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The past three Africa Cup of Nations finals were littered with giant slaying performances and shock results but the latest edition in Morocco has gone with form and assured a heavyweight line-up of teams for the knockout fixtures at the weekend, Reuters reported. 

The first round of matches concluded on Wednesday with only one former champion, Zambia, eliminated but the other 11 past winners reached the last-16, setting up potentially mouth-watering showdowns from now on.

Only Mozambique and Tanzania had never progressed to the knockout stages previously, squeezing through among the best third-placed finishers, while Sudan are past the first round for only the second time since they won the competition in 1970, according to Reuters. 

Liverpool could only manage a 0-0 New Year's Day draw with Leeds United on Thursday that cost Arne Slot's men precious points in the Premier League title race, Reuters reported. 

Holders Liverpool are fourth in the standings with 33 points after 19 games, 12 behind leaders Arsenal, while Leeds are 16th with 21 points, seven above the relegation zone.

"It doesn't come along that often that you get a clean sheet and a point at Anfield," Leeds boss Daniel Farke told the BBC. "We had to defend and suffer but we are newly promoted and came to the defending champions."

The Premier League's festive feast turned stale on Thursday as the New Year's Day programme served up three 0-0 draws, most significantly Manchester City's stalemate at Sunderland which left them four points adrift of leaders Arsenal, Reuters reported. 

Second-placed City would have reduced Arsenal's advantage to two points but instead were frustrated as their winning streak in all competitions was halted at eight.

Liverpool's attack was also found wanting as they drew 0-0 at home to Leeds United while there were no goals at Brentford as they ground out a draw with Tottenham Hotspur, according to Reuters. 

Tanzania grabbed a second-half equaliser to hold Tunisia to a 1-1 draw in their last Group C game at the Africa Cup of Nations on Tuesday and book a place in the last 16, Reuters reported. 

Tanzania's second point of the tournament proved enough for them to advance as one of the four best third-placed finishers.

Feisal Salum's powerful shot three minutes into the second half secured the draw after Tunisia had gone ahead through a 43rd-minute penalty converted by Ismael Gharbi, according to Reuters.