This trip to the Etihad was meant to be one of Arne Slot’s biggest tests in the remainder of the season but his side negotiated it with the minimum of fuss, closing out victory thanks to goals from Mohamed Salah (of course) and Dominik Szoboszlai to move 11 points clear at the top of the table.

A bit of context. Liverpool entered the Etihad Stadium on an unbeaten league run of 22 matches. They have lost just once in the competition all season and not at all on their travels. They are not really wobbling. Perhaps their rivals just want to cling to something.