It may have only been a brief airing. That, though, was enough.
The unmistakeable chant of “Now you’re gonna believe us, we’re gonna win the league” could be heard from the delighted away end as Liverpool issued their biggest statement yet they are prepared to wrench back the Premier League crown they surrendered last season.
Small wonder. Barely two months ago, the Reds, albeit it with two games in hand, stood a mammoth 14 points adrift of Manchester City, prompting talk of the title race being done and dusted in mid-January.
City boss Pep Guardiola, though, knew a lot better than to think matters were over. Especially given his previous experiences with Jurgen Klopp’s side. He wasn’t wrong. And with this ninth successive league victory over a troublesome Arsenal, Liverpool capitalised on City's slip at Crystal Palace to close the gap on City to just a solitary point with nine games remainin g.
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It didn’t always look that way as the Reds huffed and puffed their way through a nervous first half in which, while comfortably keeping the home side at bay, they showed no sign of being able to break down a typically well-drilled Gunners rearguard.
Then, no doubt with a few choice words from Klopp ringing in their ears, Liverpool gave a 45-minute demonstration of just why City’s procession has been cancelled.
The goalscorers should not have been a surprise, Diogo Jota’s last action of the game seeing him net a seventh goal in as many Reds appearances against Arsenal before his replacement Roberto Firmino cleverly notched a ninth career goal against the Londoners.
That City had needed a last-minute winner to win at the Emirates on New Year’s Day underlines the improved threat this year of Arsenal, who had won eight of their previous 11 league games.
However, Mikel Arteta’s men were well beaten come the final whistle, the gaping holes in the stands echoing the manner in which the visitors began to play their way around the home side in the closing stages.
Liverpool have already amassed as many points – 69 – as they did in the whole of last season.
There are 27 still to play for. And City and Guardiola know better than anyone that Klopp's men will be scrapping for every single one of them.
It’s on, folks. The title race is on.
