Argentine striker flashed a shot wide and striking another straight at the goalkeeper as City went into the interval 2-0 down.
City's problems mounted six minutes after the restart when Jordan Henderson's sublime cross picked out Mane at the far post, and the Senegal international squeezed the ball past Bravo at his near post for his seventh league goal of the season.
The visitors, who brought on Gabriel Jesus to replace Aguero, pulled a goal back through Bernardo Silva with 12 minutes remaining to give Guardiola's side a glimmer of hope..
City thought they should have had a penalty when Sterling's cross hit Alexander-Arnold's arm, but again the referee waved away the claims to leave Guardiola furious on the touchline.
City continued to pin back Liverpool in the final stages as they desperately searched for a miraculous comeback, but Klopp's men saw the game out to strengthen their position at the top of the table.
Man of the Match - Fabinho
Sky Sports' Gary Neville: "I'm going for the man who scored the first goal, Fabinho. It was a great goal and he's a calming influence for Liverpool in the centre of midfield."
Liverpool's long distance success
Fabinho’s goal was Liverpool’s ninth from outside the box in all competitions this season – more than any other Premier League side.
MANAGERS
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp: "Maturity is very important but for the rest of the season, it depends who is available and who is fit. I have no idea if I've ever had a nine-point lead, it has never been nine points over City, especially after a game against them so it is completely new.
"Each point we have now, we need to go through the most intense period ever for us. You see how Chelsea and Leicester are performing, if we lose today, it is then about five points? After the start we had, five points is nothing. We have to play them again and we don't care about the table or whatever, we just try to do the right things in the specific games and if we can do that, then we are good but we need the boys for that and we have to hope they stay fit."
Pep Guardiola told referee Michael Oliver 'thank you very much' at full-time in Manchester City's 3-1 Premier League defeat to Liverpool after some key decisions went against his side
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola: "What happened today we showed why we are champions, I am so proud of my team, more than ever. We can be proud of how we played against the strongest team in Europe.
"Ask to the referees, don't ask me. Ask to Mike Riley and the guys in VAR. I would like to talk about our performance, it was so good. It was one of the best performances we have played. We played like back-to-back champions. We cannot deny how good Liverpool are but the way we played, the personality, it was good.
"It was quite similar to the Champions League game. It was an incredible situations in that game too but the performance today was so good. Always we try, never give up that is why we are back-to-back champions. Always fight until the end. It is important to grow as a club and as a team. It was an honour for both team to show the Premier League to spectators this type of game."
Important stats
Man City manager Pep Guardiola has lost eight matches in all competitions against Jurgen Klopp - three more than he has against any other manager.
This was the second time this season Man City have conceded three goals in a Premier League game (also 3-2 against Norwich) - they only did so once last season, losing 3-2 to Crystal Palace in December 2018.
Liverpool are unbeaten in their last 17 home Premier League games against Manchester City (W12 D5 L0) since losing 2-1 in May 2003.
Liverpool's Mohamed Salah has been involved in 69 goals in 60 appearances at Anfield for the Reds in all competitions (51 goals, 18 assists), scoring in three of his four home appearances against Man City in that time.
This was Sergio Aguero's ninth match at Anfield against Liverpool in all competitions for Manchester City - he has never scored there for City, attempting 14 shots without success across those nine games.
Player ratings
Liverpool: Alisson (8), Alexander-Arnold (8), Van Dijk (8), Lovren (7), Robertson (8), Fabinho (9), Wijnaldum (7), Henderson (8), Salah (8), Firmino (7), Mane (8).
Subs: Milner (6), Oxlade-Chamberlain (n/a), Keita (n/a).
Man City: Bravo (5), Walker (5), Stones (4), Fernandinho (5), Angelino (5), Rodri (5), Gundogan (5), Sterling (6), Bernardo Silva (6), De Bruyne (6), Aguero (5).
Subs: Jesus (6).
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| Mohamed Salah scores Liverpool's second goal against Man City |
Jurgen Klopp's side took the lead as early as the sixth minute when Fabinho drilled the ball past Claudio Bravo from 30 yards, but the goal was shrouded in controversy as City thought they should have had a penalty moments earlier when the ball struck Trent Alexander-Arnold's arm in the penalty area.
VAR checked the incident, but the goal stood to bring another huge roar from the Anfield faithful.
It appeared that the ball struck the arm of Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold in the penalty area before the Reds broke and scored the opening goal from Fabinho, but VAR ruled it not to be handball.
It was not long before Anfield erupted again as Mohamed Salah headed home Andrew Robertson's brilliant cross in the 13th minute to double the hosts' advantage and they had a third goal six minutes after half-time, with Claudio Bravo failing to keep out Sadio Mane's header at the back post.
Bernardo Silva's low shot found the bottom corner 12 minutes from time, but it was too little too late for City, who now find themselves nine points behind Jurgen Klopp's side in fourth.
