Liverpool’s current squad is full of incredible stories of their rise to the top and Andy Robertson is no different, from Queen’s Park to European and world champion with the Reds.

Robertson has cemented himself as one of, if not, the world’s leading left-back within a Liverpool outfit now consistently challenging for major honours.

And while 2019 sees Liverpool’s No. 26 widely recognised across world football, 10 years ago the then 16-year-old was plying his trade with Queen’s Park, who at the time played in the fourth tier of Scottish football, in their youth ranks after Celtic released him the year prior.

He would do numerous jobs on the side to supplement his income for a number of years, to which his famous tweet in 2012 read: “Life at this age is rubbish with no money #needajob”

He then hit a crossroad, having yet to break into the first team at Queen’s Park he was left with the decision to shift his focus to university studies should he not work his way into the team for the 2012/13 season.

But he did and he would earn a spot with Dundee United the following summer, meaning he could forgo his jobs on the side before a move to the Premier League with Hull awaited in 2014.

A rapid rise which would see him catch the eye of Liverpool, who would land him for a bargain fee of £8 million in 2017 – a signing which was met with widespread scepticism but would soon turn out to be a stroke of genius.

And it is a journey which Robertson has reflected on with a post on Instagram, from a youth player who had recently been turned away by his boyhood club to a Champions League winner and leading Premier League title contender with Liverpool.

It is a remarkable show of what the power of hard work and determination can do, he has had to prove himself with every step he has made and he has done so in emphatic fashion.

As he wrote earlier in the year in a piece for the Players’ Tribune, “No magic wands have been waved in my direction, I didn’t win some kind of lottery to land a spot on one of the biggest clubs in the world.

“The reason why I’m a Liverpool player is the same reason why I’m captain of my country: I’ve worked my bollocks off to get where I am, and by doing that, I’ve been able to make the most of whatever talent I have.

“I’ve never wanted to be a poster boy, but if I’m going to be a poster boy for anything, it should be this – if you don’t give up, and if you carry on believing in yourself when others are doubting you, you can make it. You can show that you are good enough.”

And Robertson has more than proved he is good enough, as despite a slow start to life at Anfield he has established himself as an integral member of the team and a key component of Liverpool’s creative hub.

He once said “nobody wants the left-back’s shirt,” but he has proven that life as a member of a defensive line can be equally as exhilarating and there is no doubt many now have this certain left-back’s name etched on their jersey.

He’s humble yet confident, with a nice touch of snide to go with it all, and he’s solved the club’s long-standing deficiency on the left.

With 107 appearances to his name for the Reds to date and many more to come, Robertson’s rise is inspiring and it’s an incredible example of how far hard work can take you.

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It was a successful night for Liverpool Football Club on Sunday as a trio of prizes were claimed at the 2019 Globe Soccer Awards.

Paul Merson

Football Expert & Columnist @PaulMerse

Liverpool are currently 36 unbeaten in the Premier League; their 49th game would be against Manchester City in early April

Last Updated: 30/12/19 1:47pm

Liverpool are likely to reach the 49th game in their unbeaten run, which would come against Manchester City, in an attempt to rival Arsenal's Invincibles.

Merson also asks whether an Invincible Liverpool side would be more impressive than Arsenal's side of 2003/04, and insists the current Premier League title situation gives both Liverpool and City a better chance in the Champions League...

'49th game against Man City? Wow.' Liverpool go to Manchester City in early April, in what could be the 49th game of their unbeaten run

"Liverpool have got this massive habit of winning matches even when they're not playing well, which is a fantastic trait to have.

"I haven't heard one person talk about Liverpool getting near the 49 unbeaten of Arsenal. It's never talked about, it's odd. You look at it and think: 'Who is going to beat them?'

"You have to score two or three goals to beat them, and they won't get beaten by a lesser team! They might get beaten by a top-six team, at a push, but there won't be a shock below that.

"Their 49th game would be against Manchester City at the Etihad. Wow. I think they are the only side that can stop them.

