Liverpool chalked up a full unbeaten year with a 2-0 win over Sheffield United.
Mohamed Salah gave the Reds an early lead when he turned home an Andy Robertson cross after George Baldock slipped trying to track the full-back.
After the break, Sadio Mane doubled the lead from a one-two with Salah before slotting into the net after Dean Henderson stopped his first effort.
It means that Jurgen Klopp’s side have not lost in their past 37 Premier League games – a run which now stretches back over 12 months.
Here were the key talking points from Anfield:
Salah back on form and fire
These have been trying times for Mohamed Salah recently.
An important cog of Jurgen Klopp’s side remained influential but his clinical edge appeared to have eluded him following a four-game barren streak.
Clearly the Egyptian’s New Year resolution was to get back among the goals and made good on that within barely five minutes against the Blades.
George Baldock’s slip in the build-up admittedly made Andy Robertson’s task of teeing up Salah in the penalty area far easier than initially anticipated.
Yet there can be no denying that Salah’s finish was more cutting than his recent efforts as he turned the ball past Dean Henderson from close range.
Had the Sheffield United stopper not pulled off a string of impressive stops, he could conceivably have been walking out of Anfield with the match ball.
Salah tends to hit peak form in the second half of the esason and if he can replicate this form regularly, the Golden Boot will again be his for the taking.
Reds are the true pass masters
‘Winning the passing’ was once a synopsis for Liverpool’s shortcomings.
They often dominated games but never came away with the spoils as some managers appeared to prioritise possession statistics over the brass tacks.
Klopp, however, proves that the European champions can have the best of both worlds after setting a Premier League record against Chris Wilder’s side.
His players amassed an all-time high of 969 in this game which was complimented by an impressive completion rate of over 90 per cent.
Granted, the success rate still has some way to go before securing Liverpool’s place in the record books but they rarely appeared troubled with the ball.
The ease with which Jordan Henderson and Gini Wijnaldum exchanged passes during the first half felt like a throwback to Anfield’s yesteryear period.
Playing keep-ball may not be the most attractive trait in a team which prides itself on a heavy pressing approach but there is no disputing the numbers.
Could the impossible happen?
Winning the league title is no longer considered the impossible for Liverpool.
Conversations are now turning to when their lengthy wait for domestic success will be ended at some stage this season rather than if it will.
The answer lies a lot closer than some would have been led to believe.
At the current rate of results, and those of their nearest competitors, Klopp’s mentality monsters could become the earliest-ever champions by March 14.
Their opponents on that day? Everton at Goodison Park.
Clinching the title at the home of their local rivals, where they supposedly ‘lost’ the league 12 months prior, might be the ultimate bragging rights.
Something for fans on both sides of the Stanley Park divide to ponder ahead of the latest Merseyside derby encounter in Sunday’s FA Cup third round.
Klopp putting feet up for the Cup
Speaking of the derby, Evertonians may finally get what they wanted.
Over 20 years have elapsed since they tasted victory in any form at Anfield but this weekend may prove to be the time for that hoodoo to end.
With the exception of January signing Takumi Minamino, Klopp is expected to make a host of changes in anticipation of the visit from Carlo Ancelotti’s side.
Adrian is likely to usurp Alisson in goal while the likes of Harvey Elliott, handed a stoppage-time cameo here, will be thrown into the front line.
Cup competitions still have a strong appeal for the Liverpool manager but with a trip to Tottenham on the horizon, resting up appears inevitable.