Roberto Firmino pranks Joe Hart as Reds avenge Man City defeat – see the video

Liverpool gained revenge over Manchester City after their League Cup final defeat with an emphatic 3-0 victory at Anfield, which leaves Jurgen Klopp's side closer to fourth place than former title favourites City are to the top of the table.

The victory was a "morale-boosting show of togetherness" for the team, says the Liverpool Echo.

"This was about the Reds showing they had the stomach for the fight ahead by dusting themselves off and going again," adds the paper and they did it in style.

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Adam Lallana was the star of the show in the Liverpool midfield, scoring one and having a hand in their other two goals.

However, Raheem Sterling had a miserable time on his first return to Anfield since quitting the Reds for City last summer. His every touch was booed and he was replaced at half time.

James Milner, who moved in the other direction last year, fared rather better and scored against his former club.

But just as on Sunday, it was City's goalkeeper who was centre of attention. However, while Willy Caballero was the hero for Manuel Pellegrini's side at Wembley, Joe Hart, taking over between the sticks, had a night to forget.

Lallana's opener - a relatively tame shot from 25 yards - caught Hart flat-footed and sneaked in at his near post.

Milner made it two following a fine move just before half time and Firmino capped the victory after an even better build-up in the second half.

But Hart's final humiliation came in the aftermath of the third goal, when he was left looking bewildered, angry and confused as he tried to get the ball back from a grinning Roberto Firmino.

The Brazilian stuffed the ball up his shirt during his celebrations and then bamboozled the England stopper by seemingly making it disappear, much to the delight of the football humourists, who were united in the opinion that Hart had been well and truly "mugged off".