Liverpool's Premier League fixtures Game unbeaten Opponent Date 37 Sheff Utd (H) Jan 2 38 Tottenham (A Jan 11 (On Sky) 39 Man Utd (H) Jan 19 (On Sky) 40 Wolves (A) Jan 23 41 West Ham (A) Jan 29 42 Southampton (H) Feb 1 43 Norwich (A) Feb 15 44 West Ham (H) Feb 24 (On Sky) 45 Watford (A) Feb 29 (On Sky) 46 Bournemouth (H) March 7* 47 Everton (A) March 14* 48 Palace (H) March 21* 49 Man City (A) April 4* 50 Aston Villa (H) April 11* *dates subject to change

"Liverpool are more likely to get to the 49th game unbeaten than not. They could draw six of the next eight games and still win the league!

"They could get a player sent off in a game, say the goalkeeper, but they'd still play 4-3-2, and not much would change! Everything stays the same! They can still beat teams with 10 men.

"Liverpool could also rest 10 players before some Premier League games between now and the end of the season, but their priority will be to go on and win the Champions League rather than go unbeaten in the top flight.

"Personally? I'd rather go the whole season unbeaten! To go that long without winning the league, and to then win it without losing a game would be phenomenal."

Who is better: Arsenal Invincibles or Liverpool? Arsenal players celebrate their unbeaten title triumph in 2003/04

"It's a proper debate.

"When Arsenal went unbeaten, everybody in the league beat everybody. I don't see that happening now. In this day and age, I feel the top teams are far, far stronger than the lesser teams. Back then, you could go to third-bottom of the league on a Tuesday night and easily get beat.

"I think the lesser teams had more chance of beating the big boys in those days than now. Certain teams played a certain way, whereas teams play the same way now. Now, everybody tries to play from the back, and looks to play like-for-like.

"But if Liverpool do go unbeaten, it is a massive feat, and it will be a bigger achievement. Arsenal never had a Manchester City beside them, trying to avoid defeat against them twice in a season.

"And, arguably, Chelsea's team were probably better back then, Manchester United's team was far better back then, Arsenal's team was far better back then. This is a proper debate.

"You can make a really strong case for both, and it makes for a great debate."

'Title race makes City and Liverpool big CL players'

"Interestingly, both City and Liverpool have now become big players in the Champions League again, because the league is essentially over. Both teams can seriously rest eight or nine players before they play on the Tuesday or Wednesday. That's unusual for English teams.

"That's the situation we have now - before you were looking at Liverpool thinking they might even bin the Champions League, because they won it last year and they had a real chance to win the title, but now they're looking at it and seeing a free run. They could go for it all!

"It also helps Manchester City. They're out of the title race now so can rest players! It's huge."

'Arsenal didn't look like Wenger's team for 45 mins' 2:56 FREE TO WATCH: Highlights from Chelsea's win at Arsenal in the Premier League FREE TO WATCH: Highlights from Chelsea's win at Arsenal in the Premier League

"For the first half against Chelsea, it didn't look like Arsene Wenger was in charge. And that's the biggest compliment I can give. They worked their socks off, but were never going to keep that up for 90 minutes, because they haven't done that in 10 years. That high pressure, closing down, Chelsea couldn't get out or put two or three passes together.

"You looked at Arsenal in that first half and thought: 'Well this is Arteta's team'. He'd got them closing down. But obviously, they were going to fade. Chelsea took advantage of that, and fair play to them.

"As time goes on, however, and Arteta's looks to place his stamp on the team, there are some bright sparks to take. The fitter they get, and the more they understand that closing-down game, I think they'll be alright, and I was quite impressed.

"Arteta has been around one of the best, and he has that way of talking. He's not going to come in and start effing and blinding."

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Danny Ings has taken the Premier League by storm this season as the tireless work put in to recover from serious injuries is beginning to pay off.

