Liverpool made it 17 wins out of 17 at Anfield after goals by Sadio Mane and Curtis Jones handed the champions a 2-0 win over Aston Villa in the Premier League on Sunday, pushing Dean Smith's side deeper into trouble.
Elsewhere, Sheffield United drew 1-1 with Burnley, and West Ham and Newcastle United drew 2-2.
Liverpool's Sadio Mane – under pressure from Ezri Konsa of Aston Villa – crosses at Anfield on Sunday.Credit: Getty Images
Following their 4-0 mauling at the hands of Manchester City on Thursday, Juergen Klopp's side struggled to break down a determined Villa.
Klopp fielded another strong side but with the ground empty and the title already in the bag, there was a lack of edge to Liverpool's play.
The visitors were solid and organised and could even have gone ahead in the 52nd minute when Anwar El Ghazi forced a fine save out of Alisson.
Mane broke the deadlock in the 71st minute, meeting a low ball from Naby Keita with a firm shot that rattled in off the underside of the cross-bar.
Substitute Jones scored the second, a minute from the end, with the 19-year-old hooking home after Mohamed Salah headed an Andy Robertson cross into his path.
The goal was Jones' first in the Premier League and came a day after he signed a new five-year contract with the club.
Liverpool are now unbeaten in their last 57 Premier League home games with 47 wins and 10 draws and they have won 24 home games in a row.
Villa, who have now lost 20 games, remain deep in relegation trouble, in 18th place on 27 points and they have yet to win since the resumption of the season, their winless streak going back nine games.
Saints pip Man City
Che Adams scored his first goal for Southampton, a year after joining the club, with a stunning long-range strike as they beat Manchester City 1-0 to condemn Pep Guardiola's side to a third successive away loss in the Premier League.
Adams signed for Saints from Birmingham City for a reported 15 million pounds ($18.72 million) in July 2019 and had failed to score in his previous 24 league appearances for the team.
But after Oleksandr Zinchenko was robbed by Stuart Armstrong, Adams spotted City's Brazilian keeper Ederson far off his line and beat him with a beautiful lofted drive from over 30 metres out.
Second-placed City, who beat champions Liverpool 4-0 in their last outing, responded with a wave of attacks and had 73 per cent possession and 24 shots on goal but they came up against Southampton keeper Alex McCarthy who was in inspired form.
Che Adams (left) was the only goalscorer as Southampton downed Manchester City.Credit: Getty
He saved a powerful drive from Raheem Sterling, a goal bound header from David Silva -- after Fernandinho struck the post -- and then kept out Riyad Mahrez with his feet.
Sheffield United earn Burnley draw
John Egan grabbed an 80th-minute equaliser as Sheffield United earned a 1-1 draw at Burnley after James Tarkowski had given the home side a first-half lead.
The result, at a windy and cold Turf Moor, leaves both teams still in contention for a Europa League place and provided some justice for the Yorkshire side who certainly did not deserve to leave Lancashire empty handed.
Sheffield United's John Egan earns his side a point against Burnley.Credit: AP
Matej Vydra missed a good early chance for Burnley, shooting wide after being put through by Erik Pieters while United went close when Sander Berge forced a good save out of Nick Pope from close range.
The Clarets grabbed the lead, two minutes before the interval when Dwight McNeil floated in a free kick which was flicked on by Jay Rodriguez and Tarkowski slid to turn the ball in at the back post.
Although the visitors were on top in midfield for good stretches of the game, Burnley should have doubled their lead in the 76th minute when a long-range Rodriguez effort was parried out by Dean Henderson straight to McNeil but the 20-year-old could not find the target.
It was to prove a costly miss as United drew level four minutes later thanks to an emphatic finish from Egan at the back post after Billy Sharp had glanced on a cross from George Baldock.
Egan's goal was his first in the Premier League and means he has now scored in all four professional divisions in English football.
Newcastle claim late equaliser
Newcastle United twice came back from a goal down at home to grab a 2-2 draw with West Ham United, robbing the visitors of the chance to put some more daylight between themselves and the relegation zone.
Jonjo Shelvey scores for Newcastle United against West Ham.Credit: Getty Images
Having lost their previous seven away league games, West Ham started the day three points above the drop zone, and they got off to the perfect start when Michail Antonio opened the scoring after four minutes following a mistake by Jamaal Lascelles.
Newcastle levelled in the 17th minute through Miguel Almiron, who swept home Emil Krafth's cross after a slick passing move by the home side.
They went behind again in the 66th minute when midfielder Tomas Soucek fired home a rebound after Declan Rice hit the crossbar with a header from a corner, with Soucek reacting quickest to volley the ball into the net.
The lead was short-lived as Jonjo Shelvey struck back immediately for Newcastle, dancing through the visitors' defence before slotting home with his left foot to make it 2-2.
Having been pegged back twice, West Ham surged forward looking for the win and substitute Andriy Yarmolenko went closest with a stinging late shot that Newcastle goalkeeper Martin Dubravka palmed away.
Despite securing their first points away from home since they beat Southampton on Dec. 14, the ease with which Shelvey sliced through his defence left Hammers boss David Moyes shaking his head in disbelief.
Reuters