Manchester City’s Raheem Sterling (right), is challenged by Liverpool’s Lucas Leiva during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Liverpool at the Etihad Stadium, Manchester, England on Nov 21. (AP)

MANCHESTER, Nov 21, (Agencies): The Juergen Klopp effect began to really take effect on Saturday as Liverpool hammered mercurial Manchester City 4-1 at the Etihad Stadium to provide the Merseysiders’ new coach with his most striking Premier League win yet.

Klopp’s men defeated struggling champions Chelsea 3-1 last month but an own goal from Eliaquim Mangala and two beautifully worked goals from Philippe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino, all in the first 32 minutes, put them on their way to an even more impressive triumph on the road.

Sergio Aguero, a minute before halftime, produced a brilliant curling effort to threaten the possibility of a comeback win that could have put erratic City back on top of the table.

Yet Liverpool, whose impressive Brazilian Firmino squandered a couple of other opportunities to seal the emphatic triumph, completed the rout with a thunderous, if unlikely, 81st minute strike from Martin Skrtel.

Having lost just once in eight matches since Klopp took over from Brendan Rodgers, Liverpool now lie ninth in the table on 20 points with City in third on 26, behind Manchester United on 27 and surprise leaders Leicester City on 28.

Hull City’s place on top of the Championship is in danger after the leaders were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw at struggling Bristol City on Saturday.

Steve Bruce’s side are now just one point ahead of second placed Brighton, who could seize pole position with a win against Burnley on Sunday.

The Tigers, relegated from the Premier League last season, were grateful to escape with a draw after Kieran Agard had put the hosts ahead in the 39th minute.

Shaun Maloney got Hull’s equaliser in the 73rd minute, but they were unable to snatch a late winner at Ashton Gate.

Derby moved up to fourth with a 2-0 home win over Cardiff.

The Rams broke the deadlock after 55 minutes through George Thorne after good work by Chris Martin and Andreas Weimann wrapped up the win with the second.

Birmingham remain sixth despite a 1-0 home defeat to Charlton, who moved out of the bottom three thanks to Johnnie Jackson’s header.

Reading moved to within a point of Birmingham with a 2-1 win over Bolton.

Lucas Piazon and Danny Williams got the Reading goals as Bolton dropped to the bottom of the table.

Sheffield Wednesday are up to eighth with a 3-1 home win over Huddersfield, while Ipswich were twice pegged back as Wolves earned a 2-2 draw at Portman Road.