Back in October, after a 9-0 defeat to Leicester was followed up by back-to-back games against defending champions Man City, it looked like Ralph Hasenhuttl’s days at Southampton were over.

A loss at Everton followed in early November and was surely the final straw, but the Saints board stuck with the Austrian, who has since been able to turn things thanks to the form of a former Liverpool striker.

Following their Premier League defeat at City, Ings has scored in all but one of the games he has started, and the club have taken 13 points from their last seven.

Only Jamie Vardy and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang have more Premier League goals than Ings this season, and the 27-year-old has really found his feet under Hasenhuttl.

His goals have helped a team that was struggling, hovering around the relegation spots with a manager on the brink of being sacked, to turn their season around.

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Ings’ 12 goals this campaign make this his best return in the Premier League and the season is only at the halfway point.

His best-ever tally came for Burnley in the Championship when he scored 21 goals in 40 games, but in terms of goals per game, or goals per 90 minutes played, he has never been better.

He is currently averaging a goal every 105 minutes on average in all competitions—or 0.85 goals per 90 minutes.

He has 22 goals in 47 games in total for Southampton, which is his best goals-per-game record at any of his clubs to date.

Hasenhuttl has been quick to praise the Englishman, who has put in a ridiculous amount of work off the pitch—as anyone at Liverpool will tell you—to come back from injuries which could have seen his career peter out.

He even suggested he could be in the reckoning for a place in the England squad.

“At the moment he is fit, he can score, and we’re all happy about that because last season he had big problems with his injuries and was a long time out,” said the Saints boss.

“It’s good to have more English strikers who can score. He’s a typical No. 9 in the box. With his technique, there are not many strikers who are better than him.

“The good thing is, it’s not my job to decide [if Ings makes the England squad], I have to make so many decisions every day but this one I don’t have to do and it’s good.

“It’s nice for England that they have a lot of very good strikers and Ings is one of them.”

Ings recently became just the third Southampton striker to reach double figures in the Premier League before the turn of the year, joining club legends Matt Le Tissier and James Beattie.

“At the moment he has so much self-confidence when he is in the box,” added Hasenhuttl.

“I’m happy for him, he works very hard and this is why he deserves to score at the moment. We all know it’s important that he is fit now and he helps us massively.”

From a Liverpool perspective, it is warming to see Ings back performing to the high standards that earned his move to Anfield back in 2015, on the back of two long-term knee injuries.

Last season, he was unable to play against the Reds due to the terms of his loan agreement, but having already scored in the meeting at St Mary’s in August, he will no doubt be a key focus for Jurgen Klopp and his staff on February 1.

Notes from the press box

Sheffield United could be Liverpool’s toughest game

As was the case with Wolves, Liverpool’s next game sees them take on another side who have just played Man City, giving them a good insight as to what they can expect.

But even knowing what Sheffield United are going to do doesn’t mean they can be beaten.

Tactically, they have been the most impressive side in the league this season, and the league leaders should see this as a tough a test as Leicester or Wolves.

Arteta’s Arsenal looks good but still can’t win

Mikel Arteta’s second game in charge of Arsenal looked like it would lead to his first victory, but some changes from Frank Lampard helped Chelsea come back from 1-0 down to win 2-1.

If the size of Arteta’s task was not evident after the 1-1 draw with Bournemouth in his first game, it is now.

The Gunners sit 12th in the table, behind Wolves, Crystal Palace, Everton and Newcastle, and are now 11 points off fourth-placed Chelsea.

Martial finally realising Monaco promise

During his time at Monaco, Anthony Martial was considered one of the best young attacking prospects in Europe.

In 2015, he was presented with European Golden Boy award which is given to the best young player on the continent.

The problem was he joined Man United when the club were in a mess, and it wasn’t the stable platform he needed for his talents.

But as the focal point under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, he has shown glimpses of the star potential he had at Monaco and, like Ings, has already reached double figures for the season.

