A closer look at the selection dilemmas facing Liverpool ahead of the League Cup semi-final with Tottenham

A closer look at the selection dilemmas facing Liverpool ahead of the League Cup semi-final with Tottenham

Pimblett was thrilled as one of the stars of Arne Slot's side revealed himself as a big fan of the UFC fighter

Pimblett was thrilled as one of the stars of Arne Slot's side revealed himself as a big fan of the UFC fighter

Latest Liverpool news and gossip as Mohamed Salah sends a wordless message as the Reds continue their Premier League title race with Arsenal

Latest Liverpool news and gossip as Mohamed Salah sends a wordless message as the Reds continue their Premier League title race with Arsenal

The former Liverpool captain has sensationally denied he wanted to leave Ajax this week

The former Liverpool captain has sensationally denied he wanted to leave Ajax this week

Ange Postecoglou gave a fitness update on Micky van de Ven after the Tottenham Hotspur defender missed Sunday’s trip to Brentford.

The Dutchman returned to the Spurs side for the midweek Europa League victory over Elfsborg when he played 45 minutes but was replaced at half-time in a pre-arranged change. Van de Ven was then not named in the squad at the Gtech Community Stadium on Sunday.

Speaking ahead of the game, Postecoglou confirmed Van de Ven had not suffered a setback and is being eased back into the team after a long absence.

“We're just trying to manage his minutes,” the Australian told Sky Sports. “It is a quick turnaround and I spoke with the medical team and Micky, we’ll just keep him on ice this week, give him another week of training to be hopefully be ready for next week.”

The use of ‘this’ and ‘next’ week leaves some ambiguity to Postecoglou’s words and it’s not clear if Van de Ven will be available for Spurs’ Carabao Cup semi-final second leg against Liverpool on Thursday night.

Tottenham leads 1-0 from the first leg and will need a stellar performance to progress to the final at Wembley in mid-March. Having Van de Ven available would be a huge boost and Spurs have struggled without the center-back, who has played just one Premier League game since October.

Without the 23-year-old, Tottenham selected Archie Gray and Ben Davies at the heart of defence on Sunday, with Cristian Romero still ruled out through injury. Spurs have added another defender to its ranks with the loan signing of Kevin Danso confirmed on Sunday and he could make his debut for the club at Anfield on Thursday night. Chelsea’s Axel Disasi has also been linked with a move to Spurs ahead of the transfer deadline.

Ange Postecoglou gave a vague update on Micky van de Ven's fitness situation. (Image: Getty Images)

Tottenham warmed up for Thursday’s second leg with a 2-0 win over Brentford on Sunday, the club’s first league victory since 15 December. It’s a result that sees Spurs move up to 14th in the Premier League table and eased some of the pressure on the under-fire Postecoglou.

A victory on Thursday night would help massively in that regard, especially on the back of the north London side securing a top-eight finish in the Europa League this week. Prior to that, defeats against Everton and Leicester City had heightened the scrutiny surrounding the former Celtic boss.

Adblock test (Why?)

Liverpool enter deadline day without having conducted any significant business in the winter window, but there are at least nine players who could still move.

The winter transfer window closes at 11pm on Monday, with Liverpool unlikely to confirm any incoming deals before the close of play.

In fact it has been a quiet window in terms of outgoings, too, with only Stefan Bajcetic (Salzburg to Las Palmas) and Calvin Ramsay (Wigan to Kilmarnock) switching loan clubs and Marcelo Pitaluga (Fluminense) and Tom Hill (Harrogate) leaving on frees.

There has been speculation around a number of other players however and it would be no surprise if late deals are arranged before the deadline.

Most prominent among those whose future is in doubt is Tyler Morton, who was denied a loan move to Bayer Leverkusen in the summer but has only started three of his five first-team appearances since.

Speaking earlier in the month Morton admitted “it’s decision time” and said he would “be a bit selfish” in deciding his next move.

