Liverpool sent out the "right statement" by ending Manchester City's Premier League unbeaten run in their first game since selling Philippe Coutinho, says manager Jurgen Klopp.
Coutinho's £142m transfer to Barcelona went through on Monday.
Six days later, and despite the absence of £75m defender Virgil van Dijk with an injury, Liverpool held on to beat the league leaders 4-3 at Anfield.
"It is a very important statement, but that's all," said Klopp.
"It was not that I said in the meeting before the game: 'It would help a lot if you could win then nobody would talk about Coutinho.' But it is important we showed it is possible to play without him."
The defeat was City's first in a league match since April, and ended their hopes of emulating Arsenal's 2003-04 'Invincibles'.
Liverpool led 4-1 midway through the second half thanks to goals from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah - the last three of which came in an eight-minute spell around the hour mark.
Leroy Sane had cancelled out Oxlade-Chamberlain's opener - and substitute Bernardo Silva and Ilkay Gundogan scored in the last six minutes to set up a thrilling finale.
But the hosts held on to move up to third in the table, level on points with Manchester United in second and fourth-placed Chelsea.
"Maybe it is an historic day," said Klopp. "Maybe it's the only game they lose in the whole season because they are so strong. I really think we deserved it."
Liverpool employed similar tactics to those used by Championship side Bristol City as they lost 2-1 to Manchester City in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final earlier this week.
