Mohamed Salah scored two penalties as Liverpool came from behind to beat rock-bottom Southampton for the second time this season and move 16 points clear at the top of the Premier League.
The Reds were miles below their best after their energy-draining late win at Paris St-Germain on Wednesday – but all that matters at this stage of the season is results.
This takes them one step closer to the title and leaves the Saints still in danger of the lowest Premier League points total ever.
The visitors allowed themselves to dream when Will Smallbone took advantage of a huge mix-up between Virgil van Dijk and Alisson to slot in from a tight angle.
But Reds boss Arne Slot made a triple substitution at half-time and Liverpool were much improved.
Darwin Nunez, perhaps fortunate not to be one of the ones replaced at the break, slotted in from Luis Diaz’s cutback.
And then the Uruguayan striker was fouled by Smallbone for a penalty, which Mohamed Salah predictably dispatched with style.
Liverpool fans started singing “Now you’re going to believe us, we’re going to win the league” after that.
Salah also netted another spot-kick late on, for his 27th goal of the season, after the video assistant referee spotted a Yukinari Sugawara handball.
Second-placed Arsenal have two games in hand – including Sunday’s match with Manchester United – but it is impossible to see anyone overhauling Liverpool.
EPL: Forest, Brighton, Palace secure wins
Callum Hudson-Odoi scored late in the second half to earn Nottingham Forest a crucial Premier League victory over fellow Champions League hopefuls Manchester City at the City Ground.
With seven minutes of an otherwise uneventful contest remaining, Hudson-Odoi collected a magnificent Morgan Gibbs-White pass in his stride before beating City goalkeeper Ederson at his near post to send the home fans into ecstasy.
Third-placed Forest move four points clear of City, who stay fourth but could be overtaken by Chelsea if the Blues beat struggling Leicester City on Sunday.
Joao Pedro’s stoppage-time penalty snatched Brighton’s victory over Fulham and strengthened their hopes of securing a Champions League berth.
Pedro won the penalty for his side after beating Fulham’s Harrison Reed to the ball and taking a challenge on the back of the ankle.
The Brazilian dispatched the spot-kick into the corner to score for a third successive game – the first time he has achieved that feat in the Premier League – and deliver a crucial three points for the hosts.
Raul Jimenez had put Fulham in front with a well-taken volley after some neat chest control at the far post but Brighton struck back six minutes later through Jan Paul van Hecke.
Meanwhile, Ismaila Sarr scored the only goal of the game as Crystal Palace won their fourth match in a row to beat Ipswich Town in a scrappy encounter at Selhurst Park.
It was the first match the Eagles had to play without key striker Jean-Philippe Mateta, who needed 25 stitches to a cut on his head following a challenge from keeper Liam Roberts in the FA Cup win over Millwall last weekend.
Sarr scored the winning goal in the 82nd minute when he dribbled the ball into the area and chipped it over Alex Palmer.