The 22-year-old has not been credibly linked with any clubs throughout the winter, though, and any movement on his future could depend on a decision over James McConnell.

Both McConnell and Jayden Danns are attracting interest from clubs in the Championship, and though Slot expressed a desire for the former to stay, he could still depart on loan to gain regular starting experience.

Swansea, Derby and Blackburn want McConnell while Sunderland have made Danns a “leading target” as they vie with Blackburn, Stoke and Preston for the striker.

Kaide Gordon is another player who, like Ramsay and Bajcetic, saw his summer loan move brought to an early end with Liverpool agreeing to terminate their season-long agreement with Norwich.

The winger has since returned to training with the U21s but Portsmouth are among the clubs who could loan him for the remainder of 2024/25.

There is concrete interest from Leeds in academy striker Oakley Cannonier, with the 20-year-old laying on an assist in his second game on trial for his boyhood club’s U21s on Saturday.

Elsewhere, a decision could be made on goalkeeper Harvey Davies who, while Pitaluga and Fabian Mrozek went on loan, has spent the campaign so far training as fourth choice with Slot’s senior squad.

But with Kornel Misciur starting for the U21s and little route into the first team proper, Davies could feasibly depart for more experience in the Football League.

The same could apply to Dominic Corness and James Balagizi, who are both 21 and not in contention for a first-team place at Liverpool.

Left-back James Norris is arguably in the same position, but given he has already travelled with the senior side for three games this season it seems more likely he will stay until the summer.

One player who has no future at Liverpool is goalkeeper Jakub Ojrzynski, who was intended to spend the season with Cypriot second-tier side Spartakos Kitiou only for that deal to fall through due to issues in the paperwork.

Ojrzynski has since reported back to the AXA Training Centre and played a part in sessions with the first team and U21s, but it would be in his best interest to seek a move – perhaps even before the 11pm deadline.

Adblock test (Why?)

Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker has underlined the key elements the Reds must focus on to secure the Premier League title this season.

The Reds have enjoyed a stellar campaign so far, sitting nine points clear at the top of table after the 2-0 win against Bournemouth, along with the with a strong defensive record and an attacking unit firing on all cylinders. However with three months left of the campaign and a number of tough fixtures remaining, Alisson knows that the battle for the title is far from over.

Speaking after Liverpool’s victory, the Brazilian keeper stressed the importance of maintaining momentum and having the energy to beat aggressive teams away from home.

On Liverpool's performance, speaking to Sky Sports post-match Alisson said: "It’s a great result that we have here away from home. We showed great desire, mentality and great quality to finish the situations that we created. Bournemouth are really intense.

"If you look to the data, they are the top of the table for running, intensity - the way they play, they're aggressive. You have to be focused and really sharp in every situation. Marking, they never let a player turn or receive the ball free so you have to be focused, really sharp in every situation when you have the ball, try to create, move a lot, so this intensity takes a lot of energy for you to win this kind of game."

Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson says the team need energy to beat difficult teams (Image: Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

The 32-year-old added: “But to be honest, the Premier League is in a high standard this season, all the teams they are giving troubles to the top six in the league. All the games we play from now on, they show real desire, they want to take points from the bigger clubs, and we have to keep on going with this spirit.

"Game by game, step by step, thinking on the next challenge that we have and we are going to see where we finish the season.”

Liverpool secured their 10th clean sheet of the season, with Alisson producing outstanding saves to deny a Bournemouth side that had netted nine times in their previous two Premier League outings.

Adblock test (Why?)

Former defender Stephen Warnock has warned Liverpool could come to rue its Premier League meeting against Everton being rearranged.

The final Merseyside derby at Goodison Park was originally scheduled to be played at the beginning of December but had to be postponed due to the adverse weather conditions created by Storm Darragh.

As a result, Liverpool will now squeeze the fixture in next week in between the FA Cup tie against Plymouth Argyle on 9 February and the home match against Wolverhampton Wanderers on 16 February.

