Liverpool returned to the top of the First Division on Boxing Day 1974 with a 4–1 victory over Manchester City. Brian Hall scored twice, while John Toshack and Steve Heighway helped establish a three-goal lead before half-time.
Five days earlier, Bob Paisley's side had lost 3–1 at Birmingham City. That defeat left them fourth, but the table remained tightly packed: one home victory was enough to restore first place.
City had already beaten Liverpool at Maine Road in September. Their two league matches immediately before Christmas, against West Ham United and Wolverhampton Wanderers, had both ended goalless. At Anfield, that sequence of clean sheets lasted only until the 22nd minute.
Hall opened the scoring with Toshack providing the assist. Three minutes later, Toshack scored himself from Heighway's contribution, transforming a level match into a 2–0 Liverpool lead.
Heighway added the third four minutes before the interval. Each of Liverpool's three eventual scorers was now on the scoresheet, and Tony Book's visitors faced a substantial second-half recovery merely to get back into contention.
Instead, Hall extended Liverpool's lead in the 72nd minute, this time with Ian Callaghan supplying him. Colin Bell's late goal denied Ray Clemence a clean sheet, but it came with Liverpool already four ahead and did not threaten the result.
Liverpool finished the afternoon on 29 points from 23 league matches. Middlesbrough also had 29, but had played one match more; four further clubs, including City, were just a point behind the leaders. Liverpool's position was an advantage in a crowded race, not a decisive break from the field.
For City, the return fixture had reversed September's outcome. For Liverpool, the immediate importance was a convincing response to Birmingham. Hall's two goals, either side of Toshack and Heighway's first-half finishes, ensured that their final league appearance of 1974 ended with them back in first place.