No more tabloids linking us with Erling Braut Haaland ? https://t.co/58qb6OnUa5

— This Is Anfield (@thisisanfield) December 29, 2019

Speaking of promising strikers, United were also interested in signing Erling Braut Haaland, but the Leeds-born Norwegian wonderkid turned them down after being advised that a move to Dortmund would be better for his development.

It’s a sign of where Solskjaer’s side are currently at on the European stage.

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Liverpool lead Premier League by 13 points at halfway stage

Last Updated: 30/12/19 2:07pm

Virgil van Dijk has played in every Premier League game for Liverpool this season

Virgil van Dijk says Liverpool have been 'spurred' on by their near miss in the Premier League last season and are hungry for more success.

Jurgen Klopp and his side lifted the Champions League, the UEFA Super Cup, and the FIFA Club World Cup this year but were pipped to the Premier League title by domestic treble winners Manchester City in 2018/19.

The Reds finished the calendar year with a 1-0 win over Wolves which re-established their commanding 13-point lead at the top of the league.

Tottenham vs Liverpool

January 11, 2020, 5:00pm

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Centre-back Van Dijk, who has played in every top-flight game for Liverpool this season, said: "We are halfway through now and we hope to finish the season on a high so for that, we have to focus on the game ahead of us.

"The whole experience from last year, doing well in the league, only losing one time, winning the Champions League, the whole experience has been helping us so far in our journey this season.

"We came very close, unfortunately City were just a little bit better but that spurred us on to try even harder this year and so we have been winning games, grinding games out and playing good football at times.

2:39 FREE TO WATCH: Highlights from Liverpool's 1-0 win over Wolves in the Premier League. FREE TO WATCH: Highlights from Liverpool's 1-0 win over Wolves in the Premier League.

"We enjoy the hard work too so that is very good. Hopefully we can just keep going doing that and just be hungry for that as well.

"We should be learning from what happened last year and I feel that is definitely what has been going on."

The Premier League leaders were knocked out of the Carabao Cup earlier in December but host Everton in the FA Cup third round on January 5 and play Atletico Madrid in the Champions League round of 16 in February.

Sheffield United are Liverpool's next opponents at Anfield on Thursday in the Premier League, before Klopp's side travel to face Tottenham on January 11, live on Sky Sports Premier League.

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Liverpool have been making checks on Vitesse Arnhem left-back Max Clark.

Premier League scouts have been flocking to watch the 23-year-old this season because his impressive statistics have been among the best in Europe.

Former Hull trainee Clark has represented England at U16s and U17s level and, remarkably, even made a stats-based England XI which was compiled by Sky Sports earlier in the season and Gareth Southgate has been watching developments.

Clark’s crossing statistics are off the scale and his numbers have brought him to the attention of scouts including Liverpool with an increasing number of clubs using those figures to identify potential targets before watching them.

Liverpool could be looking for cover for Andy Roberston, who was also at Hull City and has since emerged as one of the best full-backs in Europe, while other top-flight clubs are interested.

Clark has 18 months left on his deal at Vitesse Arnhem and the Dutch club are braced for offers during the January window with several Premier League clubs watching developments.

He could be good value as he is coming from abroad, has experience of Championship football and is also classed as a homegrown player.

There is a growing feeling that Clark could return to English football next month and there will be no shortage of takers because of his impressive numbers and performances.

Source: Daily Mirror

This story has been reproduced from the media. It does not necessarily represent the position of Liverpool Football Club.

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Liverpool have been making checks on Vitesse Arnhem left-back Max Clark.

Premier League scouts have been flocking to watch the 23-year-old this season because his impressive statistics have been among the best in Europe.

Former Hull trainee Clark has represented England at U16s and U17s level and, remarkably, even made a stats-based England XI which was compiled by Sky Sports earlier in the season and Gareth Southgate has been watching developments.

Clark’s crossing statistics are off the scale and his numbers have brought him to the attention of scouts including Liverpool with an increasing number of clubs using those figures to identify potential targets before watching them.

