Liverpool won 4–1 at Manchester City on 26 August 1978 to complete three league victories in the season's opening week. Graeme Souness scored twice, with Ray Kennedy and Kenny Dalglish adding the other goals after Brian Kidd had briefly brought City level.
Bob Paisley retained the side that had won 3–0 at Ipswich four days earlier. Souness and Dalglish had shared Liverpool's goals at Portman Road; both scored again at Maine Road, where the visitors built a 2–1 half-time lead and extended it early in the second half.
Souness opened the scoring after a quarter of an hour. John Roberts's contemporary Guardian report described him gaining possession from Ray Clemence's goal-kick, going past Kenny Clements and shooting Liverpool ahead.
City were capable of creating chances on the counter-attack. Mick Channon helped make Kidd's equaliser in the 23rd minute, but Liverpool regained the lead before the interval through Ray Kennedy's header.
Souness scored again three minutes after the restart. Dalglish then made it 4–1, completing Liverpool's scoring before the hour. City continued to find openings: Roberts recorded Asa Hartford hitting a post with a header and Kidd striking the bar. Their attacks brought no further goal.
Liverpool used no substitute, leaving David Fairclough on the bench. The crowd of 46,710 saw a game in which City's chances had kept the Liverpool defence occupied, but Liverpool's finishing produced a decisive margin.
The win put Liverpool top on goal difference, level on six points with West Bromwich Albion and Everton. They had scored nine goals in three matches.