Liverpool stretched their lead at the top of the Premier League to 16 points and set a record in the process as Roberto Firmino's first-half goal secured a battling 1-0 win away to Tottenham on Saturday evening.
Jurgen Klopp's side were not at their best and needed to withstand a Spurs fightback after the break, but they hung on for a 20th win out of 21 league games this season.
Their total of 61 points is the most after 21 games of a Premier League season, beating Manchester City's 59 two seasons ago, and has never been surpassed in the Spanish, Italian, German or French leagues at the same stage.
The Reds are now undefeated in their last 38 games, spanning back to 3 January, 2019 - a period in which they have won an astonishing 104 points.
Spurs had two big chances to claim a draw and how they would have wished for Harry Kane in their side as Son Heung-min and Giovani Lo Celso inexplicably missed the target.
But it was back-to-back league defeats for Jose Mourinho's side and - depleted by injuries - the top four is now looking a tough ask, sitting nine points behind Chelsea.
Mourinho said before the game that only two people - him and his press officer - believed Spurs could win, but he had a plan, handing 20-year-old Japhet Tanganga his first Premier League appearance in defence.
Tanganga justified his surprise selection with less than two minutes on the clock as he produced a brilliant goal-saving block on the line after Firmino appeared destined to score after breaking clear.
The hosts then had some luck as Firmino's follow-up rattled they post as they escaped going behind early on.
Having no Kane, who tweeted during the game to say his operation on a potentially season-ending hamstring injury has gone well, meant that Spurs had to find different ways to attack and both Son and Lucas Moura had chances after drifting in off the wing, but their radar was off.
Liverpool began to take control, with Virgil van Dijk missing a good chance, and although Tanganga had been impressive, he was schooled by Firmino for a brilliant opener.
The Brazilian knew a tackle was coming and produced a fine turn before lashing in his seventh league goal of the season - all coming away from home.
It looked ominous for Spurs, but they came to life in the second half with a rousing performance.
They were far more creative as Son had a deflected effort just wide, while Serge Aurier fired straight at Allison.
Liverpool posed a threat on the break, but it was Spurs who were pressing and they were presented with two golden chances to level.
The first was laid on a plate to Son in the 75th minute as Moura played him in, but the South Korean blazed his shot over from 12 yards.
Mourinho's men kept going and an even better chance landed at the feet of Lo Celso seven minutes later, but somehow he managed to steer Aurier's cross wide from inside the six-yard box.
Erik Lamela and Son both tested Allison again but Liverpool came through it in familiar fashion.
