A 2-0 win at the Etihad on Sunday (Monday AEDT) extended Liverpool's lead over second-placed Arsenal and consigned four-time defending champions City to another humbling defeat in an ever-worsening season.
On Wednesday, a 3-1 loss to Real Madrid sent Pep Guardiola's team crashing out of the Champions League. Back to domestic matters on Sunday, and City were powerless to slow down Liverpool's march towards the title.
First-half goals from Mohamed Salah and Dominik Szoboszlai put Arne Slot's team on course for a victory that leaves them in complete command of the title race after 27 games.
"Special" was how Salah described the victory, which left the away fans chanting "We're gonna win the league" after the final whistle.
It was City's eighth defeat in the league this season and 14th overall. The most games City had lost under Guardiola in any of his previous eight seasons was 12 in the 2019-20 campaign, which was the last time they failed to win the league.
Then, as now, it was Liverpool that led the way, with the Merseyside club looking set to win a record-equalling 20th league title.
City, meanwhile, face a fight just to secure a top-four finish and a return to next season's Champions League. They are fourth in the standings, above Newcastle on goal difference and just two points ahead of eighth-placed Aston Villa.
While Slot tried to dampen title talk with months still remaining of the campaign, Liverpool's advantage is undeniable.
"What we do know is that no one saw us as a title contender when we started in the beginning of the season. And I think no one in the world of football would have expected City not to be so close to the one that leads the league," the Dutch coach said.
Arsenal's surprise 1-0 loss to West Ham on Saturday had given Liverpool the opportunity to strengthen their grip on the title race.
They went ahead through Salah's deflected effort from a well-worked corner routine in the 14th minute, which was his 30th of an outstanding campaign.
The Egyptian then turned provider in the 37th to set up Szoboszlai, whose low shot wrong-footed City goalkeeper Ederson and rolled into the bottom corner.
Earlier on Sunday, Newcastle scored four goals in 11 minutes against Nottingham Forest, but still had to withstand a late fightback to seal a 4-3 win.
A first-half goal spree - including two for Alexander Isak - gave Newcastle a 4-1 lead at the break at St James' Park.
But Forest, who'd led after six minutes, mounted a comeback that provided a nervous finale.
The win moved Newcastle up to fifth and boosted their hopes of a top-four finish and Champions League qualification.
Third-placed Forest led through Callum Hudson-Odoi's opener in the sixth, but Newcastle powered back with Lewis Miley's goal in the 23rd, sparking a remarkable spree.
Jacob Murphy put the home team ahead two minutes later, and Isak struck from the penalty spot in the 33rd minute.
A minute later the Sweden striker scored his second to take his season total to 21 and join Erling Haaland on 19 league goals. Only Salah, with 24, has scored more this season.
Forest's fightback began in the 63rd minute through Nikola Milenkovic, and in the 90th Ryan Yates made it 4-3.
The defeat was Forest's third in four games, meaning they missed out on the chance to move to within three points of second-placed Arsenal.
