Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard cried tears of joy as his team moved a step closer to a first league title in 24 years with a thrilling 3-2 win over Manchester City at Anfield.

Philippe Coutinho’s strike 12 minutes from time settled a pulsating encounter, which went all the hosts’ way in the first half with goals from Raheem Sterling and Martin Skrtel.

However, City showed their resolve to bring it back to 2-2 in the second half as David Silva and a Glen Johnson own goal pulled them level, but a sliced clearance from City captain Vincent Kompany fell kindly to Coutinho to rifle in the decisive fifth goal of the match.

At the final whistle Reds captain Gerrard looked to the heavens and burst into tears before gathering his team-mates around him into a huddle, no doubt to remind them that this title is not yet won despite this potentially pivotal result.

Manager Brendan Rodgers insisted the result of this game would not decide the destiny of the Barclays Premier League title but the Reds have four matches to go and after a 10th successive victory are on a seemingly unstoppable roll.

Chelsea, the other title-chasers, visit in a fortnight and a successful negotiation of that fixture would put Liverpool in the driving seat to win a first title since 1990.

City still have two matches in hand but this defeat takes things out of their control as they are now seven points off the top.

With the 25th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster falling on Tuesday, floral tributes were presented to Kenny Dalglish and Ian Rush by City’s Mike Summerbee, Joe Corrigan and Tony Book before the kick-off and there was a ’96 25 Years’ Kop mosaic for the impeccably observed minute’s silence.

But the volume inside Anfield was soon cranked up to 11 and a clearly fired-up Luis Suarez was booked early for a late challenge on Martin Demichelis.

The Uruguayan’s next intervention was out of the top drawer as his brilliant through-ball put Sterling up against Kompany, the City captain seemingly recovered from his injury scare in training on Saturday.

Sterling showed remarkable composure and feinted right, moved left before switching back almost in the same movement and with such speed it left his marker and England goalkeeper Joe Hart so out of position that it created a big gap at the near post in which to drive the ball.

It was the first time City had conceded a Premier League goal inside the first 15 minutes and, after Sterling’s teasing ball had been guided wide of the far post by Daniel Sturridge, there were more good omens for the hosts when City’s star midfielder Yaya Toure was forced off with an injury apparently sustained ballooning a shot into the Anfield Road end.

If City were all over the place before he departed they were almost clueless afterwards, allowing Gerrard a free header from a Coutinho corner which Hart superbly tipped over.

It only delayed the inevitable as from the resulting Gerrard corner Skrtel easily lost Kompany, nipped in front of Gael Clichy and flicked a header over Hart and inside the far post.

The speed of Liverpool’s attacks had City chasing shadows – unfamiliar territory for them – and Coutinho, Suarez and Sturridge combined to almost make it three.

When City did pierce Liverpool’s defence Gerrard, excellent in nullifying the first-half threat of Silva, produced the perfect tackle to deny Edin Dzeko inside the area.

However, Mamadou Sakho, who kept his place at the expense of a fit-again Daniel Agger, managed to get away with a less precise challenge on the Bosnian as they raced to the byline.

Silva’s woeful free-kick driven straight into the wall appeared to suggest Gerrard had succeeded in smothering all the creativity out of the Spain international but, after Sterling and Johnson both cleared from under their own crossbar and Simon Mignolet saved Fernandinho’s volley, it was a different story in the second half.

James Milner’s introduction for Jesus Navas five minutes after half-time produced a positive response with the England international combining to allow Silva to expertly round off an incisive passing move from close range.

Silva, finding greater freedom, created the equaliser when he drifted left and drilled in a low cross which Johnson diverted past Mignolet.

City were now in the ascendancy and Silva should have put them in front when substitute Sergio Aguero, making his first appearance for a month after a hamstring problem, skipped past Skrtel and crossed to him but the Spaniard guided his shot wide.

It was to prove costly as a misjudgement by Kompany presented Coutinho with a first-time chance which he drilled past Hart with 12 minutes to go.

Liverpool were hanging on going into five minutes of added time and fatigue played its part as Jordan Henderson lunged in on Samir Nasri and was shown a straight red card by referee Mark Clattenburg.