How Liverpool stunned City
In what was a blistering start to the game, City were adamant they should have had a penalty when the ball deflected off Bernardo Silva before hitting Alexander-Arnold's hand in the penalty area.
However, play continued when the referee waved away City's appeals and, 22 seconds later, Fabinho's thunderous strike beat Bravo to give the hosts the lead after a VAR check.
Despite Liverpool's fast start, City had immediate chances to respond but Raheem Sterling and Sergio Aguero failed to convert Kevin De Bruyne's inviting free-kicks.
It proved costly as the hosts doubled their advantage seven minutes after their first.
Alexander-Arnold started the attack with an inch-perfect cross-field pass to pick out fellow full-back Robertson, who in turn curled a beautiful cross into the path of Salah.
The Egyptian, who has now been directly involved in 52 goals in just 44 Premier League appearances at Anfield for Liverpool, made no mistake at the far post to send the home fans wild again.
City created opportunities as they looked for a way back into the game, but Alisson Becker denied Aguero before Angelino's shot was deflected onto the post.
Aguero then found himself one-on-one with Alisson after being released by De Bruyne, but the Argentine striker flashed a shot wide and striking another straight at the goalkeeper as City went into the interval 2-0 down.
City's problems mounted six minutes after the restart when Jordan Henderson's sublime cross picked out Mane at the far post, and the Senegal international squeezed the ball past Bravo at his near post for his seventh league goal of the season.
The visitors, who brought on Gabriel Jesus to replace Aguero, pulled a goal back through Bernardo Silva with 12 minutes remaining to give Guardiola's side a glimmer of hope..
City thought they should have had a penalty when Sterling's cross hit Alexander-Arnold's arm, but again the referee waved away the claims to leave Guardiola furious on the touchline.
City continued to pin back Liverpool in the final stages as they desperately searched for a miraculous comeback, but Klopp's men saw the game out to strengthen their position at the top of the table.
Man of the Match - Fabinho
Sky Sports' Gary Neville: "I'm going for the man who scored the first goal, Fabinho. It was a great goal and he's a calming influence for Liverpool in the centre of midfield."
Liverpool's long distance success
Fabinho’s goal was Liverpool’s ninth from outside the box in all competitions this season – more than any other Premier League side.
MANAGERS
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp: "Maturity is very important but for the rest of the season, it depends who is available and who is fit. I have no idea if I've ever had a nine-point lead, it has never been nine points over City, especially after a game against them so it is completely new.
"Each point we have now, we need to go through the most intense period ever for us. You see how Chelsea and Leicester are performing, if we lose today, it is then about five points? After the start we had, five points is nothing. We have to play them again and we don't care about the table or whatever, we just try to do the right things in the specific games and if we can do that, then we are good but we need the boys for that and we have to hope they stay fit."
Pep Guardiola told referee Michael Oliver 'thank you very much' at full-time in Manchester City's 3-1 Premier League defeat to Liverpool after some key decisions went against his side
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola: "What happened today we showed why we are champions, I am so proud of my team, more than ever. We can be proud of how we played against the strongest team in Europe.
"Ask to the referees, don't ask me. Ask to Mike Riley and the guys in VAR. I would like to talk about our performance, it was so good. It was one of the best performances we have played. We played like back-to-back champions. We cannot deny how good Liverpool are but the way we played, the personality, it was good.
"It was quite similar to the Champions League game. It was an incredible situations in that game too but the performance today was so good. Always we try, never give up that is why we are back-to-back champions. Always fight until the end. It is important to grow as a club and as a team. It was an honour for both team to show the Premier League to spectators this type of game."
Important stats
Man City manager Pep Guardiola has lost eight matches in all competitions against Jurgen Klopp - three more than he has against any other manager.
This was the second time this season Man City have conceded three goals in a Premier League game (also 3-2 against Norwich) - they only did so once last season, losing 3-2 to Crystal Palace in December 2018.
Liverpool are unbeaten in their last 17 home Premier League games against Manchester City (W12 D5 L0) since losing 2-1 in May 2003.
Liverpool's Mohamed Salah has been involved in 69 goals in 60 appearances at Anfield for the Reds in all competitions (51 goals, 18 assists), scoring in three of his four home appearances against Man City in that time.
This was Sergio Aguero's ninth match at Anfield against Liverpool in all competitions for Manchester City - he has never scored there for City, attempting 14 shots without success across those nine games.
Player ratings
Liverpool: Alisson (8), Alexander-Arnold (8), Van Dijk (8), Lovren (7), Robertson (8), Fabinho (9), Wijnaldum (7), Henderson (8), Salah (8), Firmino (7), Mane (8).
Subs: Milner (6), Oxlade-Chamberlain (n/a), Keita (n/a).
Man City: Bravo (5), Walker (5), Stones (4), Fernandinho (5), Angelino (5), Rodri (5), Gundogan (5), Sterling (6), Bernardo Silva (6), De Bruyne (6), Aguero (5).
Subs: Jesus (6).
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