Liverpool edge past Manchester City

London: Liverpool took a giant stride towards their 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 left the destiny of the title, which they last won in 1990, in Liverpool’s own hands as they went five points clear of second placed Chelsea, away to Swansea later Sunday, and seven in front of City.

Third placed City have two games in hand on both Liverpool and Chelsea. Liverpool’s Philippe Coutinho sealed a 10th win in a row for Brendan Rogers’ men 12 minutes from time after visitors 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. The Merseysiders had to play the closing minutes of stoppage time a man down after Jordan Henderson was sent off for a wild challenge on Samir Nasri. Liverpool and England captain Steven Gerrard, who has spent his whole senior club career at his hometown club, was in no doubt of the significance of the result.

“It’s emotional but we need to stay calm as we still have four big games to come,” Gerrard told Sky Sports. “Nothing is ours yet,” the midfielder added. Meanwhile Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers praised his side’s resolve.

“It was a remarkable performance,” he said. “We showed so much spirit and quality.”

The 41year old Northern Irishman said 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.