Liverpool opened a nine-point lead at the top of the Premier League with this statement win over the defending champions at the start of December, as Manchester City slumped to a fourth consecutive defeat for the first time under Pep Guardiola.

Hindsight tells us this comprehensive win - secured with goals from Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah - was a changing of the guard.

Things would get worse before they got better for City, while the Reds were now looking like genuine title contenders.

Opta analysis: Liverpool had 18 shots, compared with City's eight, and finished with an xG of 3.57.

Image source, Getty Images

Craig Nelson
BBC Sport reporter

It feels like this deserves some explanation.

When Liverpool missed out on the EFL Cup earlier this year, the following day jubilant Newcastle supporters flooded our message boards with pictures of their pets dressed in full kit to celebrate their long-awaited cup success.

Now I guess this is us returning the favour Liverpool fans...

Arne Slot led Liverpool to victories over Ipswich and Bournemouth in his first two games before facing a trip to Manchester United on 1 September.

The Reds had been knocked out of the FA Cup and seen their title challenge derailed at Old Trafford in the previous season.

A first-half double from Luis Diaz and Mohamed Salah's third goal in the second half ensured a comfortable victory, while the side kept a third consecutive clean sheet.

Opta analysis: Slot became the first Liverpool manager to win his first meeting with Manchester United since Bob Paisley in November 1975. He also became just the third manager to win each of his first three Premier League games without conceding, after Jose Mourinho in 2004 and Sven-Goran Eriksson in 2007.

Image source, Getty Images

OK, our friends at Opta have picked out five key wins for Liverpool that proved pivotal in their charge to the Premier League title this season.

Here they are in chronological order and we will look at each victory in more detail shortly:

• 01 Sep: Man Utd 0-3 Liverpool
• 01 Dec: Liverpool 2-0 Man City
• 22 Dec: Tottenham 3-6 Liverpool
• 18 Jan: Brentford 0-2 Liverpool
• 23 Feb: Man City 0-2 Liverpool

Liverpool

Arne Slot took Jurgen Klopp's 'heavy metal' style and remodled it slightly, introducing an element of control that in recent seasons was lacking.

That said, attacking through transitions remains a key element of Liverpool's play.

This season Liverpool have increased the number of passes made in their defensive third. They invite opponents to press them before playing through them into the vacant space, much like Brighton did under Roberto De Zerbi.

Liverpool take less shots too - 17.4 per game compared to 20.8 last season - though the proportion of their shots taken inside the penalty area has risen from 65.9% to 74.1%.

On the defensive side, Slot has his players press less aggressively than they did under Klopp, instead preferring to block passing lanes. He wants his players to pick and choose their moments to press, which you could argue has helped them avoid burnout.

You can find a more in-depth analysis of Slot's tactical tweaks here.

Mohamed Salah opened the floodgates for Salah selfies on Sunday.

Liverpool fan William Doran has been in touch with one taken of him with Salah at Anfield.

"Celebrating with Mo," said William. "That's me on the right with the scarf and the grey hair."

Image source, William Doran

Image source, Getty Images

Mohamed Salah's goal against Spurs on Sunday took him to 28 in the Premier League this season.

With 18 assists to his name, the 32-year-old has made 46 goal contributions this season, more than any other player during a 38-game Premier League season.

Only Alan Shearer and Andrew Cole recorded more (47) in a single Premier League season, but those were both during 42-game seasons.

With four games left to play, Salah will surely break the record.

Craig Nelson
BBC Sport reporter

Moving on...

The selfie was, of course, inspired by Mohamed Salah's second-half image at Anfield on Sunday, when he used his own phone to take a snapshot of himself with celebrating fans in the Kop after scoring against Spurs.

Image source, Getty Images

Craig Nelson
BBC Sport reporter

OK, before the victory parade details were announced we were discussing the positive changes made by Arne Slot at Liverpool.

We will return to that in a moment, before looking at some of the key wins that shaped Liverpool's season.

It would be great if you could ponder on that and get in touch with your thoughts about when it hit you that Liverpool could be serious title challengers.

While you are considering that, here's a pic of a Liverpool fan taking a selfie with a pig...

Karan Vinod
BBC Sport Journalist

Having won the Premier League, Liverpool could potentially receive a guard of honour in their next game - an away trip to Chelsea.

There is nothing in the rulebook suggesting that this is mandatory. It is merely a gesture from the opposing players as a sign of respect for the Premier League champions.

Various clubs have done it in the past - Manchester City did it when Liverpool visited them after winning the 2019-20 title.

An infamous one was when Arsenal had to give a guard of honour to Manchester United in 2013 - Robin van Persie's Manchester United.

And since there are three more fixtures to be played after Liverpool's visit to Stamford Bridge on 4 May, it is unclear if the visiting team will given a guard of honour.

Liverpool's next game at Anfield is Arsenal's visit on 11 May.

Once again, there is nothing in the rulebook but often in the past, the guard of honour has not been extended past the first game after being crowned champions.

Liverpool

Just to explain, Liverpool's next match is at Chelsea.

Here are the champions' final four fixtures in this season's Premier League campaign:

• 04 May: Chelsea (a)
• 11 May: Arsenal (h)
• 19 May: Brighton (a)
• 25 May: Crystal Palace (h)

Craig Nelson
BBC Sport reporter

I must say, I'm impressed by Adam's restraint when it comes to chocolate.

There's no chance any kind of opened chocolate is lasting five years in my house.

Right, from victory parades to guards of honour...ready to applaud the champions Chelsea?

It was only 10 years ago when the shoe was on the other foot for Liverpool at Stamford Bridge...

Image source, Getty Images

...and you are still here to tell us about it Adam, phew. Go on then, how were they? Still taste as good as they did in 2020?

Ben Ramsdale
BBC Sport

Right, I'm handing the wheel over to me old colleague Craig now.

Not literally old, I mean he's older than me but that's besides the point.

I'm going to get some food before I get told off.

Thanks for putting up with me for the last few hours on my first day back.

Ben Ramsdale
BBC Sport

Ahh, of course!

That's perfect then. What a day for it.

Unless you're me, who is still at work that day Bank Holiday or not.

Nice one. Cool. Buzzing.

PSA to my bosses I'm only joking please I love my job really.