Liverpool are now five games unbeaten in all competitions and sit just two points off the top four but the Premier League champions know they must improve as the January transfer window looms
Following a victory over Brighton in the Premier League, Arne Slot is now focusing on this Saturday’s match against Tottenham Hotspur.
Liverpool are currently enjoying a five-match unbeaten run across all competitions and have a full week to gear up for their clash with Spurs – minus talisman Mohamed Salah, who is now away for AFCON. Dominik Szoboszlai and Joe Gomez were the unfortunate victims of injuries during the match against The Seagulls, with Slot confirming Gomez is likely to sit out this weekend’s game against Thomas Frank’s team.
However, there’s hope for Szoboszlai, who might be fit to play despite an ankle injury, reports the Mirror. After 16 matches in the league, Liverpool find themselves in seventh place with 26 points. They’re just two points shy of the top four, with Chelsea currently occupying that spot ahead of Crystal Palace, Manchester United and the Reds. But the reigning champions aspire for much more – here’s all the latest news from Anfield.
Marc Guehi transfer update
The Manchester Evening News report that Manchester City have added Marc Guehi to their transfer wishlist, putting Liverpool under pressure to secure his signature in the January transfer window.
The centre-back was on the brink of joining the Reds in the summer transfer window, but the £35million deal fell through at the eleventh hour. His current contract with Palace runs out in the summer and he has no plans to renew it.
Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish pulled the plug on the deal after Palace failed to line up a replacement, which would have been vital for Palace competing in Europe this season.
Alongside Liverpool and City, Atletico Madrid and Bayern Munich are also said to be chasing his signature. Guehi is undoubtedly amongst the most sought-after defenders on the planet right now.
Discussing the collapsed transfer earlier this month, Guehi revealed: “I think everyone has this perception that it was difficult. Actually, it wasn’t difficult. It wasn’t difficult at all. Because when you’re focused on what’s the most important thing, it becomes easy.
“I know that God has a plan for me, and whatever that plan will be, will come into fruition at some point. But the goal and the focus has always been playing football and trying to do the best I can. And fortunately for me, I get to to it with people like Max (Lacroix).”
Star eyes Champions League triumph
Liverpool’s Ajax loanee Vitezslav Jaros harbours hopes of returning to Merseyside and establishing himself as a key player for the club.
Jaros, 24, also dreams of claiming Champions League glory with Liverpool but is presently the first-choice goalkeeper at Ajax, having spent the previous campaign as third-choice under Slot. “If I say I’m satisfied, how can I improve?” he posed to De Telegraaf.
“When I’m ready to become Liverpool’s first-choice goalkeeper – especially with two formidable competitors like Alisson Becker and Giorgi Mamardashvili – is difficult to say.
“Because taking their place isn’t easy. But that’s ultimately the goal. And once I succeed, I want to win the Champions League. I’m 24 years old, but I’ve moved around a lot and – partly due to a few loan spells as a Liverpool goalkeeper – I’ve already played for eight clubs.
“The path to the top is simply different for goalkeepers than for outfield players. Especially in England, when you play for one of the biggest clubs in the world, you don’t get that chance until you’re eighteen or nineteen. So I felt I needed to gain experience elsewhere, and the club agreed. It’s made me stronger and better.
“I’m really pleasantly surprised (about the quality in the Netherlands). There are many great and big clubs in the Netherlands with quality players, which means many matches are close and difficult to win. And the stadiums may not be as impressive as in the Premier League, but they’re still very nice. And you hardly see any empty seats.”