Liverpool had to settle for a point in a four-goal thriller with Manchester City.
Sadio Mane broke the deadlock just before the hour mark when he swept the ball home from a driving run and slide pass by strike cohort Mohamed Salah.
The visitors drew level on 70 minutes when Gabriel Jesus dragged three Reds defenders out of position before teeing up Phil Foden for a shot across goal.
Salah put Jurgen Klopp’s side ahead again barely 10 minutes later through a superb individual goal that saw him dancing through City’s backline at will.
But the Premier League champions fought back as a powerful long-range effort from Kevin de Bruyne was deflected into The Kop’s net by Joel Matip.
Liverpool moved up to second in the table and a point clear of third-placed City, who have an identical goal difference to their North West counterparts.
Here were the key talking points from Anfield:
Salah shows he is worth every penny
Whatever the legitimate reasons for Liverpool’s delay in offering Mohamed Salah a contract extension, they are becoming increasingly short in supply.
The Egyptian simply cannot stop scoring and finds impressive ways to do it after helping Jurgen Klopp’s side retake the lead against Manchester City.
On an afternoon when Anfield paid tribute to the late great Roger Hunt, Salah produced a befitting tribute to the World Cup-winning marksman’s memory.
Hunt’s haul of 244 league goals is still to be beaten by any Reds player but his modern successor edged one closer to it with a wonderful slaloming run.
Dancing past Rodri, Ilkay Gundogan and Aymeric Laporte in quick succession, Salah saved the best for last with a finish into the bottom corner of the net.
Now on 101 top-flight goals, 134 overall, Salah’s exploits make the hold-up in tying down his Liverpool future beyond summer 2023 a head-scratcher.
Even at 31, his merciless streak in front of goal would be paying for itself.
Makeshift Milner has a lucky escape
James Milner’s versatility continues to mark him above all others at Liverpool.
Fast approaching 36, it has proved to be the midfielder’s greatest asset – but it almost came at cost in this latest outing against his one-time employers.
Continuing to deputise for Trent Alexander-Arnold at right-back, Milner found himself routinely tormented by Joao Cancelo and Phil Foden in the first half.
Foden’s turn of pace, particularly, caused problems and eventually drew a cynical foul which left his opposite number walking the disciplinary tightrope.
It almost returned to haunt him after the interval when a trip on Bernardo Silva in mid-flow had sparked City players crowding referee Paul Tierney.
Much to Pep Guardiola’s frustration, Milner was given the benefit of the doubt on a potential second booking before Klopp finally decided to substitute him.
A willingness to answer the call of duty in his six years at Liverpool remains admirable, whatever the requirement, can only be considered admirable.
Make no mistake, though, Milner had a lucky escape in not seeing red.
Fine margins are the difference again
The term ‘fine margins’ has been synonymous with Liverpool and City’s rivalry ever since John Stones’ goal-line clearance in their 2018/19 title decider.
Ultimately, that timely interception from the defender helped separate the teams as Guardiola’s charges clawed back a seven-point deficit with victory.
Mere millimetres was the difference at the Etihad Stadium over two years ago, and so it proved again when a near-certain winner beckoned at Anfield.
Ederson’s misjudged attempt to cut out a Salah cross afforded Fabinho a golden opportunity to snatch the spoils with an empty net to aim for.
What the Brazil international could not have anticipated, however, was the speed of thought from Rodri in making up enough ground to thwart him.
Replays showed the distance the midfielder had to cover with his sliding challenge to deny Fabinho, whose only failing was a steadying first touch.
If this season’s battle for the title goes down to the wire between these North West rivals, Rodri’s intervention could prove another sliding doors moment.