Recover, train, play. Repeat. Slot centres title tilt on sacrifice

Slot centres title tilt on sacrifice

- David Hytner

Alexis Mac Allister's face was a picture and it told part of the story. It was an hour or so after the whistle had blown on Liverpool's 2-0 win at Manchester City on Sunday and the war wounds were visible, the signs of sacrifice.

There were shades of yellow and green on Mac Allister's left eyelid, angry red above that - just beneath the eyebrow; more red around the cheekbone. The damage was done in the 30th minute when the Liverpool midfielder flung himself into a sliding challenge on Omar Marmoush.

The City forward flashed a shot in, although it would be disallowed for offside, and fell hard on his opponent. "He landed on me and I hit the floor," Mac Allister said, with a rueful smile. "I felt a little bit dizzy but it is something that happens."

Mac Allister has other colours in mind - the silver and gold of a Premier League winner's medal - because this victory, Liverpool's first in the league at the Etihad Stadium since November 2015, pre-Pep Guardiola days for City, will surely come to be considered the one which moved them decisively towards the prize.

Well, that and a result from Saturday - Arsenal's 1-0 home defeat by West Ham. Liverpool are 11 points ahead of second-placed Arsenal, having played an extra game.