A 3-1 defeat to Hull City and the news that Daniel Sturridge is out for up to eight weeks. Today Liverpool reached the low point of their season so far. With trips to Tottenham, Manchester City and Chelsea all coming over the next month, they can only hope to make it to January without repeating such a miserable taking from a day’s work.

Before the game Brendan Rodgers admitted Sturridge, who has been in superb form so far this season, will be sidelined for up to 8 weeks with an ankle injury. A 3-1 defeat to Hull, in which Liverpool looked a shadow of what they've proved capable of in recent months, was not the ideal balm to soothe worries around the absence of Sturridge throughout the busy Christmas period.

For some of the more pessimistic fans, perhaps scarred by the recent experiences of two decades largely characterised by failure in the league, this might feel like a jarring re-acquaintance with reality. And those still holding out hope that Brendan Rodgers’ work will reap a top 4 finish or better will know that the first action of a hugely testing month really needed to go better than this. That Liverpool proved to be largely the architects of their own downfall - with two heavy deflections from Martin Skrtel effectively deciding the game - will perhaps offer some solace.

Hull took the lead after 20 minutes, as Jake Livermore capitalised on some truly baffling work from Victor Moses which saw the Liverpool winger hand over possession in his own half. Ahmed Elmohamady accepted the gift and played the ball to Livermore who, after a neat one two with David Meyler, struck a shot from distance that took a deflection off Martin Skrtel before flying into the Liverpool net.

Hull were in front for just 7 minutes before Stephen Gerrard curled a free kick around the wall and into the far corner of Allan McGregor’s net.

Ireland’s David Meyler put Hull back in front on 77 minutes, with a low and accurate drive through a crowded penalty area and to the left of the diving Simon Mignolet.

That wasn’t to be the end of Liverpool’s misery, however, and with just three minutes left Tom Huddlestone made the most of the opportunities afforded to him by the overly generous Liverpool back line as he shot at goal only to see his shot headed in by a lurching Martin Skrtel.