Report: Four-goal Liverpool stun Man City at the Etihad

Liverpool moved to within six points of fourth-placed Arsenal with a stunning victory over Man City at the Etihad.

Jurgen Klopp's team blew away the hosts – who started Saturday on top of the Premier League table – by racing into a three goal lead inside 32 minutes, inspired by their two Brazilian forwards Roberto Firmino and Philippe Coutinho.

The deadlock was broken after just seven minutes when Eliaquim Mangala directed Firmino's cross into his own net, and Liverpool's summer signing again turned provider for compatriot Coutinho just before the half hour mark.

This time Firmino seized on a poor header by Martin Demichelis and played in Coutinho for a simple tap-in.

City winger Sterling lost his first match against his former club. Credit: Reuters

Firmino capped off a stunning first-half performance minutes later when he finished a sweeping counter-attacking move to send the travelling supporters wild at the opposite end.

Sergio Aguero, returning to City's line-up following a spell on the sidelines through injury, pulled one back with a curling effort before half-time to keep his team's hopes of an unlikely comeback alive.

City hauled off Yaya Toure for Fernandinho at half-time and despite starting brightly after the interval, they couldn't find another goal before Aguero made way for Kelechi Iheanacho as a precaution.

Aguero had gone close to scoring again for City following a James Milner mistake, but Simon Mignolet was equal to his goal-bound strike.

Liverpool's Brazilian pair were phenomenal in the first half. Credit: PA

At the other end, Liverpool should have wrapped things up when Joe Hart tipped another Firmino effort behind for a corner, and England's number one again kept his side in contention by denying Christian Benteke with the substitute through on goal.

Moments later, the Reds made sure of all three points when Martin Skrtel lashed a shot high into the net, with Liverpool's jubilant travelling fans launching into a chorus of: "Sterling, what's the score, Sterling, Sterling, what's the score?"

It was miserable first match against his former club for City winger Sterling, who left Anfield under a cloud in the summer, and was jeered by Liverpool's supporters throughout.