Liverpool 4 Manchester City 3: Klopp's men beat City

The home side gave an early signal of their intent when Roberto Firmino put Sadio Mane and, although his control was poor, the ball came to Mohamed Salah, whose strike was blocked.

But it took only nine minutes for their high-octane start to be rewarded, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain getting away from Fernandinho before thumping home from 20 yards.

Kevin De Bruyne tried to muster a fast response from the Premier League leaders but delayed his pass to former Liverpool winger Raheem Sterling, booed by the home fans throughout, who was offside.

But the opening stages were being dominated by Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool and Salah shot wide after 15 minutes following a break before De Bruyne was again involved as his cross fizzed just beyond Sergio Aguero.

City, however, began to hit their stride and came close when Leroy Sane's shot deflected wide and De Bruyne again looked for Aguero with a pass claimed by home keeper Loris Karius.

With half an hour gone City had to take off Fabian Delph, who had a knee problem, replacing him with Danilo, and soon afterwards Firmino headed wide from an angle for Liverpool.

But with four minutes remaining until the break Sane levelled for City, controlling a pass from Kyle Walker and getting away from Joe Gomez before firing an angled strike past Karius, who could have done better.

City began the second half on the front foot and, after Aguero had a shot blocked, Nicolas Otamendi saw a header from a corner clip the Kop end crossbar on its way over.

That, however, turned out to be the prelude to an astonishing spell of attacking that won the game for Liverpool.

The home side led again after 59 minutes when Firmino got the better of John Stones and, one-on-one with keeper Ederson, clipped a superb finish over him and in off the post.

After 62 minutes, with City rocking, it was 3-1 as Mane -- who had hit the outside of the post seconds earlier -- blasted home after the visitors had lost the ball in their own half and Salah found him on the edge of the area.

Within five minutes a fourth goal had flown past the shell-shocked Ederson when his attempted clearance was stopped by Salah, 40 yards out, and he took one touch before lifting a stunning finish over the stranded keeper.

Bernardo Silva replaced Sterling after 71 minutes and pulled a goal back for City with six minutes to go, smashing past Karius after a loose ball had fallen to him.

That seemed too little, too late -- but although Ilkay Gundogan scored another in the first of four added minutes, Liverpool held on.