Juergen Klopp's side, who have lost just once in the league all season, have 88 points, a club record in the Premier League era, while City, who beat Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 on Saturday, are on 86 but have a game in hand.

That extra game for City will be played on Wednesday when Pep Guardiola's side travel to Old Trafford to face Manchester United.

United will be licking their wounds after suffering a fifth straight away defeat, in all competitions, with a 4-0 hammering at the hands of a vibrant Everton at Goodison Park on Sunday.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side did not manage a shot on target until the 86th minute as they fell to their sixth loss in eight games.

At Cardiff it was a confident, patient performance from Liverpool who have now enjoyed nine straight wins in all competitions.

"It was prepared to be a proper banana skin and we knew that, the boys were unbelievable. It was clear, difficult for all of us," Klopp said.

"The boys try really with all they have, we only speak about the things we have to do."

Georginio Wijnaldum broke the deadlock for Liverpool with a first-time strike from a clever short corner from Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Sean Morrison then missed a golden opportunity for relegation-threatened Cardiff to equalise, making a hash of a header when he had an open goal at his mercy.

Late in the game, Morrison was judged to have pulled down Mohamed Salah in the box and substitute James Milner converted the 81st minute penalty to make sure of the crucial three points for Juergen Klopp's side.

In the other game, Crystal Palace are safe from relegation after denting Arsenal's top-four hopes with a 3-2 away win.

Christian Benteke headed Palace into a first-half lead only but Mesut Oezil equalised just after the break.

Shkodran Mustafi's error led to Wilfried Zaha restoring the Palace advantage and James MacArthur's header made it 3-1 before a late Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang consolation.

United, eliminated from the Champions League by Barcelona on Tuesday, remain in sixth, outside the four qualification spots for next season's campaign.

"From the first whistle everything went wrong," manager Ole Gunnar Solakjaer told Sky Sports.

"We just didn't perform.

"That was not worthy of a Manchester United team.

"We hold our hands up and apologise to everyone associated with the club."

Cardiff remain in 18th place, the final relegation spot, and are three points behind 17th placed Brighton & Hove Albion, having played a game more.

Australian Associated Press