Kenny Dalglish scored a hat-trick and supplied Ian Rush's goal as Liverpool beat Manchester City 5–2 at Anfield on 27 December 1982. Phil Neal also scored, helping Liverpool establish a three-goal lead before the half-hour.
Dalglish opened the scoring with a shot from outside the penalty area after David Hodgson and Ronnie Whelan combined to find him. Neal then advanced from the right and struck a long-range shot which went in off a post.
City conceded again when Dennis Tueart fouled Dalglish just outside the area. Dalglish took the free-kick himself and beat Joe Corrigan with a low shot. In a brief first-half spell Liverpool had gone from 0–0 to 3–0.
David Cross pulled a goal back before the interval, leaving City two behind at half-time. Liverpool restored their three-goal advantage in the second half when Dalglish sent Rush through to score.
Dalglish completed his hat-trick late on, with Hodgson credited with the assist. Tommy Caton scored City's second at the end, but the visitors had never recovered from Liverpool's early run of goals.
The crowd of 44,664 had seen Liverpool's league tally reach 50 goals after 20 matches. They remained top of the First Division with 43 points, five ahead of Nottingham Forest.