Liverpool sent 'right statement' with Man City win - Klopp
Liverpool sent out the "right statement" by ending Manchester City's Premier League unbeaten run in their first game since selling Philippe Coutinho, says manager Jurgen Klopp.
Coutinho's £142m transfer to Barcelona went through on Monday.
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Six days later, and despite the absence of £75m defender Virgil van Dijk with an injury, Liverpool held on to beat the league leaders 4-3 at Anfield.
"It is a very important statement, but that's all," said Klopp.
"It was not that I said in the meeting before the game: 'It would help a lot if you could win then nobody would talk about Coutinho.' But it is important we showed it is possible to play without him."
The defeat was City's first in a league match since April, and ended their hopes of emulating Arsenal's 2003-04 'Invincibles'.
Liverpool led 4-1 midway through the second half thanks to goals from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah - the last three of which came in an eight-minute spell around the hour mark.
Leroy Sane had cancelled out Oxlade-Chamberlain's opener - and substitute Bernardo Silva and Ilkay Gundogan scored in the last six minutes to set up a thrilling finale.
But the hosts held on to move up to third in the table, level on points with Manchester United in second and fourth-placed Chelsea.
"Maybe it is an historic day," said Klopp. "Maybe it's the only game they lose in the whole season because they are so strong. I really think we deserved it."
Liverpool employed similar tactics to those used by Championship side Bristol City as they lost 2-1 to Manchester City in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final earlier this week.
"The pressing in and around the box in the second half was from a different planet... outstanding," added Klopp.
"We were playing football against a brilliantly organised side. Everyone says how great City play football, but they are also brilliantly organised."
Guardiola stays positive with Quadruple still on
This was City's 23rd league game of the season - and they had not lost in the competition since a 2-1 defeat at Chelsea on 5 April.
They remain 15 points clear at the top, though Manchester United will trim that to 12 should they beat Stoke at Old Trafford on Monday.
City are still in all four competitions, and face back-to-back cup ties after Saturday's Premier League match against Newcastle at Etihad Stadium.
They travel to Bristol City for the second leg of their Carabao Cup tie on 23 January before visiting Cardiff or Mansfield in the FA Cup fourth round on 28 January.
The Blues resume their Champions League campaign with a last-16 tie against Swiss side FC Basel in February.
"Football is unpredictable," said manager Pep Guardiola.
"You lose today against a fantastic team. You have to be sure to win the next one and fight until the end to win the Premier League.
"Especially in that league, with a lot of games in the last two months, with four competitions. Now analyse and be positive.
"People asked if everything was over and done before Christmas, and now it's January and it's not. We have a lot of games to win to be champions."
Guardiola said the game against Newcastle was "so, so important" adding: "All the teams lose games. It is important to not lose again."
