There were a number of nervy moments for the Premier League's top three on Saturday, but ultimately all three came through challenging games with important victories.
Manchester City went top after Raheem Sterling's penalty gave them victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers, putting the pressure on Liverpool and Chelsea.
City's title rivals also needed penalties to wrap up the points, with Liverpool seeing off Aston Villa and Chelsea leaving it very late against Leeds United, ensuring the trio are separated by just three points.
The title race looks like being a close-run thing as we enter the new year, and the reaction of Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold provided a telling reminder of how the 2019-20 champions are approaching their task.
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Alexander-Arnold was interviewed by Premier League Productions after Liverpool's victory, and at the time he had not realised Chelsea had snatched victory via Jorginho's second penalty of the afternoon.
However, the England international was not fazed by the discovery, recognising his own team benefited from a similarly late goal last week.
Divock Origi netted in the fourth minute of stoppage time in Liverpool's victory over Wolves the previous weekend, and Alexander-Arnold referenced that winner when responding to the Blues' win.
"We can’t complain because we did the same last week. That’s the title race really, these things happen and it makes it exciting," the defender said, per Metro.
"Three teams going for it this year it seems like. We have to keep winning. This is an important period. The games come thick and fast.
"So, any sort of slip-up right now will be detrimental. We want to be top of the league come March and April to push in during the final run-in."
Liverpool have 37 points from 16 games this season, four more than they did at the same stage of the 2020-21 campaign.
However, while the tally was enough for top spot in January, this time around it leaves Jurgen Klopp's side one adrift of reigning champions City and one above Chelsea.
Liverpool are used to late drama, with goalkeeper Alisson heading home a last-gasp winner at West Bromwich Albion at the tail end of last season as the Reds left it late to clinch a top-four finish.
Their 2019-20 title win was also built on the back of some late drama in the first half of the campaign, with Leicester City and Aston Villa falling to last-minute Liverpool winners.
The Reds drew 1-1 with Chelsea when the two sides met back in August, and they are due to face off again on January 2 at Stamford Bridge.
