Liverpool extended their lead at the top of the Premier League to 11 points with a nervy 2-1 win over Brighton as Manchester City slipped up once more in a draw at Newcastle on Saturday.
Photo: Twitter/LiverpoolFC
Chelsea missed the chance to go level on points with second-placed City as Frank Lampard's men suffered a shock 1-0 home defeat by West Ham.
Meanwhile Tottenham's winning run under Jose Mourinho continued as Dele Alli scored twice in a 3-2 win over Bournemouth.
Virgil van Dijk is hoping to beat Lionel Messi to the Ballon d'Or on Monday and showed he can score goals as well as stop them with two towering headers from Trent Alexander-Arnold set-piece deliveries to put Liverpool 2-0 up inside 25 minutes at Anfield.
Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker was then sent off 14 minutes from time for handling outside his area and Brighton reduced the deficit from the resulting free-kick through captain Lewis Dunk.
But the 10 men held out for another vital three points to edge closer to a first league title in 30 years.
"It was unnecessary," said Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp of the nervy finale. "We had unbelievable chances.
"We had the red card for Alisson. Adrian comes in with cold feet and cold hands but made two really good saves.
"The boys threw everything on the pitch. It's unbelievable how much they want to win."
