Hello to DRY January...

ANFIELD'S NEW YEAR CELEBRATION FALLS FLAT AS REDS RUN OUT OF IDEAS

- By PAUL GORST at Anfield

THE bare statistics of this one will say Liverpool were able to extend an unbeaten run to eight games.

But, like the 3-3 draw with the same opponents just a few weeks ago, this goalless affair with Leeds United will feel like a defeat.

How could it not? Having seen third-place Aston Villa swatted aside at Arsenal and Chelsea drop points and then sack their manager this week, the opportunity to move further from fifth and closer to third went begging here.

And it is entirely fair to ask, as the momentum built by a solid if unspectacular - or hugely convincing - run is now halted, when are performances going to become more fulsome from this eye-wateringly expensive squad?

The sound of the full-time whistle was greeted by noise in the away ends of marching on together and it was a precious point that was understandably treated like a victory for Daniel Farke’s side.

The fact they have taken two from the Premier League champions upon their return to the top flight says a lot about the troubling inability to piece together complete displays by Arne Slot's side.

Has there been one befitting of champion status this season in fact?

Leeds were untroubled for the majority here.