Only three teams have ever won the title after trailing the leaders by 11 points or more – Arsenal in 1997-98 and Manchester United in both 1992-93 and 1995-96.

“I don’t think there’s any way back for Manchester City now,” said ex-Liverpool defender and Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher after the Anfield encounter.

City boss Pep Guardiola did not concede the title, though.

“I said before this game that we weren’t in a position to think about targets but the season is long,” he said.

“We have to think about making results and then some players will come back and then we’ll be better and we’ll believe maybe. There are many things to fight for and we’re going to try.”

City are famously strong finishers – and have only lost a combined four Premier League games after Christmas across the past three seasons.

If they won their last 25 matches they would finish on 98 points, while Liverpool’s form, stretched along the rest of the campaign, would see them finish on 99.

Carragher said: “Right now I could see Man City losing another four or five games between now and the end of the season.

“I think it’s almost a mini-crisis at Manchester City. I think it’s reminiscent of Liverpool two years ago and I think City might have a fight on their hands for top four.”

City have not failed to reach the Champions League since 2010-11 and former defender Micah Richards called the current situation “bleak”.

“I’m not going to rule City out completely because football can be like that, but I can’t see them catching Liverpool,” he admitted.