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Liverpool haven’t been this close to Manchester City since Christmas Day.
The gap is now down to three points in the Premier League title race — which once was heavily in favour of City — after Liverpool demolished Leeds United 6-0 at Anfield.
Mohamed Salah inflicted the early damage by scoring two goals from the penalty spot and playing a part in two more before Sadio Mane scored twice in the second half.
Liverpool have finally caught up to City in games — they’ve both played 26 in the 38-game season — and nearly on points.
With Liverpool still to visit City’s Etihad Stadium on April 10, there’s little to choose between the top two — the past two winners of English football’s biggest prize.
At one stage in the middle of January, City held a 13-point lead, though Liverpool always had games in hand and just needed to keep in sight of the defending champions.
On a run of six straight victories, Jurgen Klopp’s team have done just that and are in prime shape heading into Sunday’s League Cup final against Chelsea.
Salah’s league-high goal total is up to 19 after being gifted two penalty chances by Leeds’ frail defence — which has conceded 16 goals in their past four games.
Stuart Dallas blocked Andrew Robertson’s cross with his hand to give away the first spot kick that was dispatched by Salah in the 15th minute.
Salah slipped in Joel Matip, marauding forward from centre back, for the second on the hour and then converted a second penalty five minutes later after Luke Ayling tripped Mane, who was bearing down on goal.
Mane added two late goals while there was also time for Virgil van Dijk to head home a corner in the third minute of stoppage time.
Tottenham followed up their stunning win at City on Saturday with a 1-0 loss at next-to-last Burnley four days later in a result that shakes up the relegation fight.
Ben Mee headed home a free kick in the 71st minute to earn Burnley a second straight win that moved them up one place to 18th and to within two points of safety.
Replacing Burnley in 19th spot were Watford, who lost 4-1 at home to Crystal Palace, for whom Wilfred Zaha scored two late goals.
The defeat prompted Tottenham boss Antonio Conte to suggest he may not be the right man to manage the club.
Spurs lost for the fourth time in five Premier League games as Ben Mee’s 71st-minute header boosted Burnley’s battle against relegation.
At the final whistle, a disappointed Spurs coach Antonio Conte, 52, headed straight to the dressing room on his own.
“I came here to help the club and if the problem could be the coach I’m ready to go, no problem,” Conte said.
“I am not used to this situation. I am trying everything but the situation is not changing,” added the Italian. “I am available and open with the club to do what the club wants.
“I want to help the club, I work a lot, I work very hard. I am giving 20 hours a day to Tottenham and the other four hours I sleep but it is not enough.
“The performance can be good and the commitment was good but we lost. For me the situation is unacceptable. To lose four of five [games] for Tottenham has to be a disaster.
“I came in to try to improve the situation. Maybe in this moment I am not so good to improve the situation. I am too honest to close my eyes and continue in this way.
“For sure we are to speak and have a conversation with the club to try and find the best solution to help the team not have this type of situation.
“It is the right moment to make assessment. I repeat, I am really frustrated.”
Conte has only been in charge for 22 games after the former Juventus, Chelsea and Inter Milan boss was appointed successor to Nuno Espirito Santo in November.
Spurs are in eighth place and seven points off fourth.
When asked directly if he would still be in charge for Saturday’s game at Leeds, Conte walked away from the interview without answering.
“In the last five games, we are playing like we are in relegation [trouble],” he had said. “This is the reality. Maybe there is something wrong.
“I want to take responsibility. If I have that, I’m open for every decision. I have ambition, I hate to lose. To take my salary, it is not right at this moment.
“I want to help Tottenham, from the first day I arrive, but four defeats in five… This is the first time in my life this type of situation has happened.
“At the moment we could finish 10th, 12th, 13th. We could finish in the same position as when I arrived here.”
© AAP
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