Liverpool took another step towards a first league championship since 1990 after winning 3-2 at Norwich City on Sunday to pull five points clear at the top of the Premier League table.
Early goals from Raheem Sterling and Luis Suarez put the visitors in control at Carrow Road, before Gary Hooper replied for Norwich in the 54th minute.
Sterling appeared to have made the points safe with a deflected shot minutes later, but a late Robert Snodgrass header meant Liverpool had to endure a nervy last 10 minutes.
It was Liverpool's 11th consecutive league victory and means that they are guaranteed to qualify for next season's Uefa Champions League, but Brendan Rodgers's side now have a bigger prize in their sights.
They need seven points from their remaining three games to win the league and can eliminate Chelsea from the title race by winning at home to Jose Mourinho’s side next weekend.
“It was massive,” Rodgers told Sky Sports. “We said before the game, every victory at this stage of the season, whether you’re top, middle or bottom, is important, and I thought we showed great courage today.
“We will go into the next three games looking to perform well. We want to continue to fight and now look to Chelsea next week, where it will be an incredible atmosphere at Anfield.”
Rodgers had praise for Sterling’s contributions.
“He is arguably the best young player in European football at the moment. If he does not win the PFA Young Player of the Year this season, it is ridiculous,” Rodgers said. “I have been really pleased with his maturity because we have tried to play him in different positions, which really tells you how intelligent he is as a footballer. He is a really humble kid, and it has been great to see.”
Chelsea's shock 2-1 defeat at home to Sunderland on Saturday, coupled with Manchester City's draw against the same side in midweek, had given Liverpool a huge opportunity to stamp their authority on the title race.
Rodgers was without the injured Daniel Sturridge and the suspended Jordan Henderson, but his side swiftly set about settling their supporters’ nerves by taking the lead in the fourth minute.
Sterling collected the ball 30 yards from goal, shifted it inside Bradley Johnson, and then unleashed a 25-yard drive that flew inside the left-hand post via a slight deflection off Michael Turner.
After the Norwich goalkeeper John Ruddy had saved from Joe Allen, Suarez made it 2-0 in the 11th minute, steering a weighted left-foot cross from Sterling into the bottom-right corner. It was the Uruguayan’s 12th goal in his past five appearances against Norwich and made him the first Liverpool player to score 30 league goals in a season since Ian Rush, in 1986/87.
Norwich began to assert themselves, however, and nine minutes into the second half they pulled a goal back.
Simon Mignolet, the Liverpool goalkeeper, met Steven Whittaker’s deep cross with a weak punch that bounced off Martin Skrtel and into the path of Hooper, who tapped into the unguarded goal.
Momentarily, Liverpool looked vulnerable, but in the 62nd minute Sterling restored their two goal-advantage.
After picking up the ball inside his own half, he drove into the Norwich box and dispatched a left-foot shot that took a deflection off Johnson and looped over Ruddy.
Snodgrass hit back for Norwich in the 77th minute, outjumping Jon Flanagan to head home Martin Olsson’s cross, but Liverpool held on for victory.
Rodgers said his club’s fans have been important this season.
“The supporters have been given hope, really,” he said. “They are proud of us, to watch the team attack and play with the verve they are. They put banners hanging over the training ground, there is a lot of nostalgia there for the supporters because they are proud of their team. This is a real iconic football club and we are trying to set the team up to attack.”
He also praised his club’s strong start at Carrow Road.
“We showed great quality and were nerveless in our possession and control, but credit to Norwich because they changed their shape for the second half and got the goal which gave the crowd a lift,” Rodgers said.
“It was always going to be tough after that, but we showed everything again. The quality of our movement and play was exceptional. We had to show character, resilience and determination, which we did in bundles.”
While Liverpool look to be in a strong position to go on and claim the title, Norwich appear unlikely to avoid falling out of the Premier League.
The Canaries are only two points above the relegation zone, with away matches at Manchester United and Chelsea before hosting Arsenal on the final day of the season.
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