Philippe Coutinho keeps Liverpool on a roll

Liverpool 2, Man City 1:

With the score in this match of top quality delicately poised at 1-1, Liverpool needed a man to take it by the scruff of the neck. Enter the little Brazilian.

Urged to add more goals to his game by manager Rodgers since signing a new five-year contract last month, Coutinho produced a spectacular shot from the left hand corner of the penalty box 15 minutes from time.

Anfield erupted after the ball emphatically beat England goalkeeper Joe Hart.

This was a potentially vital goal in Liverpool’s pursuit of a Champions League and one that could well have killed off Manchester City’s hopes of retaining their Premier League crown.

Manuel Pellegrini’s side are now five points behind Chelsea, having played a game more. There is no doubt that Liverpool deserved this win too, despite a gruelling trip back from Turkey where they exited the Europa League to Besiktas on penalties on Thursday night. They showed few signs of tiredness, with City appearing to be the more drained in the wake of their Champions League exertions against Barcelona.

“It was a brilliant result and an equally brilliant performance,” said a delighted Rodgers. “We thoroughly deserved it, the players were relentless. It was very pleasing.

“Getting back at 4.30am in the morning on Thursday and not getting home to 6am and then to prepare for a game against the champions is not easy. You have to take your hat off to them for the way they dealt with that.

“It’s a big one but there are still a lot of games to go. It was a significant win because it keeps us in the chase.

“Coutinho is operating on a very high level. His performances in particular since he signed his contract have been a joy to watch. He came in at 19, is still developing. He’s a sensational footballer. To beat Joe Hart from that angle with that power was phenomenal. He is a player that has always assisted and made the final pass, he’s a very selfless player, he’s a very humble guy. There are improvements he can make, he is playing at a football club who adores him and loves it here. He has a humility, wants to work and is an absolute joy to work with. He was £8.5 million a few years ago, it’s frightening to know what he’s worth now.”

This was a game that football lovers dream of. Two sides known for their attacking talents prepared to go for it from the off, and the hosts came close to scoring early as Adam Lallana ran on to Coutinho’s through ball but could only shoot straight at Hart. However Liverpool took the lead with their next attack on 10 minutes, Jordan Henderson, filling in again for the injured captain Steven Gerrard, unleashed a sublime curling effort from 25 yards from Raheem Sterling’s pass to find the top corner.

Within minutes, City should have scored as David Silva’s pass split the home defence and Sergio Aguero saw his effort come back off the post.

But Pellegrini’s side did not have long to wait before they equalised — Aguero fed an unmarked Edin Dzeko who coolly beat Simon Mignolet on 26 minutes.

Lallana missed a good chance to put Liverpool back in front before the break but it was the hosts who were in the ascendancy for much of the second period as City sat back. Coutinho’s sensational fifth goal of the campaign ultimately won it but the victory could have been more comfortable as substitute Daniel Sturridge dragged his shot just wide after Henderson had won the ball off Yaya Toure late on.

Pellegrini may well have put a brave face on proceedings, suggesting the title is still very much on again for his side, but you get the impression that this was a defining result in this season.

“It is not over,” said the Manchester City manager. “You never know in football.

“Liverpool scored very good goals. We also missed some good chances. It was a close game where Liverpool played very well.

“We are worried about our team, not anyone else. It is important to carry on playing in the same way. We scored nine goals in the last two Premier League games, that’s why I played the same team.

“Were Liverpool more energetic? The only way to explain is that they played well. We have to see the reaction in the next game. I hope the team will recover.”

LIVERPOOL (3-4-3): Mignolet 6; Can 7, Skrtel 7, Lovren 7; Markovic 6 (Sturridge 76, 5), Henderson 8, Allen 8, Moreno 7 (Toure 82, 6); Lallana 7, Coutinho 8, Sterling 6.

MANCHESTER CITY (4-4-2): Hart 6; Zabaleta 7, Mangala 7, Kompany 5, Kolarov 7; Yaya Toure 6, Fernandinho 6 (Bony 78, 5), Silva 7, Nasri 7 (Lampard 83, 6); Dzeko 7 (Milner 58, 5), Aguero 7.

Referee: Mark Clattenburg (County Durham)