As Manchester United headed back across the north-west in defeat, another opportunity had passed for Liverpool's invincible run to come to an end. 

The Reds sit atop the Premier League with a 16-point lead with a game in hand and on a run of 13 consecutive league wins. 

Jurgen Klopp is refusing to get carried away, though it is becoming increasingly difficult for him to play down the fact that his side are on an inexorable march towards their first title in 30 years. 

In response to Anfield singing "we're going to win the league" in the 2-0 victory over United, the German is quoted by the BBC:

"Of course they are allowed to dream and sing whatever they want, and as long as they do their job in the moment we play, all fine. But we will not be part of that party yet."

Any doubts about Liverpool's credentials were put to bed long ago and all that now remains is for their players to be recognised with individual accolades. 

Virgil van Dijk narrowly missed out on the Ballon d'Or in 2019 at the hands of Lionel Messi, though perhaps that will change in 2020. 

It is also looking likely that a Liverpool player will win PFA Player of the Year.

Granted, it's rare for a player to win the award without being crowned a Premier League champion, so perhaps it's inevitable that the award is heading for Merseyside. 

However, Liverpool's dominance in the odds is really quite remarkable. 

Of the 10 current favourites, the league-leaders boast six, with Sadio Mane leading the way. The Daily Mail have provided the full list using odds from Betfair. 

1. Sadio Mane (10/11)

2. Kevin de Bruyne (9/2)

3. Trent Alexander-Arnold (10/1)

4. Jordan Henderson (10/1)

5. Virgil van Dijk (10/1)

6. Jamie Vardy (12/1)

7. Raheem Sterling (14/1)

8. Mo Salah (14/1)

9. Sergio Aguero (25/1)

10. Roberto Firmino (33/1)

ANALYSIS

GIVEMESPORT'S Kat Lucas: 

The PFA Player of the Year shouldn't always have to come from the team that wins the title - Luis Suarez, Gareth Bale and Mo Salah all proved good cases for that argument - but we have to make an exception to that rule in 2019/20. It would be ludicrous for a non-Liverpool player to be recognised. 

Within Melwood, there's a clear standout candidate and it's only right that Sadio Mane is the clear favourite with the bookies. The Senegal international has been sensational with 11 goals and six assists. To look head and shoulders above the likes of Mo Salah and Roberto Firmino this season is quite the achievement. 

It's also great to see Jamie Vardy in the reckoning. It won't happen, of course, but the Leicester striker is the only non-Liverpool or City player in the conversation and even though the Foxes are tailing off now, the former England man is back to his best. 

Any winner other than Mane would be an injustice, though, and it likely means another piece of silverware will be sitting on his mantelpiece after he's just won African Player of the Year.