A blond-haired Lionel Messi failed to get on the scoresheet but it hardly mattered as under-strength Barcelona taught Celtic a footballing lesson in a Dublin friendly.
Out-of-favour Liverpool striker Mario Balotelli will receive a six-figure loyalty bonus if he is still at the club when the transfer window closes on September 1, according to British media reports.
Liverpool's bandwagon rolled on as they crushed Merseyside rivals Everton 5-2
Liverpool wrapped up a deal for Christian Benteke on Wednesday, luring the targetman to Anfield on a long-term contract.
The reigning champions have won 53 and drawn 11 of those 64 games, scoring 169 goals and conceding 42 for a total of 170 points.
City are on top of the table with a one point advantage over Liverpool.
Leicester City recorded the biggest ever English top-flight away win by beating 10-man Southampton 9-0 at a rain-sodden St Mary's to move up to second place in the Premier League on Friday.
Manchester City now need, at most, 11 points from their remaining seven matches to secure their third Premier League title in four seasons.
"When he has the ball at his feet, he can make things happen for himself and he can make things happen for other players. He is a very special player."
IMAGES from the EPL matches played on Sunday
English Premier League leaders Liverpool will need to maintain their excellent recent record against Everton in Sunday's Merseyside derby if they are to hold their advantage over second-placed Manchester City.
Swansea City midfielder Jonjo Shelvey took centre stage against his former club as Liverpool returned to the top of the Premier League with a 2-2 draw at the Welsh club on Monday.
Liverpool's Daniel Sturridge is set for a January return, according to manager Brendan Rodgers, who hinted he was unlikely to dip into the transfer market to solve the club's current striker issues.
The love of Liverpool fans appears to have persuaded Luis Suarez to stay at Anfield, according to comments made by the controversial striker to a Uruguayan newspaper.
Leicester City fans should stay at home if they are not prepared to support the Premier League's bottom club during a dismal run of form, manager Nigel Pearson said following their 3-1 home defeat by Liverpool on Tuesday.
It was a third successive 0-0 draw for United after a stalemate at Chelsea on Sunday and against Real Sociedad last Thursday which completed a 4-0 aggregate win over the Spanish side in the Europa League.
Liverpool striker Luis Suarez called on the club to honour "an agreement" that said he could leave the club if they failed to qualify for the Champions League.
Barcelona coach Luis Enrique played down talk of a rift with his squad after their surprise home defeat by Alaves and is hoping to put things right in their Champions League opener against Celtic on Tuesday.
"It's not much better at the moment. With Daniel's injury we have to take it day by day, and see if he's better," Klopp told a news conference on Friday.
"We want to get back the trust and confidence in our own skills, in our quality. That needs time," he told reporters.
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Former Borussia Dortmund manager Juergen Klopp is expected at Anfield on Thursday as the German edges closer to becoming Brendan Rodgers' successor at Liverpool.
Klopp is understood to be open to the idea of a move, the reports said, adding that talks between Liverpool and his representatives were progressing well.
Eight wins and a draw in their last nine games had seen Leicester emerge as the closest pursuers of runaway leaders Liverpool but they went down 3-1 at the Etihad despite taking an early lead through Jamie Vardy. Images from the English Premier League matches played on Saturday.
Liverpool's Mohamed Salah ended his Premier League goal drought in style by scoring twice as the champions raided the capital again to crush West Ham United 3-1 on Sunday.
Manchester City are about to find out whether Raheem Sterling has the ability to justify his enormous price tag or is just another over-rated young English footballer motivated purely by his bank balance.
Jose Mourinho believes football is only about winning and that managers who favour a possession-dominated beautiful game and neglect steely defence and lethal counter-attacking are "stupid".
Manchester City shook off the impact of a COVID outbreak in their ranks to outclass Chelsea 3-1 at Stamford Bridge
Images from Sunday's action in the English Premier League.
Hull City edged towards Premier League safety while Wigan Athletic, will play in the third tier of English football.
Midfielder Jordan Henderson's fluke second-half goal kept Liverpool firmly in contention.
Liverpool were left frustrated by Championship side Blackburn Rovers who defended heroically to draw 0-0 at Anfield.
Swansea City "reluctantly" sacked manager Garry Monk on Wednesday, following a dreadful run which has seen the Welsh club plummet towards the Premier League relegation zone.
Mario Balotelli will return to Liverpool's squad for the festive programme but manager Brendan Rodgers was hardly effusive in his praise of the Italy's striker's credentials.
Liverpool's Raheem Sterling netted a sharply-taken double in a 3-1 win over Bournemouth on Wednesday to set up a League Cup semi-final with Chelsea.
Liverpool players hail Juergen Klopp impact after defeating City.
Liverpool's UEFA Champions League challenge ended in a 1-1 draw against FC Basel, who booked their spot in the last 16.
Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has been offered a new contract but because he is now 34, the midfielder might not play in as many matches as he has done in the past, manager Brendan Rodgers said on Monday.
Under-fire Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard may not be enjoying his best spell of form but he is still "a top class player", manager Brendan Rodgers said ahead of their Champions League clash with Bulgarian club Ludogorets.
Aston Villa returned to winning ways in stunning fashion as Ollie Watkins scored twice in a 3-0 away thumping of an abject Arsenal in drizzly north London on Sunday.
Real Madrid forward Gareth Bale has a buttock muscle strain and is doubtful for their Champions League Group B match against Liverpool at Anfield on Wednesday, the club said.
