While the Reds knew a victory against Manchester City would put them firmly in the box seat in the race for the title, the manner of the performance and their resilience will strike fear in all of the sides Brendan Rodgers's team have left to face this campaign.
Liverpool eventually ran out 3-2 victors against the Blues following a dazzling match on Merseyside, which had even more of a special atmosphere as Anfield marked the 25th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster and paid tribute to the 96 fans who lost their lives.
The stadium erupted early on as England hopeful Raheem Sterling got the opening goal of the game after only six minutes.
Luis Suarez slipped the ball through to the winger, who shimmed one way and then the next, before calmly stroking the ball around a stranded Joe Hart, who had ventured way too far out of his goal.
Daniel Sturridge had a good chance to double Liverpool’s lead just moments later as Brendan Rodgers’ side dominated the early exchanges.
Raheem Sterling delivered a super low cross across the front of goal but the striker was unable to guide the ball past Hart.
The Reds refused to take their foot off the pedal and, when Steven Gerrard’s point-blank header was superbly saved by Hart, Anfield sensed a second goal was on its way.
From the subsequent corner Martin Skrtel rose highest and headed in his seventh of the campaign to send the Merseysiders in to raptures.
Manchester City, who improved as the half went on, had a penalty shout and, upon replays, should have been awarded a spot kick when Mamadou Sakho fouled Edin Dzeko in the area.
Referee Mark Clattenburg waved play on though and there were also good chances for David Silva, Vincent Kompany and Fernandinho as the half came to a close.
Manuel Pellegrini's side did have the ball in the net after the break when David Silva bundled home, only to see the lineman's flag deny them a priceless strike.
But, just moments later, the Spaniard did have a goal when James Milner's smart pull back was tucked away by the midfielder after 56 minutes.
The match seemed to turn, and the nerves settled in for Liverpool as Milner's crosses started to worry the usually dependable Skrtel and Sakho.
Dzeko had the chance to equalise but he just couldn't get on the end of Silva's cross across the face of goal.
Liverpool had a penalty shout of their own when Daniel Sturridge was bundled over by Martin Demichelis, but nothing was given again by Clattenburg.
Manchester City started to turn the screw and saw efforts from Silva and Dzeko saved by Simon Mignolet, before Glenn Johnson sliced into his own net to bring parity to the scoreboard.
Suarez was lucky to stay on the field, having picked up an earlier yellow card, when on three separate occasions he threw himself to the ground, but Clattenburg refused to send the Uruguayan off.
Silva had the chance to give Man City the lead, when he was found by Sergio Aguero, but his shot was sliced agonisingly wide and Liverpool could breath easy again.
City just couldn't find the winning goal and, when Vincent Kompany, who had only been passed fit on the morning of the game, miskicked a shot in his own area, Philippe Coutinho latched on the ball and slammed a right footed shot into the goal.
Liverpool were buoyed by the strike and managed to see out the game with no further defence crisis, knowing their Premier League title chances rest firmly in their own hands.
Even a late red card for Jordan Henderson's reckless and high challenge on Samir Nasri couldn't dent Liverpool's joy at the final whistle as captain Gerrard emotionally pumped his fists and grabbed all his team-mates in a huddle to congratulate them
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