They held on and the team huddle at the end, with Gerrard offering his words of wisdom accompanied by chants of ‘We’re gonna win the league’, certainly put a smile on the face of watching owner John W Henry.

City now need favours from other teams to if they are to reclaim the title but the day finished in Liverpool’s favour – just.

According to Foxsports

Manchester United failed to reproduce their heroics of 1999 as they crashed out of the Champions League despite a spirited effort at the Allianz Arena.

United fans started dreaming of another Champions League triumph against the Germans when Patrice Evra put the visitors 1-0 up on the night, but the lead lasted just 22 seconds as Bayern claimed a reasonably comfortable win.

The Germans dominated possession for most of the evening and ran out 3-1 winners on the night thanks to goals from Mario Mandzukic, Thomas Muller and the superb Arjen Robben.

David Moyes’ men spent nearly all the first period in their own half as Bayern launched wave after wave of attack.

It would have been so different had Wayne Rooney – playing with a pain-killing injection in his toe – not fluffed two easy chances.

Evra’s sweet half-volley led to raucous celebrations from the United bench, but slack defending allowed Mandzukic to score and it was the same story moments later when Muller beat David de Gea after gaining a yard on Nemanja Vidic.

Then Robben, a constant thorn in Bayern’s side, got the goal he deserved, beating Evra and Vidic for pace before planting the ball into the corner.

Moyes’ game plan, as predicted by opposite number Pep Guardiola, of trying to contain Bayern and hit them on the attack, worked for the best part of an hour thanks to some solid defending.

But in the end Bayern’s class was too much. The fact that the German side could field such a stellar line-up when two of their most prominent players – Bastian Schweinsteiger and Javi Martinez – were suspended shows how big a gulf remains between these two sides.

It also reinforces just how much Moyes needs to spend to turn his team into world-beaters who belong in the European elite, rather than plucky battlers.

They will not be able to take on the likes of Bayern again next year. This was the last realistic chance they had to qualify for the Champions League and the valiant performance in Bavaria will not put a gloss on what has been a dour season under Moyes.

For the first 10 minutes, United more than held their own. In fact, the small pocket of away fans inside the atmospheric Allianz Arena started to dream of a 1999-style miracle as Rooney took down a long ball from Darren Fletcher and advanced towards goal.

The England striker, showing no sign that his toe injury was hindering him, brushed Dante aside and had a window to shoot, but he dallied, seemingly caught between the idea of firing at goal and squaring to the unmarked Shinji Kagawa. In the end, the delay allowed Philipp Lahm to get back and block the striker’s weak effort.

From then on, it was nearly all Bayern. Robben was a constant menace. His quick feet bamboozled Evra, but the Dutchman’s curling effort flew wide.

A rare break from United ended with Antonio Valencia tapping home from close range, but his effort was ruled out for offside.

For the rest of the half Bayern camped on the edge of the United box. Robben, Franck Ribery, Muller and Mario Gotze toyed with the visitors, flicking the ball across the lush German grass as they tried to find an opening.

They had so much time that Lahm and David Alaba, Bayern’s full-backs, moved into central midfield, allowing Toni Kroos to get forward and join the attack.

Ribery rippled the side-netting with a low shot, Kroos curled just over and Robben slalomed into the box only to be blocked by a wall of United defenders.

Danny Welbeck, Valencia and even Rooney were all required to help out at the back.

A couple of breaks almost came off for United just before the break, but the fact that Bayern had 70 per cent possession by the time the half-time whistle went showed just how dominant they were.

After the break United showed a much more positive attitude. The Bayern defence backed off and Kagawa powered a low shot into Manuel Neuer’s hands – the first time the German had been called into action.

Then the unthinkable happened. United raced away on the counter, stretching the Bayern back four. Valencia whipped over a beautiful ball to the back post and Evra rifled home the sweetest of half-volleys.

Moyes and the entire United coaching staff sprung from the bench in celebration. Evra was mobbed by his team-mates and the Bayern fans fell silent.

Just 22 seconds later it was a different story. United backed off as Bayern went on the attack. Ribery sent over a pinpoint cross and Mandzukic sneaked ahead of Evra to head past David de Gea.

Rooney had a brilliant chance to shut the home crowd up soon after but somehow he fluffed his shot deep inside the Bayern box.

