Liverpool, who played 68 games undefeated at Anfield, have now suffered back-to-back defeats in what became their impregnable stronghold for nearly four years.
And the most recent loss, to modest Brighton, put the Reds’ bid to revalidate the Premier League title in suspense.
As happened two weeks ago against Burnley, Liverpool fell 1-0 to a club struggling to avoid relegation. The team led by Jürgen Klopp fell seven points behind leader Manchester City, which has a game pending and has scored nine wins.
City will be the next team to visit Anfield on Sunday. A triumph by those led by Pep Guardiola could leave Liverpool with no real chances of crowning, with more than three months remaining in the campaign.
Seeking to regain the title Liverpool snatched from the previous season, the Citizens delivered another compelling performance, beating Burnley 2-0 at Turf Moor.
That win restored City’s three-point lead over Manchester United, which is second after crushing Southampton 9-0 on Tuesday. City have played one game less than United.
While City have conceded just two goals in 13 league games, Liverpool’s defensive woes continued as they try to overcome Virgil van Dijk’s absence, probably for the entire season.
It also didn’t help that Brazilian goalkeeper Alisson Becker missed the match against Brighton due to illness.
The title could soon escape Liverpool, which is also not guaranteed a place in the top four, advancing to the Champions League.
The Reds are in the fourth rung, but only two points clear of West Ham, which is fifth after beating Aston Villa 3-1. Everton is two points behind in sixth place after beating Leeds 2-1.
Leicester overtook Liverpool in third place, thanks to a 2-0 win on their visit to Fulham.
CITY, LEADING AND GETTING STRONGER
With goals from Gabriel Jesus and Raheem Sterling in the first half, City reestablished their three-point lead as the Premier League leaders, thanks to their ninth consecutive victory.
The visit to Burnley was the City’s 13th in a row in all competitions, dating back to Dec. 15.
To win their pending duel, those led by Guardiola could detach more from United.
Jesus headed in from an empty goal after three minutes, after Burnley goalkeeper Nick Pope barely managed to shake off a Bernardo Silva shot.
Sterling increased by defining point-blank after a cross from Ilkay Gundogan in the 38th.
The visitors were not upset against the team that has scored the fewest Premier League goals – just 13 – and wasted numerous chances to increase the score in the second half.
LEICESTER IN ZONA CHAMPIONS
James Maddison conceived the goals with which Leicester defeated Fulham 2-0 on the road, clinging to the qualifying spots for the next Champions League.
Kelechi Iheanacho, who played in place of injured forward Jamie Vardy, headed a Maddison cross at 17 to sign his first goal of the season.
Shortly before the break, Maddison enabled James Justin for the second.
The result left Leicester five points behind City.