Liverpool midfielder Thiago Alcantara produced a masterclass in the middle of the park for Jurgen Klopp's side as they thrashed a dismal Manchester United.
Luis Diaz fired home after five minutes before Mo Salah topped off a sublime passing move from the Anfield club who went in 2-0 up at the break.
After a period where United looked to get back into the game, Sadio Mane finished clinically before Salah got his second of the evening before full-time to cap off a ruthless 4-0 demolition of Ralf Rangnick's team.
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The result leaves Liverpool at the top of the Premier by two points from Manchester City, who have a game in hand over the Anfield side and would return to the summit with a victory.
United meanwhile sit sixth and three points from fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur, having played a game more.
At the centre of Liverpool's victory was Thiago, obtained from German giants Bayern Munich in 2020 and was man of the match against United with his performance.
The performance from the 31-year-old saw him receive a standing ovation from the Anfield faithful.
And if history had turned out a different way, then he might have turned out for Bolton Wanderers.
It was reported back in 2011 that Owen Coyle was planning a swoop to sign the then-Barcelona man and was backed by then-owner Eddie Davies to put a package together.
It was reported at the time that a crucial factor in the offer would be a buy-back clause, which would have given the Catalan side the option of taking the then-20-year-old back to Spain in years to come.
The chase progressed and then-Wanderers chairman Phil Gartside even flew out to Spain for talks with the Camp Nou side.
Alcantara had been available for around a reported £5m, but the move fell apart when the midfielder himself turned down both a permanent move and a season-long loan to the Whites.
The midfielder then joined Bavarian club Bayern Munich two years later, and has since won seven Bundesliga titles, four German Cups, and the Champions League.
He also won his first piece of silverware at Liverpool earlier this season with the EFL Cup, scoring three goals in 60 appearances so far in his time at Anfield.
