Liverpool make a big move

Rodgers' men underline title credentials with 3-2 defeat of City

Premier League leaders Liverpool took a huge step towards becoming English champions for the first time in 24 years when they defeated third-placed Manchester City 3-2 at Anfield on Sunday for a tenth successive win.

The Merseyside club have not finished top since 1990, two years before the Premier League began.

Raheem Sterling and Martin Skrtel put them 2-0 up in 26 minutes before David Silva led a City revival. The Spaniard reduced the deficit and an own goal by Glen Johnson brought an equaliser only five minutes later.

But Brazilian midfielder Philippe Coutinho drove in the winner after a mistake by City's captain Vincent Kompany.

Liverpool's Jordan Henderson was sent off in added time and will miss three of the four remaining games.

Liverpool are now seven points ahead of City, having played two games more, and five ahead of their next visitors Chelsea, who play at Swansea in the later match on Sunday.

Their manager Brendan Rodgers hailed "a remarkable performance" and said the team were "incredible today".

It was an emotional day for the club, who commemorated 25 years since the Hillsborough disaster in which 96 of their supporters died at an FA Cup semifinal. There was a minute's silence before kickoff, after which the home fans roared their team into a sixth-minute lead.

Luis Suarez outmuscled his marker Gael Clichy and fed Sterling, the teenager cleverly dummying Kompany and England goalkeeper Joe Hart before scoring.

Twenty minutes later Hart saved well from a header by Liverpool's unmarked captain Steven Gerrard but from the resulting corner Slovak defender Skrtel headed in.

In between, City had lost their influential Ivory Coast midfielder Yaya Toure and not until shortly before halftime did they threaten. Johnson and Sterling had to clear off the line in the same attack and Fernandinho's half-volley was saved by Simon Mignolet.

City, champions two years ago before losing their title to neighbours Manchester United last season, continued to improve after halftime with James Milner then Sergio Aguero coming on.

In the 56th minute Milner set up Silva to score from close range and five minutes afterwards Silva and Samir Nasri worked a neat passing move that ended with Johnson deflecting the ball past his own goalkeeper.

But Liverpool bounced backagain. Kompany miskicked a clearance and Coutinho beat Hart with fine low shot from 15 metres.

Everton win

Champions League football beckoned on the horizon for Everton after a 1-0 victory over bottom club Sunderland hoisted them above Arsenal into fourth place.

An own goal by Wes Brown gave Everton (66 points)  a club record seventh consecutive Premier League win to put them two points above Arsenal with five games remaining.

In an increasingly desperate relegation fight at the other end of the table three clubs in danger of the drop all won with Fulham, Cardiff City and Crystal Palace all collecting precious points while threatened West Bromwich Albion drew 3-3 with Tottenham Hotspur after leading 3-0.