Liverpool scored five times at Maine Road on 10 April 1982, three days after winning at Old Trafford. The 5–0 defeat of Manchester City extended their run to seven successive league victories and left them five points clear of Ipswich Town.
City had beaten Liverpool 3–1 at Anfield on Boxing Day. The return produced a different result, with five Liverpool players scoring and Mark Lawrenson taking the injured Graeme Souness's place in midfield. Clive White's contemporary report in The Times praised how effectively Lawrenson had filled the role.
Sammy Lee opened the scoring with a direct free-kick after eight minutes. Phil Neal added a penalty before half-time, giving Liverpool a 2–0 lead. White disputed the referee's decision to penalise Tommy Caton's challenge on Ian Rush, but the goal stood.
Liverpool scored twice more around the hour. Craig Johnston made it 3–0 from Rush's assist, and Alan Kennedy followed with the fourth. Rush completed the scoring in the 73rd minute, supplied by Kenny Dalglish.
The crowd of 40,112 had seen Liverpool follow a narrow victory over United with a much wider margin against City. Ipswich lost that day; Liverpool finished with 66 points from 33 matches, against Ipswich's 61 from the same number. There were still nine league fixtures to play, but the leaders had strengthened their position in both Manchester visits.