Then with 23 minutes left on the clock, Bayern struck the killer blow. Evra gave Robben the half-yard he needed to fire across the box and Muller swept the ball past De Gea after getting ahead of Vidic.

Moyes brought on Javier Hernandez, hoping the little Mexican could be his Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, but it was too late.

Robben’s pace proved to be too much for Evra again. The Dutchman skipped past his marker and strode beyond Vidic before planting his finish into the corner, courtesy of a slight deflection off the Serbian, to signal the end of Moyes’ hopes of silverware in his first season.

For the first 10 minutes, United more than held their own. In fact, the small pocket of away fans inside the atmospheric Allianz Arena started to dream of a 1999-style miracle as Rooney took down a long ball from Darren Fletcher and advanced towards goal.

The England striker, showing no sign that his toe injury was hindering him, brushed Dante aside and had a window to shoot, but he dallied, seemingly caught between the idea of firing at goal and squaring to the unmarked Shinji Kagawa. In the end, the delay allowed Philipp Lahm to get back and block the striker’s weak effort.

From then on, it was nearly all Bayern. Robben was a constant menace. His quick feet bamboozled Evra, but the Dutchman’s curling effort flew wide.

A rare break from United ended with Antonio Valencia tapping home from close range, but his effort was ruled out for offside.

For the rest of the half Bayern camped on the edge of the United box. Robben, Franck Ribery, Muller and Mario Gotze toyed with the visitors, flicking the ball across the lush German grass as they tried to find an opening.

They had so much time that Lahm and David Alaba, Bayern’s full-backs, moved into central midfield, allowing Toni Kroos to get forward and join the attack.

Ribery rippled the side-netting with a low shot, Kroos curled just over and Robben slalomed into the box only to be blocked by a wall of United defenders.

Danny Welbeck, Valencia and even Rooney were all required to help out at the back.

A couple of breaks almost came off for United just before the break, but the fact that Bayern had 70 per cent possession by the time the half-time whistle went showed just how dominant they were.

After the break United showed a much more positive attitude. The Bayern defence backed off and Kagawa powered a low shot into Manuel Neuer’s hands – the first time the German had been called into action.

Then the unthinkable happened. United raced away on the counter, stretching the Bayern back four. Valencia whipped over a beautiful ball to the back post and Evra rifled home the sweetest of half-volleys.

Moyes and the entire United coaching staff sprung from the bench in celebration. Evra was mobbed by his team-mates and the Bayern fans fell silent.

Just 22 seconds later it was a different story. United backed off as Bayern went on the attack. Ribery sent over a pinpoint cross and Mandzukic sneaked ahead of Evra to head past David de Gea.

Rooney had a brilliant chance to shut the home crowd up soon after but somehow he fluffed his shot deep inside the Bayern box.

Then with 23 minutes left on the clock, Bayern struck the killer blow. Evra gave Robben the half-yard he needed to fire across the box and Muller swept the ball past De Gea after getting ahead of Vidic.

Moyes brought on Javier Hernandez, hoping the little Mexican could be his Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, but it was too late.

Robben’s pace proved to be too much for Evra again. The Dutchman skipped past his marker and strode beyond Vidic before planting his finish into the corner, courtesy of a slight deflection off the Serbian, to signal the end of Moyes’ hopes of silverware in his first season.

According to Foxsports

Atletico Madrid reached the semi-finals of the Champions League for the first time following a 1-0 win over Spanish rivals Barcelona.

Koke’s fifth-minute strike was enough to send Atletico through to the last four, although Diego Simeone’s men could have killed the tie off in a breathless first 20 minutes.

Atletico, without injured star striker Diego Costa, hit the woodwork three times during their early burst and wasted several other chances late on.

It was the sort of profligacy that Barca might have been expected to punish, but they never found any consistent attacking threat – with Lionel Messi largely ineffective – to send the Catalans to their earliest exit in seven years.

Barca may yet also lose out to Atletico for the Primera Division title – the play each other on the final day – and will do so having suffered a first loss to the capital club in four years.

For Atletico it meant they would play in the last-four of Europe’s premier club competition for the first time in 40 years, after they reached the final of the European Cup in 1974.