Liverpool could be looking for cover for Andy Roberston, who was also at Hull City and has since emerged as one of the best full-backs in Europe, while other top-flight clubs are interested.

Clark has 18 months left on his deal at Vitesse Arnhem and the Dutch club are braced for offers during the January window with several Premier League clubs watching developments.

He could be good value as he is coming from abroad, has experience of Championship football and is also classed as a homegrown player.

There is a growing feeling that Clark could return to English football next month and there will be no shortage of takers because of his impressive numbers and performances.

Source: Daily Mirror

This story has been reproduced from the media. It does not necessarily represent the position of Liverpool Football Club.

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Liverpool have been making checks on Vitesse Arnhem left-back Max Clark.

It's time to choose the final contender for Liverpool's Goal of the Decade - with 10 strikes from 2019 shortlisted today.

Throughout December we are giving you the chance to select one effort from each year of the 2010s to progress to a final poll to decide the overall winner.

Watch the contenders for 2019 and then cast your vote below...

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It's time to choose the final contender for Liverpool's Goal of the Decade - with 10 strikes from 2019 shortlisted today.

Sadio Mane's first-half strike earned Liverpool a hard-fought 1-0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers at Anfield on Sunday as the Reds ended the year 13 points clear at the top of the Premier League.

The Senegal striker swept home on 42 minutes after Adam Lallana nudged on a trademark raking pass out from defence by Virgil van Dijk as the Reds held on to take all three points.

Here are five talking points from the match...

Half-century for Liverpool

Sunday's hard-earned victory means Jürgen Klopp's table-topping Reds are now 50 matches unbeaten in the Premier League at Anfield.

To put that incredible run into perspective, it is only the third time in English top-flight history that any side has reached the landmark – and one of those was Liverpool.

The Reds went 63 home games unbeaten between 1978-1980, while Chelsea enjoyed an 86-game run between 2004-2008.

Having now reached the halfway point of the 2019-20 campaign, with 19 matches gone, Klopp's side have eight more home games to go to close out the season unbeaten at Anfield.

It starts with Sheffield United in their first game of 2020 on January 2.

Key change

Klopp intimated in his pre-match press conference that he could introduce some 'fresh legs' into the team for the game against Wolves, similar to the five he made against Everton at the start of December.

However, despite the Reds playing two games in three days following their return from the FIFA Club World Cup, the boss just made one change to the side that beat Leicester City 4-0 on Boxing Day – but it was a vital one.

Adam Lallana came in to replace Naby Keita in midfield and the Englishman provided the all-important assist for Mane's winning goal.

It came in an unconventional manner as the LFC No.20 improvised a through ball off his shoulder after squeezing between two defenders to reach Van Dijk's lofted pass.

After a VAR check confirmed it was his shoulder and not his arm that provided the key pass for Mane, the goal stood and Lallana could claim his first assist for a Premier League goal since December 2016.

The Mane man

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Match-winner Mane made his 150th appearance for the Reds in all competitions on Sunday and so it was fitting moment to end his mini goal-drought.

It's a mark of the forward's prolific output for the Reds that a four-game stint without finding the net can be thought of in such terms.

Mane did provide three assists during that time, though, including teeing-up the winner for Roberto Firmino in the Club World Cup final. 

His strike against Wolves saw the Senegalese become only the second player to be directly involved in 30 Premier League goals during 2019.

His 24 goals and six assists are just behind Leicester's Jamie Vardy, who has had a hand in 34 Premier League goals.

Gomez shines on Van Dijk's big day

Four Premier League starts, four clean sheets. That's how Joe Gomez's defensive record reads for December.

You could throw in another shut-out from the Club World Cup final, too, when the 22-year-old centre-back was simply imperious against Flamengo.

Gomez was at his best again against Wolves on Sunday, leading the team with 95 passes, two interceptions and one key block as he showcased both the defensive and attacking facets of his game.

With Joel Matip and Dejan Lovren out injured, the youngster has certainly seized his chance to shine alongside Van Dijk, who made his 100th appearance for the Reds.

