Liverpool held their nerve to beat Norwich City 3-2 at Carrow Road and record an 11th straight league game win.
The reds become the first English side to guarantee qualification to next season's Champions League, at the group stages, and a guaranteed top three finish after winning at Norwich.
More than that Liverpool moved 5 points clear of 2nd placed Chelsea, and 9 points clear of 3rd placed Man City who have 2 games in hand.
Raheem Sterling scored two goals with a Luis Suarez sandwich filling, whilst Norwich scored twice to give Liverpool some jitters at either side of the second half.
Liverpool won through - making it 11 straight wins - the first time since 1982.
The result means that all eyes are now on Manchester City tomorrow. If they fail to win, then Liverpool are in with a small chance of sealing the Premier League title next Sunday evening.
Brendan Rodgers had to reshuffle the pack for today's game - Henderson's suspension and Sturridge's injury forced changes. Joe Allen and Lucas Leiva were the replacements - starting their first game together since Liverpool's last league defeat - the 29th December visit to Stamford Bridge.
The personnel change, but the spirit doesn't.
Within 11 minutes Liverpool were 2-0 up.
In the 4th minute Raheem Sterling hit a wonderful strike from 5 yards outside the penalty area, an unreachable shot for John Ruddy. In the 11th minute, Sterling was involved again, but it was Luis Suarez who bagged his 30th goal of the season. 30 goals in 30 games.
Norwich then enjoyed a good 10 minute spell of possession but Joe Allen was involved in everything good about Liverpool - he was there with a block in the 6 yard box, he was in the middle breaking up play and he was even involved in the opposition half feeding the greedy appetites of Sterling and Suarez who searched for a third.
2-0 at halftime. The LFC travelling support was revelling, but this job wasn't done yet.
Mignolet attempted to punch away a Norwich cross. It was unnecessary. Skrtel was under the ball and the reds keeper would have been better served staying where he was. He was outjumped and Norwich latched on to the mistake to grab a goal back. 2-1.
» Brendan Rodgers Post Match Quotes
Nerves. They came in to play.
Liverpool fought on and a stray pass landed at the feet of Liverpool's talented 19 year old Sterling. He ran 60 yards up the pitch, swerving two players on the way before firing a shot, which was deflected up and over John Ruddy to give Liverpool a 3-1 lead.
Rodgers was happy. Sterling was happy. We were happy.
There was to be another goal in the 77th minute when Snodgrass headed in to make it 3-2. A moot point. Snodgrass should have seen red for a challenge within the first 10 minutes on Joe Allen.
Nails were bitten. But the reds held on.
The pre-season target of Champions League qualification has been reached. Much bigger prizes now lay full-square at Liverpool's door.
Hush.
Listen.
The echoes of a 24 year long wait for an English title reverberate around the Fields of Anfield Road.
Do you believe us now?
liverpool gonna win but they need sturidge back for sunday
The main reason we need Sturridge back is so that we don’t have to play Lucas. We were too naturally negative at Norwich. Lucas’ inclination was to pass backwards even when in a great attacking position.
Johnson tends to play better when Agger is around. I was wishing Agger would be selected ahead of Sakho. Clearly, our football is better with the partnership of Agger and Skrtl
The team made it difficult for themselves after taking a 2-0 lead. The main culprits are Johnson and Mignolet. Liverpool are on the verge of winning their first premiership title in twenty-four years, but these two players are causing the team to panick. After the season ends, Brendan must let Johnson leave as he as become a liabilty in the team. Also Mignolet is a bundle of nerves and Liverpool would need another first choice goalkeeper. All the good works of the other players are undone by these two. The sooner these two players are replaced the better for Liverpool, especially with the Champion’s League coming up too.
I completely agree it,s time for Johnson to move on, and Sakho is not the answer they are certainly weak links along with this very shaky goalkeeper. So when you take into consideration where we are at this moment is incredible. With real quality signings for next season we will once again be feared throughout the EPL and Europe.
I agree with all of your strong words. We’ve been carrying GJ all season. He’s lost when going forward and lost at the back. His pace has gone. As for Mignolet. His resemblance to former keeper David James is a real worry. I’ll also add that Lucas no longer fits into Rodgers’ vision.
We are 3 quality players away from being a phenomenal team on the European stage.
Also I believe that Sturridge needs to have his place threatened. We need him to know that this team breaks when we have a selfish player – including the CF. He also needs to stop taking 10 touches as it ruins our flow.
Stay focus win chelsea first.then we see how man city perform and check our position again.here we go again forza liverpool