Atletico’s start was so compelling that the only shock was they were just 1-0 up after the first 20 minutes.

Koke grabbed the vital goal to send them ahead in the tie after five minutes, although it could have been so much better, but for hitting their hat-trick of near-misses.

David Villa was the chief culprit, spurning two glorious chances, to build on Koke’s early score.

Even that early goal relied on the frame being rattled first, as Barca failed completely to recover after Adrian Lopez thrashed against the right-hand post.

Villa was allowed to dink a cross back across goal and Adrian leapt highest to knock the ball down for an unmarked Koke to side-foot home first time from inside the six-yard box.

Barca were rattled and Villa should have punished his former employers even further when Atletico won the ball on the edge of the area only for the striker to shoot into the left-hand post.

Villa made it the complete set when he hooked a shot over Jose Pinto and on to the crossbar after again easily finding a route behind the Barca defence.

They were the type of chances Costa would have been expected to gobble up.

In any case, Barca’s minds were seemingly already frayed to breaking point and goalkeeper Pinto’s inexplicable decision to try and dribble out of his six-yard box under pressure from Adrian, before making a lucky escape, hardly settled the visitors.

When Barca eventually did venture forward even Messi appeared tentative, heading a Dani Alves cross wide when he found a gaping hole in the home defence.

Barca did at least start to find a foothold for the remainder of the half, albeit without offering any real threat they would score the goal they now required.

The visitors took just two minutes of the second half, though, to create their best chance of the night.

Xavi rolled a perfectly-weighted pass for Neymar, who took a touch, only for Thibaut Courtois to get out early and push the ball away under the Brazilian’s feet.

Courtois needed some luck moments later, though, when he lost balance and Messi blazed over.

Atletico went quiet until Gabi wasted a glorious chance on the counter-attack after 70 minutes.

Barca’s defenders backed off him as he ran into the area, preferring to mark Villa’s run into the middle, and it proved the correct call when the skipper’s weak shot was kept out by Pinto’s extended leg.

Moments later Atletico had a strong shout for a penalty, when Javier Maschaerano crashed into the back of Villa, but referee Howard Webb waved play on.

The home side’s failure to kill Barca off was increasing the tension inside the Vicente Calderon and when Neymar headed narrowly wide the home fans held their breath.

Still Atletico failed to find the killer second goal and Pinto made another sharp stop to deny Critisan Rodriguez in stoppage-time.

Eventually, however, Webb’s final whistle came to the delight of the home fans.

According to Foxsports

The Spurs boss insists the club must answer persistent questions about his future, while Gus Poyet admits Sunderland need a ‘miracle’ following the 5-1 defeat at White Hart Lane

Tim Sherwood spoke of the “honour” of managing Tottenham after learning that he will lose his job at the end of the season.

It is understood that Spurs have decided to replace Sherwood in the summer, with Louis Van Gaal and Mauricio Pochettino the front runners for the position.

Tottenham thumped bottom-placed Sunderland 5-1 at White Hart Lane on Monday night – but it will not be enough for Sherwood to stay in charge despite only agreeing an 18-month contract in December.

“It’s an honour to manage this football club and if you have any questions about my future you’ll have to ask my employers,” said Sherwood.

“I don’t want anyone to feel sorry for me, it’s been a great opportunity and I’m very proud to manage here.

“You can’t stop the speculation, it’s been there since I took over. It’s up to the football club to answer these questions.

“In a perfect situation I’d have had a pre-season and brought in my own players.”

Asked whether he was concerned that the club might have been talking to other managers, Sherwood replied: “I think a club would look at the next manager anyway. It’s like with players, you look at the next options. I don’t know if this club has been doing that.”

Meanwhile, Sunderland boss Gus Poyet accepted that it would take a miracle for his team to avoid relegation following a result that leaves them rooted to the bottom of the table, seven points from safety with seven games to play.

Poyet said: “I’m very honest. I’m realistic and when you look at the table and the games we have got left, I think we need a miracle. We need something unique to shock us – you can’t see it coming.

“There are so many things we cannot do. There is no place to hide and I take responsibility.

“I’m not the type of person who is going to blame someone else. I’m here, I’m the manager and I’m responsible.”

According to Goal