0 ................... TOWN a major turning point

Mignolet. Sadly it was short-lived for the Dutchman, who was forced off with a knock.

The game needed a spark and the hosts were gifted the opportunity to light the blue touch paper from the penalty spot.

Smith was judged to be holding Firmino from a corner but, after a quick word from Chris Lowe, Lossl guessed correctly to deny Salah.

If the gameplan was executed to perfection in the opening 45 minutes, it went to pot early in the second period.

Once again Smith was at the centre of it – the captain’s awkward header falling straight to the feet of forward Sturridge, who proceeded to expertly lift the ball home.

The lethargic home support finally roared into the life.

Mathias Zanka was forced to demonstrate incredible defending to slide clear Firminho’s cross.

It was a short-lived reprieve though as from the resulting setpiece Firminho’s bullet header beat Lossl at the near post.

In an attempt to get back into the game Wagner made a double substitution – Smith and Danny Williams replaced by Florent Hadergjonaj and Steve Mounie .

But it was too little to late as Wijnaldum added a third shortly afterwards, picking up a pass in the area and finding space to fire home.

So Liverpool’s quality eventually told and Town were brought back to down to earth after their Manchester United heroics.

Yet results against the league’s top six will not ultimately determine Town’s top-flight fate – that will more than likely be determined on displays at the John Smith’s with the visit of West Bromwich Albion next week a more important encounter. First real chance of the match as Sturridge connects with a deep Milner cross, but his effort is into the ground and over the bar. Salah with a clear sight of goal after good play down the right, but his shot is straight at Lossl who gathers.