( CNN ) -- Liverpool closed on a first English title since 1990 with a thrilling 3-2 win over Manchester City in an emotion charged atmosphere at Anfield Sunday as the 25th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster was marked before kick off . The vital victory left Liverpool two points clear of Chelsea , who beat Swansea 1-0 later Sunday and seven in front of third-placed City , who have two games in hand . Philippe Coutinho scored the winner with a 78th-minute snap shot after the visitors had come back from two goals down and threatened to grab the three points . His goal came after a mistake by Belgian international Vincent Kompany , whose sliced clearance fell straight to the midfielder . Liverpool held on to the lead despite having Jordan Henderson sent off in injury time for a rash challenge on Samir Nasri . Their captain Steven Gerrard had tears in his eyes as he gathered his team in a huddle at the final whistle and admitted that City had proved a formidable hurdle in the title run-in . `` That 's the longest 90 minutes I 've probably ever played in . I felt like the clock was going backwards in some points of the game , '' he told Sky Sports . `` But this is a big result for us . We have four cup finals left , '' he added . City manager Manuel Pellegrini rued their missed opportunities after such a strong comeback . `` We had clear chances to score in the last 15 minutes but we made a mistake and they won the game . `` They started very well and scored two goals . It 's easier when you are playing at home and go two goals in front -- it 's more easy to play with calm , '' he added . Liverpool , who were claiming a 10th straight EPL win , started with confidence and in free-scoring mood , with youngster Raheem Sterling and Martin Skrtel grabbing first half goals . City came back into it after the break with David Silva and a Glen Johnson own goal leaving the home fans fearing the worse until Coutinho 's late intervention . The match started seven minutes late in honor of the 96 Liverpool fans who died before an FA Cup semifinal match against Nottingham Forest at Hillsborough Stadium in 1989 . All matches in the English football program this weekend had similar tributes and a memorial service will be held at Anfield Tuesday , exactly 25 years since the tragedy . Earlier this month a new inquest into the deaths started after the original verdicts delivered by a coroner were quashed by the High Court in December 2012 amid claims of malpractice by police on duty that day . Chelsea , who visit Anfield in a fortnight , scrambled to a 1-0 win at the Liberty Stadium against a team reduced to 10-men after the early dismissal of Chico Flores . A Demba Ba goal in the 68th minute , his second crucial strike in a week , gave Chelsea the three points . While key matches were taken place in the title race , fellow EPL side Hull City reached the FA Cup final for the first time with a 5-3 win over third-flight Sheffield United at Wembley . Hull will play Arsenal , who saw off Wigan on penalties in the first semifinal Saturday , next month but were given an almighty scare by the underdogs . United led through Jose Baxter and Stefan Scougall either side of a Yannick Sagbo goal at halftime . Hull substitute Matty Fryatt drew them level just after the break before Tom Huddlestone and Stephen Quinn put Hull them two clear . Jamie Murphy gave Sheffield United late hope then David Meyler added a fifth for the top flight side in injury time . In the Spanish title race , Atletico Madrid stretched their lead to three points with a 2-0 win at Getafe as Diego Godin and star striker Diego Costa scored in each half . Costa , who has just returned after injury , collided with a goalpost in scoring the clinching second , but he should be fit to play in their next match against Elche Friday . Atletico are heading city rivals Real with champions Barcelona , who lost to Granada Saturday , a further point behind , with five games to go in La Liga .
Liverpool beat Manchester City in crucial match at top of Swansea . Philippe Coutinho goal seals 1 -2 victory at EPL . Fans mark 25th anniversary of Hillsborough disaster . EPL beat EPL 1 -0 in late kick off to keep pace .