So much so that former Arsenal defender turned BBC Sport pundit Martin Keown declared the partnership: "As good as anything you are ever going to see in the Premier League."

"I think these are the best two available," the former Gunner told Match of the Day. "They’re magnificent."

Ever-ready Hendo debuts golden badge

Liverpool wore the gold FIFA Champions Badge for the very first time on Sunday and it was somewhat fitting that it was Jordan Henderson who lead out the Reds on what was also a landmark day for the captain.

Eight days after leading the side to victory in the Club World Cup final in Qatar, the midfielder made his 350th appearance for Liverpool in all competitions.

He also set a Premier League record for the decade. Henderson's 308th top-flight appearance since the start of 2010 is more than any other player in the competition in the last 10 years.

Henderson, who joined Liverpool from his hometown club Sunderland in 2011, has made 257 of those Premier League appearances for the Reds.

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Sadio Mane's first-half strike earned Liverpool a hard-fought 1-0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers at Anfield on Sunday as the Reds ended the year 13 points clear at the top of the Premier League.

The year 2019 has been an incredible one for Liverpool FC – both on and off the pitch. While the trophies and awards have been rolling into the club over the last 12 months, the LFC Foundation has been bringing the greatest football family in the world together to improve the lives of others.

The club’s official charity delivers a range of impactful programmes and activities to help create life-changing opportunities for children and young people across the Liverpool City Region and beyond. 

The Foundation’s work focuses on long-term sustainable change across three key areas of wellbeing, skills and communities – from a core schools programme which sees Foundation coaches providing both sport and classroom provision, to its work with local military veterans focusing on football and signposting support services. The range of what the LFC Foundation delivers is huge and still growing. 

Over 28,000 children and young people joined in with LFC Foundation programmes during the 2018-19 season, which was an increase of 86 per cent, and the Foundation is already on track this season to beat that figure. 

In the past 18 months, the LFC Foundation has almost doubled its team to meet the demand. As it stands, the team currently delivers 57 different sessions every week through more than 25 different projects in over 20 different venues across Merseyside. 

Matt Parish, LFC Foundation director, said: “This is just a snapshot of the incredible work that is delivered both locally and globally by the LFC Foundation. I’m so proud to lead this fantastic charity that is committed to making a real difference to many people’s lives. 

“I’d like to thank all of our fans, members of the community, participants, partners, funders, volunteers, and the incredible LFC Foundation team for your continued support and hard work this year.”

January

The LFC Foundation kicked the year off by expanding its Premier League Primary Stars programme in Merseyside schools. The LFC Foundation’s delivery in local primary schools now extends beyond the national curriculum for physical education, focusing on topics such as building and improving resilience, self-esteem, values, teamwork, diversity and inclusion. 

 February

The LFC Foundation's Respect 4 All programme celebrated its 10th anniversary this month. Launched in February 2009, the inclusion project provides free weekly multi-sports and activity sessions for children and young people with complex and additional needs.

March

The sell-out LFC Foundation Legends charity match at Anfield generated an amazing £800K, which the Foundation has used to fund a variety of projects – one of which is the LFC Foundation Community Fund. The LFC Foundation Community Fund was launched to provide grants to help grassroots charities in Merseyside that support children and young people who are disabled, disadvantaged or suffering from abuse or neglect. To date, the Foundation has invested over £106,000 in 71 organisations, which have helped over 26,000 children.

March also saw the LFC Foundation announce the appointment of Matt Parish as its director.

April

The LFC Foundation's Open Goals programme was the focus of the BBC’s Match of the Day community feature, showcasing how the initiative supports local children and their families.

May 

The LFC Foundation pledged a £50k donation to Zoe's Place Baby Hospice in Liverpool, matching the donation made by Reds star Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

The LFC Foundation donated proceeds from the matchday lottery at the Reds’ final Premier League fixture of 2018-19 to the Seán Cox Rehabilitation Trust, alongside proceeds from the Foundation’s fundraising auction in aid of Seán earlier in the year.

