Liverpool maintained their charge for a first English championship of the Premier League era with a thrilling 3-2 win over title rivals Manchester City at an emotional Anfield on Sunday, where fans marked the 25th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster.
Victory, combined with second-placed Chelsea's 1-0 win away to 10-man Swansea, left Liverpool two points clear at the top with four games to play and seven in front of City.
Significantly it meant the destiny of the title, which Liverpool last won in 1990, was now in the Reds' own hands.
Third-placed City have two games in hand on both Liverpool and Chelsea, who travel to Anfield in a fortnight for what could be a title-decider.
Liverpool's Philippe Coutinho sealed a 10th win in a row for the Merseysiders 12 minutes from time after City had come from 2-0 down to draw level at 2-2.
First-half goals from Raheem Sterling and Martin Skrtel put Liverpool in control only for City to hit back after the break through David Silva and a Glen Johnson own-goal.
But Coutinho made it 3-2 in the 78th minute after seizing on a sliced clearance from City captain Vincent Kompany to beat England goalkeeper Joe Hart with a low shot from the edge of the box.
Liverpool had to play the closing minutes of stoppage-time a man down after Jordan Henderson was sent off for a wild challenge on City's Samir Nasri.
'Remarkable performance'
Brendan Rodgers, the Liverpool manager, praised his side's resolve.
"It was a remarkable performance," he said. "We showed so much spirit and quality."
The 41-year-old Northern Irishman added his players could cope with the rising tide of optimism at Anfield.
"We have been put under pressure in a very big game but you can see from the quality of our football that we are coping with it."
City manager Manuel Pellegrini insisted his side whadn't given up on the title despite this defeat.
"If we win our two games in hand we will be a point behind Liverpool, who still have to play Chelsea. The title does not finish today. We are still going to fight."
Before kick-off, there was a minute's silence in memory of the 96 Liverpool supporters killed in a crush during a FA Cup semi-final against Nottingham Forest at Sheffield Wednesday's Hillsborough stadium on April 15, 1989.
In another tribute to the victims of the tragedy, matches across England were moved back by seven minutes this weekend, reflecting the moment the fateful match at Hillsborough was called off.
At the Liberty Stadium, Swansea were a man down as early as the 16th minute after Chico Flores collected a second yellow card for bringing down Andre Schurrle.
But it wasn't until the 68th minute that Jose Mourinho's side made their advantage count, with Demba Ba's shot somehow evading Swansea keeper Michel Vorm.
It was Ba's second crucial goal of the week after he had scored in the Champions League quarter-final win over Paris Saint Germain.
"I've been here three times with Chelsea without winning before today," Blues assistant manager Steve Holland, sent out by Mourinho to conduct post-match interviews, told the BBC.
"We played in the Champions League in the week, and it was a physically and emotionally draining game."
Swansea boss Garry Monk, whose side are now just three points above the relegation zone, added: "I can't complain about the performance, after going down to 10 so early against a good Chelsea side.
"It's very tough for us. We're not safe. But if we show that application in our final four games we'll be fine."
Saturday's matches saw Everton leapfrog victorious FA Cup semi-finalists Arsenal into fourth place and the final Champions League spot on offer to English clubs with a 1-0 win away to bottom of the table secured by Wes Brown's own-goal.
Meanwhile things tightened up at the foot of the table as relegation-threatened Fulham and second-bottom Cardiff enjoyed 1-0 wins over Norwich and Southampton respectively to close the gap on the teams immediately above them.
AFP
Mon Apr 14 2014
![Emotional Liverpool on top as Chelsea stay in title hunt Emotional Liverpool on top as Chelsea stay in title hunt](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2014-04/51397439235_295x200.jpg)
Philippe Coutinho (centre) breaks the deadlock to give Liverpool a 3-2 lead.
![Penampilan pertama Trump di konvensyen GOP selepas terselamat cubaan bunuh Penampilan pertama Trump di konvensyen GOP selepas terselamat cubaan bunuh](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/71721113188_DonaldTrump.jpg)
Penampilan pertama Trump di konvensyen GOP selepas terselamat cubaan bunuh
Donald Trump menghadiri Konvensyen Kebangsaan Republikan pada malam Isnin, penampilan umum pertamanya sejak terselamat daripada cubaan bunuh.
