City win monumental for Reds (ESPN article)

by Dave Usher for ESPN

Liverpool edged a step closer to their first league title in 24 years on Sunday following a hugely emotional win over Manchester City at Anfield. As referee Mark Clattenberg called time on a breathtaking contest, Reds skipper Steven Gerrard was reduced to tears before huddling his teammates together and delivering a spine-tingling battle cry: "Listen, this is gone. We go to Norwich. Exactly the same. We go together. Come on!"

Gerrard has had the title in his sights for months. While others were (understandably) playing it down, the legendary midfielder has had that steely look in his eye that showed he believed it was most certainly on. His reaction when the final whistle sounded after this thrilling encounter between the two best sides in the country showed just how much he wants this. No one deserves a league title more than the inspirational Gerrard, and he's now just four wins from claiming the one prize that has eluded him.

This is always an emotional time of year for everyone connected to Liverpool Football Club, and prior to kickoff, Anfield paid its respects to the 96 Liverpool fans who tragically lost their lives at Hillsborough 25 years ago. Manchester City supporters unfurled a banner supporting the campaign for justice, and you could have heard a pin drop during that minute's silence.

Those 60 seconds aside, the rest of the afternoon was played out to a cacophony of noise that you simply do not get anywhere else in England. Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers had spoken in his prematch news conference about "unleashing the supporters" on Manchester City, while the supporters themselves were looking to the team to match the quick start it had in huge wins over Everton, Arsenal and Spurs in recent months. Both did their part, as the Reds took just six minutes to establish an early advantage in the cauldron-like atmosphere that Rodgers had predicted. A second goal soon followed, and it appeared City may get the "Arsenal treatment," as the league leaders had other chances to extend their two-goal advantage.

It was pulsating stuff. City must surely have spoken before the game about the importance of weathering Liverpool's early storm, but like so many others who have gone before them this season, they were simply powerless to stop the red tide as Raheem Sterling's ice-cool finish and Martin Skrtel's seventh goal of the season put the Anfield side in the driving seat, not just in this game but also in the race for the Premier League title.

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