June

The club announced the impact of the Reds’ community work conducted by the LFC Foundation, and its dedicated local community programme, Red Neighbours during the 2018-19 season. Highlights for the LFC Foundation included 28,630 children and young people taking part in LFC Foundation programmes.

July

The LFC Foundation held its second annual Pride tournament at Anfield Sports and Community Centre, when teams from across the city came together to celebrate football and togetherness in support of the LGBT+ community. This was part of the club-wide initiative to support this year’s Pride in Liverpool festival.

August

The LFC Foundation headed back to Malawi to deliver the final stage of the Health Goals Malawi project alongside the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM). The programme delivers sports-based public engagement activities in Malawi, which allow young people to access health services and education focused on HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases.

Also in August, an LFC Foundation team lifted the Football is More's Inclusion European Cup after winning the inaugural competition in Switzerland.

September

The Albert Dock played host to the LFC Foundation’s volunteer awards on a floating pontoon, which saw LFC CEO Peter Moore present outstanding volunteers with awards, alongside club legend Ian Callaghan and LFC Foundation director Matt Parish.

October

Fans noticed the addition of the Right To Play logo on LFC’s Champions League shirt, which was unveiled when the reigning European champions faced Salzburg at Anfield. The logo marks a multi-year partnership between Right To Play and LFC Foundation, which will enable the LFC Foundation to extend its reach and help transform more lives through the power of play. Joint programmes have already been launched in Anfield and next year we will roll out in Thailand, with more countries to follow.

The LFC Foundation’s Premier League Kicks programme, which has been running for the past 10 years, was relaunched and now includes a Disability and Inclusion strand – formerly Respect 4 All – and increased girls football sessions. A total of 18 free sessions take place in nine of the most high-need areas across the Liverpool City Region every week.

November

The LFC Foundation announced it will invest £75,000 a year for three years in a citywide Grassroots Football Development Fund, contributing alongside Everton in the Community to provide equipment, training opportunities and pitch-time for clubs, leagues and families who may face financial barriers.

As LFC Women made history by playing the first ever Women’s Super League match at Anfield stadium, the LFC Foundation and Standard Chartered held a women’s football competition for local youngsters at the nearby Anfield Sports and Community Centre. The winning squad was presented with its trophy on the Anfield turf during a special half-time event.

December

Students from the LFC Foundation's Street Soccer Academy celebrated the programme's first-ever graduation at Anfield earlier this month. The LFC Foundation x Street Soccer curriculum offers vulnerable and homeless young people a fusion of professional football training, positive mindset coaching and employability-driven workshops in a bid to promote physical and mental well-being and provide important life skills.

The LFC Foundation closed the year with its fifth annual LFC Foundation Day at Anfield during the Reds' Premier League match against Watford, showcasing the transformative work it does and raising a total of £47,017 through the event’s fundraising initiatives.

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The year 2019 has been an incredible one for Liverpool FC – both on and off the pitch. While the trophies and awards have been rolling into the club over the last 12 months, the LFC Foundation has been bringing the greatest football family in the world together to improve the lives of others.

Xherdan Shaqiri could be sidelined for at least a week with a minor hamstring injury, Jürgen Klopp has confirmed.

The No.23 was forced to sit out Sunday's 1-0 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League due to the issue.

Speaking to BBC Sport after the Wolves win, Klopp said: "Shaqiri should have started but last night he felt a little bit the hamstring.

"Now he's out, not for long but maybe a week or 10 days."

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Xherdan Shaqiri could be sidelined for at least a week with a minor hamstring injury, Jürgen Klopp has confirmed.

Sadio Mane netted the only goal as Liverpool ended 2019 unbeaten on home turf after a 1-0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers.

After the goal was initially ruled out by referee Anthony Taylor for handball, a VAR check overturned the decision as the ball had instead come off Adam Lallana's shoulder.

The win saw the Reds maintain their 13-point lead at the top of the Premier League.

