The Reds began 2020 with an authoritative 2-0 home win over Sheffield United that left Blades boss Chris Wilder purring.
“They won every first ball, every second ball, ran forward and ran back and they did that better than us,” Wilder said post-match. “I love everything about them. The physical and mental part of it is amazing.”
Victory - earned by goals from Mohamed Salah and soon-to-be-crowned 2019 CAF African Player of the Year Sadio Mane - ensured Liverpool would go an entire calendar year unbeaten in the top flight.
Focus then quickly switched to the FA Cup and a third-round meeting with Everton at Anfield; a tie a much-changed home team, which included debutant Takumi Minamino, won thanks to Curtis Jones’ sublime goal.