Leicester ease past Manchester City to open up six-point gap as Liverpool stunned by late Sunderland show

Premier League leaders Leicester's fairytale season continued on 6 February with a superb 3-1 victory over closest title rivals Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium. Centre-back Robert Huth got Claudio Ranieri's side off to the perfect start, turning an early Riyad Mahrez free-kick beyond Joe Hart from close range with the help of a big deflection off Martin Demichelis.

Mahrez then notched his 15th goal of a hugely impressive campaign three minutes into the second half when he received possession from the tireless N'Golo Kante before hurdling a desperate sliding challenge from Nicolas Otamendi and cutting inside Demichelis to slam a powerful effort in at the near post. Huth sent the travelling supporters into raptures when he rose highest to meet Christian Fuchs' corner and loop a firm header into the back of the net, while City's only highlight came late on when Sergio Aguero glanced home Otamendi's cross.

That result saw Leicester open up a six-point gap over their opponents, who have now dropped to third following Tottenham's win over Watford. The hosts, who have now won four consecutive top-flight matches, dominated from start to finish at White Hart Lane, but only had one goal to show for their efforts as marauding right-back Kieran Trippier popped up at the back post to bundle in substitute Dele Alli's clever second-half cross.

On Merseyside, Liverpool piled the misery on Jurgen Klopp by frittering away a two-goal lead at home to Sunderland. The manager was absent from the sidelines as he underwent surgery for a bout of appendicitis and his mood will not have been improved as both Dejan Lovren and Joe Allen were lost to injury. Roberto Firmino lifted the gloom by heading in James Milner's deep delivery and three points appeared in the bag when Adam Lallana later doubled the advantage.

As promised, many home supporters staged a 77th-minute walkout in protest at rising ticket prices. With Anfield emptying, Adam Johnson reduced the arrears with a free-kick that caught out the unimpressive Simon Mignolet. Jermain Defoe grabbed a late equaliser following good link-up play between Patrick van Aanholt and former Bordeaux playmaker Wahbi Khazri.

Elsewhere, Everton secured a comfortable victory over Stoke. Romelu Lukaku netted from the penalty spot after goalkeeper Jack Butland had felled Tom Cleverley and the latter then teed up Seamus Coleman to head home from a corner. A 3-0 scoreline was wrapped up before the break when experienced winger Aaron Lennon capitalised on an ill-advised pass from Philipp Wollscheid to slot past Butland.

Newcastle are out of the relegation zone following a nervy 1-0 win over West Brom at St James' Park. Cheick Tiote saw a first-half effort ruled out for offside, but the Toon went ahead just moments later as Aleksandar Mitrovic collected Jonjo Shelvey's through ball before finishing emphatically. Out-of-form Norwich replace them in 18th after Alex Neil's men handed Aston Villa just their third top-flight win of the season. Joleon Lescott set the bottom side on their way by converting Carles Gil's cross at the back post and Gabriel Agbonlahor added a second after being sent through by Jordan Veretout.

Crystal Palace had suffered five consecutive league defeats before stopping the rot with a hard-fought 1-1 draw at Swansea. Gylfi Sigurdsson struck the first blow when he beat Wayne Hennessey with a bending free-kick, but Scott Dann claimed a share of the spoils when he turned Yohan Cabaye's corner in after a Damien Delaney knockdown. In the day's late kick-off, 10-man Southampton edged past West Ham courtesy of Maya Yoshida's early goal. The Saints maintained a clean sheet despite seeing midfielder Victor Wanyama sent off for third time in 2015/16 following a lunge on Dimitri Payet.