Happy New Year from the Reds!
Liverpool kept pace with Chelsea by hanging on to a 1-0 victory against Manchester City at Anfield. The win puts four points between Liverpool and City and leaves the Reds the only team within 10 points of the league leaders.
This was a match that failed to live up to the hype but remained remarkably compelling with a fraught edge and plenty of errors.
Both sides were sloppy. Space and time were in short supply. The tempo began franticly and rarely offered much reprieve, significantly limiting the quality across the pitch. Yet Liverpool scored early and outlasted City, responding to the roar of the Anfield faithful with steel and spirit in equal measure.
This was an ugly, ugly win but a win nonetheless, a precious three points achieved by a far from best Liverpool side.
Still, Liverpool finish with their best ever first half Premier League era points total with 43 and will have not lost at Anfield in over a calendar year. This victory that sends a clear message to the rest of the league.
Regardless of what doubters are peddling, Liverpool are for real, will remain in the title race, and may be the only team capable of catching runaway Chelsea.
No team is better at attacking in the league and the defence may not be quite as poor so many believe. The Reds offered one lightning-strike attack and a firm, resolute clean sheet as evidence.
Here are four findings from the match.
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