Manchester City have returned to the top of the Premier League following a comfortable victory over relegation-bound Cardiff City at the Etihad Stadium.
First-half goals from Kevin de Bruyne and Leroy Sane in Manchester secured City piled the pressure back on Liverpool.
City now climb a point above the Reds, after their game in-hand has finally been played, with the Reds having the chance to leapfrog their rivals on Friday night.
For Cardiff, things are looking slightly more bleak. The Bluebirds are in 18th-place and sit five points below 17th-place Burnley, with the same amount of games played now.
The champions were without star striker Sergio Aguero for Wednesday night's clash, with the Argentine striker being forced off in Saturday's win at Fulham.
It was some start from City, when just six minutes in - de Bruyne found a yard in the box and he snuck the ball into the near-post past Neil Etheridge.
Oleksandr Zinchenko was forced off through an early injury for the hosts, with Kyle Walker his replacement.
Gabriel Jesus, who was Aguero's replacement, almost had himself a goal after being found by de Bruyne, but the ball trickled wide from close-range.
Sane then put City 2-0 up just before the half-time whistle following a neat lay-off from Jesus, and an ever neater finish from the German winger.
When the second-half commenced, City almost had a third through Phil Foden. The young midfielder, who was making a rare league start for City, went agonisingly close following a ball from Fernandinho, but Etheridge dealt with it well.
De Bruyne then had a thunderous shot from range, but his shot sailed just wide of Etheridge's post.
Aymeric Laporte was the next man to go close for the home side with his header being denied by Etheridge, who was having an excellent game in-between the sticks for the Bluebirds.
Foden was so close yet again to sealing the game off, but his effort cannoned back off the woodwork following a de Bruyne corner.
City then had a huge penalty appeal when Riyad Mahrez was running into the box and appeared to be clipped, but Jon Moss thought the Algeria forward dived.
Jesus then had another chance following a fine low-cross by de Bruyne, but the Brazil international's flick went well wide of Etheridge's right post.
Cardiff had a break on and it was a rare chance for Neil Warnock's side, but Oumar Niasse's composure in front of goal was lacking and City 'keeper Ederson smothered the ball from under his feet.
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