Liverpool put Ipswich Town to the sword with a comfortable 4-1 win.
Dominik Szoboszlai opened the scoring for the hosts during the first half’s early stages with a low-driven effort from the edge of the penalty area.
The Reds doubled their lead when Cody Gakpo picked out Mohamed Salah at the far post for a clinical finish into the roof of the Anfield Road End’s net.
Cody Gakpo added a third before the interval as he pounced on the rebound after Szoboszlai was denied by Christian Walton at point-blank range.
The Netherlands international bolstered his tally shortly after the hour mark by powering from Trent Alexander-Arnold’s whipped delivery into the box.
But the visitors notched a late consolation through Jacob Greaves meeting Julio Enciso’s cross with a diving header to deny Alisson a clean sheet.
Arsenal’s victory against Wolves elsewhere on Saturday. mean Arne Slot’s side could only maintain their six-point lead in the Premier League title race.
Here were the key talking points from Anfield:
Bombshell marks Reds’ progress
Sunday had the potential to become a painful reminder for Liverpool.
It will be exactly 12 months ago since Jurgen Klopp delivered the bombshell news he would be stepping down as manager at the end of that campaign.
As on-field moments go, there have been few tougher in Anfield’s history; only rivalled by the respective resignations of Bill Shankly and Kenny Dalglish.
But the Reds continue to make short work of their transition from the German’s intensive reign to a more tranquil approach under his successor.
Whatever reservations may have been harboured about Arne Slot are fast proving unfounded following Saturday’s comprehensive rout over Ipswich.
The Dutchman’s 16th win from his opening 22 Premier League games helm consolidated his side’s six-point cushion at the summit with remarkable ease.
Although hardly insurmountable, it is increasingly difficult to envisage any scenario where Liverpool do not end the season as champions of England.
Had Kopites still reeling from Klopp’s impending exit been told a year ago that this is how things would play out, many could be forgiven for not believing it.
Szoboszlai deserves centre stage
For all the fanfare around a title procession, Slot’s greatest success actually lies in how he has unlocked the potential within Liverpool’s supporting cast.
Ryan Gravenberch, for instance, continues to be reborn as a midfield anchor despite that role supposedly being a tipping point in his Bayern Munich exit.
On an afternoon when Mohamed Salah racked up his 100th league goal at Anfield and Virgil van Dijk hit 300 club appearances, others took centre stage.
Dominik Szoboszlai took full advantage of his deployment in the no.10 position as Slot opted for a line-up entirely devoid of an established striker.
The Hungary captain has shown glimpses of his true capabilities in recent weeks but this willl undoubtedly rank as his finest performance in a red shirt.
An early opener, struck sweetly from just outside the penalty area, was merely the start of his attempts to showcase what Liverpool have yet to fully witness.
His willingness to shoot on sight encompassed all distances and angles, not just the audacious, as a denied effort in the box helped tee up Cody Gakpo.
Whether down to boosted confidence or a system which harnesses his talent best, Szoboszlai is definitely meriting an extensive run in the final third.
Are you not entertained?
A common complaint in Slot’s early reign is how boring Liverpool now are.
Under Klopp, they regularly blew teams away with a thrill-seeking philosophy which fully immersed itself in a vaunted ‘heavy metal football’ branding.
Even Slot’s father has joined a growing list of critics who believe that his charges now focus on the perfunctory rather than panache in most games.
Yet even the head coach’s most ardent detractors, be it in the media or his own bloodline, cannot argue they are not capable of turning on the style.
A relegation-threatened Tractor Boys were merely lambs to the slaughter against a Liverpool team which moved through the gears at breakneck speed.
At times, it bordered on exhibition levels, with match-goers afforded a ringside view to one of their team’s most comfortable performances in recent memory.
It’s unlikely to be a regular occurrence but Anfield still delivers entertainment value.