![Malaysia pantau perkembangan insiden tembakan di Masjid Muscat Malaysia pantau perkembangan insiden tembakan di Masjid Muscat](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-05/71715148599_wismaputra.jpg)
Malaysia pantau perkembangan insiden tembakan di Masjid Muscat
Wisma Putra melalui Kedutaan Besar Malaysia di Muscat, Oman sedang giat menyelaras usaha dengan pihak berkuasa tempatan untuk mendapatkan maklumat lanjut.
![Ini antara pencapaian Pan-gon bersama Harimau Malaya Ini antara pencapaian Pan-gon bersama Harimau Malaya](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/51721112073_PangonHarimauMal.jpg)
Ini antara pencapaian Pan-gon bersama Harimau Malaya
Kim Pan-gon memiliki rekod yang cukup baik bersama Malaysia, menjadi pengendali Harimau Malaya paling banyak mendapatkan keputusan yang positif sejak beberapa tahun kebelakangan ini.
![Kementerian Komunikasi umum Pakej Rahmah Prabayar Siswa Kementerian Komunikasi umum Pakej Rahmah Prabayar Siswa](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/51721112865_FahmiFadzil.jpg)
Kementerian Komunikasi umum Pakej Rahmah Prabayar Siswa
Kementerian Komunikasi hari ini mengumumkan Pakej Rahmah Prabayar Siswa pada harga tidak melebihi RM30.
![Messi harap cepat pulih daripada kecederaan Messi harap cepat pulih daripada kecederaan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-06/51719647184_LionelMessi.jpg)
Messi harap cepat pulih daripada kecederaan
Kapten Argentina, Lionel Messi berharap agar beliau cepat pulih daripada kecederaan buku lali yang dialaminya perlawanan akhir Copa America.
![MARA diminta terus teroka potensi industri halal global - Ahmad Zahid MARA diminta terus teroka potensi industri halal global - Ahmad Zahid](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/71721105894_AhmadZahidHamidi.jpg)
MARA diminta terus teroka potensi industri halal global - Ahmad Zahid
MARA diminta untuk terus meneroka potensi antarabangsa dalam industri halal yang mempunyai prospek besar menerusi program Gate to Global (GTG).
Saya akan rindu bau durian - Kim Pan-gon
Menurut Kim Pan-gon, beliau akan tetap bangga dengan pasukan bola sepak Malaysia walaupun dimana beliau berada.
Katanya beliau akan merindui bau durian dan langit Malaysia. #AWANInews
Katanya beliau akan merindui bau durian dan langit Malaysia. #AWANInews
Kim Pan-gon letak jawatan berikutan komitmen peribadi
Pengurus pasukan kebangsaan Malaysia, Kim Pan-gon menyatakan perletakan jawatan tersebut kerana komitmen peribadi.
#AWANInews
#AWANInews
![Penggunaan dron tingkat keberkesanan pemantauan pencemaran - Nik Nazmi Penggunaan dron tingkat keberkesanan pemantauan pencemaran - Nik Nazmi](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/71721102997_SimposiumDronKeban.jpg)
Penggunaan dron tingkat keberkesanan pemantauan pencemaran - Nik Nazmi
Penggunaan dron membolehkan pemantauan pencemaran alam sekitar dan hidupan liar serta pencerobohan hutan dilaksanakan dengan lebih berkesan.
![Kim Pan-gon letak jawatan ketua jurulatih, akan terus rindui sokongan rakyat Malaysia Kim Pan-gon letak jawatan ketua jurulatih, akan terus rindui sokongan rakyat Malaysia](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-06/71718142997_KimPanGon.jpg)
Kim Pan-gon letak jawatan ketua jurulatih, akan terus rindui sokongan rakyat Malaysia
Beliau telah mengadakan pertemuan dengan Presiden FAM Datuk Hamidin Mohd Amin, sebelum kedua-dua mereka mencapai persetujuan berhubung keputusannya itu.