The rearranged derby - now taking place on 12 February - adds another fixture to the Reds’ condensed calendar and removes one of the two free weeks Arne Slot’s side earned from avoiding the Champions League play-offs.

Everton was also struggling at the time of the original fixture and didn’t win any of its Premier League matches between mid-December and early January, resulting in Sean Dyche’s sacking. Now, things look very different and the Toffees’ season has been transformed under David Moyes.

Everton lost its first game following the Scotsman’s return but has since won the last three matches against Tottenham Hotspur, Brighton & Hove Albion and Leicester City. The Toffees won the latter 4-0 and now sit nine points clear of the relegation zone.

Therefore, Warnock thinks Liverpool could come to regret the timing of the game.

Everton looks rejuvenated under David Moyes. (Image: Getty Images)

“Liverpool will now look back and wish they had played that game against Everton previously,” the former full-back told BBC Sport. “Now, they have to face David Moyes. He knows how to set his team up for a derby and they are in good form now.”

The Reds’ February schedule could be increased further this week should it beat Spurs in the Carabao Cup semi-final, which would mean the Premier League trip to Aston Villa - originally scheduled for 15 March - would be moved to 19 February.

As for the derby, Liverpool has tended to enjoy its trips across Stanley Park in recent years but was beaten last season when Jarrad Branthwaite and Dominic Calvert-Lewin scored in a 2-0 win for Everton. Prior to that, it had to go back to 2010 for its last home win over Liverpool.

Another defeat would impact Liverpool’s title hopes, even if it moved nine points clear at the top of the table thanks to a 2-0 win over Bournemouth on Saturday. It looks like only injuries or fatigue could impact Liverpool’s chances at this stage, something which will only increase with the intense fixture pile-up.

Adblock test (Why?)

Former Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson had been hoping to leave Ajax for Monaco before the January transfer window slammed shut - but the money-spinning move collapsed at the last minute

Former Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson had been hoping to leave Ajax for Monaco before the January transfer window slammed shut - but the money-spinning move collapsed at the last minute

With little progress in talks over a new contract for Mohamed Salah, the Egyptian is said to be facing a “straight choice” between Liverpool and Saudi Arabia.

By now, fans hoped Salah would have agreed new terms and committed his future to Liverpool beyond the end of this remarkable campaign.

But with only five months now left on his deal – and realistically only four months in which he will be playing, with the Champions League final taking place on May 31 – the situation is growing tense.

Liverpool remain in talks with the representatives of Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold but it would be no surprise if the mood music began to turn.

The Athletic‘s James Pearce has provided the latest stance on Salah’s future, following overtures from the Saudi Pro League earlier in the week.

“Liverpool want to keep him beyond his 33rd birthday in June but the financial package has to make sense for the club’s long-term interests,” he writes.

“Increasingly, it seems Salah will be faced with a straight choice between signing a new deal at Anfield or heading for a club in the Saudi Pro League.”

Al-Hilal are known suitors and “would love to have him on board before the Club World Cup,” though interestingly that kicks off before his contract officially expires on July 1.

“If it comes down to money then the most likely outcome is that a new chapter in Saudi Arabia beckons,” Pearce adds, which should come as no surprise.

However, while the finances of the deal are undoubtedly important, there is certainly a question of the project in Saudi Arabia matching Salah’s ambitions.

In Pearce’s words, while Liverpool “will not be able to compete with the wages on offer there,” the player himself “must surely be looking at the bigger picture and his Premier League legacy.”

Two goals in Saturday’s 2-0 win over Bournemouth saw Salah overtake Frank Lampard to become the outright sixth-top goalscorer of all time in the Premier League.

He requires seven more to pass Sergio Aguero into the top five and 10 to eclipse Andy Cole’s record and move into fourth.

Set his targets any higher and Salah would almost certainly need to stay beyond the current campaign.

