It's fair to say that the new year started with a bang, with a classic, some sensational goals, a red card controversy, and two title contender a little further off the pace.
There were some great individual goals from Mohamed Salah and Mateo Kovacic, as well as goalkeeping from the stand-in for the Reds and the number one for the Blues.
The return of a single point apiece did little for either side's pursuit of Manchester City, but both bosses said it was a spectacle to behold.
"A brilliant match of football, everybody not in the stadium missed something," said Tuchel.
We were close to winning it. The game was on the edge and could have gone either way. A good day and a new year.
Covid forced changes to be made to the team because of the absence of the manager, leaving his assistant,Pep Lijnders, in charge for the match.
It's always interesting with us. Lijnders told Radio 5 Live that never.
The boys made a proper football match and we're proud of them. We attacked the game and didn't make a lot of excuses.
There was a lot of intensity from the start. It must have been an amazing game for the public.
"What an advert for the premier league," said Souness, a pundit for Sky Sports. Two top teams were relentless and never stopped. A great game of football and some great goals.
Great goalkeeping and wonderful goals.
The goal by Mo Salah was his 16th of the season, 10 more than nearest rival and teammate Diogo Jota.
The Reds scored three goals in a row, two of which were beautiful, as the first was a mistake by Marcos Alonso that led to the opener by Sadio Mane, and the second was a wonderful volley by Luka Modric.
Nice goals, no? The first one was brilliant, but the second was difficult.
Lijnders shrugged and said there was little they could do for the two goals. You try to put organization in place to stop these situations.
Karen Carney, a pundit for Radio 5 Live, said that the strike was absolutely ridiculous. Ruthless. Lionel Messi does that drop of the shoulder as well as anyone.
While the second half was filled with many chances, goalkeepers were on top with Mendy brilliantly denying a 35-yard chip from Salah, and Reds understudy Kelleher making a smart stop from the USA forward.
It was only the Republic of Ireland's fourth start in the league and he was praised by Reds defender van Dijk.
"I am a big fan of him, he is a fantastic goalkeeper, he is learning from the best in my opinion in Alisson, his presence is good, he is confident on the ball." The Netherlands centre-back said that Mendy had a great game.
The elbow put the noses out of joint.
Anthony Taylor issued a yellow card to Sadio Mane for his challenge on Cesar Azpilicueta.
There are no shortage of controversial moments in a great game, and that was certainly true of this one with the early elbow on Cesar Azpilicueta by Mane.
Sky Sports pundits Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Souness both felt that the player should have been sent off for the foul, which came inside the game's opening 15 seconds.
The opener and second goal were scored by the same player, and he also played a part in the build-up.
Azpilicueta said it was a clear red. I didn't need the replay because I knew it was a red.
The VAR was used in the reverse fixture between the two teams, when James was sent off for deliberate handball.
The referee gave the red card in the first game and Tuchel said it was quick.
They didn't check it today. I don't like red cards early on in the game and I don't think Sadio Mane should be on the pitch, but it is a red card and he is a good player.
The day's only winner?
The players were disappointed at the end of the game, and four additional minutes did not yield a winner.
The majority of players from both sides were doubled over or sank to the floor at the final whistle, but it also spoke volumes about the disappointment in both camps.
The Blues were 10 points behind City and a point behind the Reds, but they were equally downhearted.
They are at the top. The more points we are behind, the better. It was up to us to close the gap.
Even though they have a game in hand on their two title rivals, the challenge is even greater for the Reds because they will lose key players to the Africa Cup of Nations.
"Anything can happen still, they have the title at the moment, but it is a big gap," said Reds defender Van Dijk.
"We have been there and given it away, so anything is possible." There's no reason to give up.
The cushion City enjoy will be impossible, according to former England player Carney.
She told the radio station that it was important for the teams to not get hunted by other teams. Nobody is catching Man City.
