Liverpool 3 Manchester City 2: Steven Gerrard instructs his players 'this does not f****** slip' in post-match huddle

Gerrard was seen in tears after the victory before huddling his players and delivering a fierce speech that instructed the Reds to go on and win the title

Liverpool players celebrate Philippe Coutinho's winning goal in the 3-2 victory over Manchester City (Getty Images)

Steven Gerrard issued a rallying call to his Liverpool squad after the exhilarating 3-2 victory over Manchester City that has sent the Reds two points clear at the top of the Premier League table.

Gerrard was seen to be in tears immediately after the full-time whistle as the England captain was overcome with emotion on the day the football world remembered the 25th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster, which claimed the lives of 96 Liverpool fans back in 1989.

Composing himself, Gerrard huddled his players to deliver a message that they capitalise on the win over their title rivals, and push on to claim their first top flight title since 1990 – and a first of Gerrard’s illustrious career.

“This does not f****** slip now,” Gerrard screamed at his team-mates, repeating the sentence to make sure he got his point across to the surrounding faces.

“Listen. Listen. This is gone.

“We go to Norwich. Exactly the same. We go again. Come on!”

The win puts Liverpool in pole position in the race for the title, although a win over Norwich this weekend would set-up another hugely important tie between Liverpool and Chelsea the following Sunday. City’s defeat means that the Blues can win the title if they beat the Reds at Anfield and win their remaining three matches, but Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers stressed that all their focus is going on the match against the Canaries.

“The message is just to continue,” said Rodgers after the victory.

“We don't need to change. We play with no fear, whether is a big opponent like Manchester City or Norwich next week.”