Leroy strike puts brakes on Kop

PEP GUARDIOLA had asked whether Liverpool had the bottle to win the club’s first title for 29 years.

Now we will find out, after his Manchester City side inflicted a first league defeat of the season on Jurgen Klopp’s rampant Reds to blow the title race wide open.

City’s stunning win has closed the gap on Liverpool to just four points, with Klopp and his players now able to feel the breath of the champions on their necks.

On a pulsating night at the Etihad Stadium, City reminded the football world just why they are champions, despite their recent blips, and showed Liverpool just why this absorbing title race is far from over.

A win here would have seen Klopp’s side open up a seemingly unassailable nine-point lead at the top of the table will not have needed reminding Klopp had inflicted more defeats on him than any other manager.

The Liverpool boss had lost just one of their past eight meetings, while holding a 7-5 lead over his rival in their head-to-head going into their latest encounter.

The game exploded into life in the 18th minute after a sublime move from the visitors ended with Sadio Mane’s shot coming back off a post – before the real slapstick began.

John Stones was first to the loose ball and cleared it, only for his effort to rebound off City keeper Ederson and send it spinning back towards his own goal.

Stones somehow managed to scramble back and clear the ball at the second attempt, before it crossed the line, with the goal-decision