While Salah’s discourse has changed this season with more emphasis on the collective – insisting after Saturday’s game that his “main target” is winning the title with Liverpool – he is known to covet individual records.

There would be no meaningful records on offer in Saudi Arabia, regardless of Cristiano Ronaldo’s desperate attempts to prove his relevancy in targeting 1,000 career goals.

Adblock test (Why?)

Liverpool are said to be one of several clubs to be showing interest in signing the in-demand 17-year-old Red Star Belgrade attacking midfielder Andrija Maksimovic

Liverpool are said to be one of several clubs to be showing interest in signing the in-demand 17-year-old Red Star Belgrade attacking midfielder Andrija Maksimovic

The contrast between February 2024 and 2025 could hardly be different for the Liverpool squad

The contrast between February 2024 and 2025 could hardly be different for the Liverpool squad

Liverpool Women beat West Ham Women 1-0 for their second win against the Hammers in five days, after they also won in the FA Cup on Wednesday.

Liverpool Women 1-0 West Ham Women

WSL (13), St Helens Stadium
February 2, 2025

Goals: Kiernan 33′

While the outcome of a Liverpool win was ultimately the same, the Reds’ WSL meeting with West Ham couldn’t otherwise have been more different to their FA Cup encounter in midweek.

Manager Matt Beard made just two changes to the team that won 5-0 away at the Hammers, with Teagan Micah replacing Rachael Laws in goal and Lucy Parry starting at right-wing back instead of Yana Daniels.

Liverpool started well with loan signing Sam Kerr again imposing herself, notably going close early on with a powerful effort from 25 yards that went over the crossbar.

West Ham threatened too, and came closest through an acrobatic effort from that ultimately also went over the bar.

Leanne Kiernan that is cheeky ???

A superb ball into the box from Holland that Kiernan flicks into the net!#BarclaysWSL @LiverpoolFCW pic.twitter.com/DHcx5yTfYm

— Barclays Women's Super League (@BarclaysWSL) February 2, 2025

The first and only goal came in the 33rd minute when striker Leanne Kiernan scored for a second time in five days against her former club, flicking home a clever finish after a creative low pass found her from Ceri Holland.

This was Kiernan’s first WSL goal this season on just her fourth start of the league campaign.

Her strike partner, Olivia Smith, was in the wars again this weekend as she clashed heads with Oona Siren when both players went for the ball in the middle of the park. Both players were thankfully able to play on.

• READ HERE: Alarming injury photos emerge as Liverpool complain to PGMOL over treatment

The second half saw Liverpool come out the better team and the Reds maintained their lead while making four changes.

On the hour mark, Chelsea loanee Julia Bartel came on for her third appearance, replacing the always influential Marie Hobinger in midfield, before Daniels and Sophie Roman Haug came on for Parry and Kiernan five minutes later.

Having covered plenty of ground, Kerr was then brought off for Fuka Nagano, who was making her return after illness kept her out of Wednesday’s cup tie.

West Ham finished the game in the ascendency and arguably should have equalised in injury time.

As the clock ticked past 90, substitute Kirsty Smith delivered an inswinging corner that Micah could only fist to No. 9 Riko Ueki who, on the stretch, couldn’t convert from six yards out.

The result keeps Liverpool in seventh place, two points above Everton but 10 points off fourth-place Man City.

Liverpool’s focus is now on FA Cup glory. Next Sunday, they travel to play third-tier outfit Rugby Borough in the last 16 of the competition.

Player of the match: Taylor Hinds

Liverpool Women: Micah; Parry (Daniels 64′), Fisk, Clark, Evans, Hinds; Kerr (Nagano 75′), Hobinger (Bartel 59′), Holland; Smith, Kiernan (Roman Haug 64′)

Subs not used: Laws, Bonner, Shaw, Kapocs, Enderby

Next match: Rugby Borough (A) – FA Cup – Sunday, February 9, 12.30pm (GMT)

Adblock test (Why?)