![Liverpool tumbang lagi, Crystal Palace terbang tinggi di Anfield Liverpool tumbang lagi, Crystal Palace terbang tinggi di Anfield](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-04/61713131283_EberechiEze.jpg)
Liverpool tumbang lagi, Crystal Palace terbang tinggi di Anfield
Pada Ahad, gol minit ke-14 Eberechi Eze menyaksikan Liverpool sekali lagi direbahkan The Eagles asuhan Oliver Glasner di Anfield.
![Ramadan: Laungan azan bergema di Anfield Ramadan: Laungan azan bergema di Anfield](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-04/71712559857_panggilanIlahijpg.jpg)
Ramadan: Laungan azan bergema di Anfield
Majlis berbuka puasa Share Ramadan anjuran pasukan Liverpool FC menerima kunjungan hampir 2,800 komuniti muslim yang menduduki bumi Anfield.
![Salah lebar rekod jaringan di Anfield Salah lebar rekod jaringan di Anfield](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-05/51683431694_MohamedSalah.jpg)
Salah lebar rekod jaringan di Anfield
Bintang Liverpool itu meledak dua gol ketika kemenangan 3-0 ke atas Brentford.
![EPL: Gol Van Dijk, Salah buka peluang Liverpool rebut kelompok empat teratas EPL: Gol Van Dijk, Salah buka peluang Liverpool rebut kelompok empat teratas](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-03/41677722437_MohamedSalah.jpg)
EPL: Gol Van Dijk, Salah buka peluang Liverpool rebut kelompok empat teratas
Kemenangan itu juga menyaksikan Liverpool kini melonjak ke tangga keenam EPL dalam pemburuan mereka untuk mendapatkan penamat empat teratas.
![Jiwa Salah masih Liverpool Jiwa Salah masih Liverpool](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2022-01/41641967409_TBSALAH.jpg)
Jiwa Salah masih Liverpool
Salah bakal menjadi ejen bebas pada hujung musim depan jika dia tidak menyambung kontraknya.
![Zidane tabik kekentalan Los Blancos di Anfield Zidane tabik kekentalan Los Blancos di Anfield](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2017-07/41501387723_ZinedineZidane.jpg)
Zidane tabik kekentalan Los Blancos di Anfield
Pemain-pemain Real Madrid berdepan tekanan cukup hebat Liverpool yang tampil dengan misi keajaiban pada perlawanan tersebut.
![UCL: Zidane akui Real mahu lebih daripada separuh akhir UCL: Zidane akui Real mahu lebih daripada separuh akhir](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2018-06/81528768929_ZinedineZidane.jpg)
UCL: Zidane akui Real mahu lebih daripada separuh akhir
Real layak ke separuh akhir buat pertama kali sejak 2018 selepas seri tanpa jaringan di tempat lawan dengan Liverpool bagi memastikan kemenangan 3-1 secara agregat.
![Masa untuk tinggalkan Liverpool? Kita lihat apa akan berlaku - Salah Masa untuk tinggalkan Liverpool? Kita lihat apa akan berlaku - Salah](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2021-02/71612399331_Liverpool.jpg)
Masa untuk tinggalkan Liverpool? Kita lihat apa akan berlaku - Salah
Salah memiliki kontrak bersama Liverpool sehingga 2023, tetapi masa depannya menjadi topik perbualan dan enggan menolak prospek menyertai Real atau Barca.
![Chelsea tewaskan Liverpool di Anfield, rekod terburuk The Reds Chelsea tewaskan Liverpool di Anfield, rekod terburuk The Reds](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2021-03/61614904070_LiverpoolCrisis.jpg)
Chelsea tewaskan Liverpool di Anfield, rekod terburuk The Reds
Ia merupakan kali pertama Liverpool yang juga penyandang juara tewas lima aksi berturut-turut di gelanggang sendiri.
![EPL: Everton tewaskan Liverpool, kemenangan pertama di Anfield sejak 1999 EPL: Everton tewaskan Liverpool, kemenangan pertama di Anfield sejak 1999](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2021-02/81613865543_Everton.jpg)
EPL: Everton tewaskan Liverpool, kemenangan pertama di Anfield sejak 1999
Richarlison meletakkan Everton di depan hanya selepas tiga minit permainan bermula.