Peter Beardsley scored twice as Liverpool began 1988 with a 4–0 victory over Coventry City at Anfield. John Aldridge and Ray Houghton added the other goals on New Year's Day, while Nottingham Forest's defeat by Newcastle United increased Liverpool's lead to thirteen points.
Beardsley opened the scoring after 22 minutes. Coventry failed to clear John Barnes's corner, and a defensive touch took the ball beyond Steve Ogrizovic to leave Beardsley an opportunity to finish.
Liverpool had much the better of the first half but reached the interval only one goal ahead. Their second came after 53 minutes, when Steve Nicol crossed and Aldridge side-footed the ball in at the near post.
Beardsley helped create the third. Barnes delivered a free-kick, Beardsley flicked it on and Houghton finished from close range. Beardsley then carried the ball forward himself and drove into the bottom corner to complete the scoring.
Liverpool had followed their 4–0 win over Newcastle four days earlier with another four goals and a clean sheet. Their unbeaten league start now stood at 22 matches: seventeen wins and five draws. They had 56 points to Forest's 43, although Forest still had a game in hand.