Here is what the media made of the victory...

Paul Gorst, Liverpool Echo

With the thrilling Boxing Day blitz of Leicester following up the successful, yet draining trip to Qatar for the Club World Cup, this was always likely to be a more attritional affair. Despite the sapping few weeks, however, an exhausted Liverpool have somehow refused to yield an inch. Another big step was taken towards the title here as the home side squeezed out a narrow 1-0 triumph that continues their apparent procession to the trophy. It is now 82 points taken from 84 available dating back to the draw against Everton back in March. A remarkably consistent return that puts them head and shoulders clear at the top. Liverpool were not at their best here, how could they be after such a hectic and difficult run of fixtures across a jam-packed month of action? One thing that is always present in this team, though, is its resolute ability to dig in, grind and emerge with the result they want. Here it was again, helping a below-par Reds over the line to re-establish their 13-point advantage of second-place Leicester in the table. In doing so, they became just the second team in the Premier League era to go 50 games unbeaten at home.

David Lynch, Evening Standard

Having produced the performance of the season to thrash their nearest Premier League challengers last time out, Liverpool had a hard act to follow on their Anfield return. But here, Klopp’s team thrilled in a new way, evidencing their flexibility en route to a completely different sort of win. Organised in defence and lightning on the break, Wolves are set up perfectly to shock the league’s top teams, as they did to Manchester City just two days ago. However, the runaway league leaders are no typical top team; they’re just as happy to get into a scrap as they are to play beautiful football. And, no matter how you do it, all victories bring three points with them.

Melissa Reddy, Independent

The final Anfield game of 2019 ended in routine fashion, with Liverpool stretching their unbeaten home spell in the league to a staggering 50 fixtures. Wolves were the latest side to turn up and turn back with a defeat, delivered via Mane's boot, with only Bayern Munich, Napoli and Leicester City as the teams to escape here with a draw over the past 12 months in all competitions. Adam Lallana and Joe Gomez were the standout performers for Klopp, who will need to shuffle his pack for the hosting of Sheffield United on Thursday. So, then, Liverpool enter 2020 with a 13-point advantage at the summit, having posted the highest league tally in the club’s history in May, before lifting a sixth European Cup, the Super Cup and securing world champions status. The New Year offers the opportunity to claim the tag they covet the most – title winners – and with their relentlessness showing no signs of abating, there’s no ceiling to what they can achieve this season.

This story has been reproduced from the media. It does not necessarily represent the position of Liverpool Football Club.

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Sadio Mane netted the only goal as Liverpool ended 2019 unbeaten on home turf after a 1-0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Adam Lallana has stressed Liverpool need to enter the New Year in exactly the same manner they finished 2019.

Victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers on Sunday saw the Reds restore their 13-point advantage at the top of the Premier League to go the entire calendar year unbeaten at Anfield.

But Lallana insists a collective effort from every member of Jürgen Klopp's squad is required to keep the momentum going in the second half of the season.

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The No.20 told Liverpoolfc.com: "It's a squad game and I've said before that we're going to need everybody.

"We've got a few injuries at the time being and three or four kids on the bench, it's a great experience for them being involved and so close to what's been a special season so far.

"We can't take our foot off the gas. We've got a couple of huge games at home in the next week – Sheffield United, who have had a fantastic season, and then the derby in the cup. A couple of big games that we can see in the next week. 

“It's important we recover because we've had a few injuries and it's important that we get everybody back fit as quickly as possible.

"We want to maintain that form going into the New Year and keep Anfield a fortress."

Sadio Mane's first-half goal was enough to give Liverpool the win on Sunday after Wolves had an equaliser ruled out by VAR for offside.

Lallana acknowledged it wasn't a vintage performance from the Reds, but detailed how it's in the team's DNA to constantly look for improvements.

"It was a massive three points, a gritty three points at times," he added.

"We'll look back when we analyse the game and we can do better, we can improve better mentally and physically. I think we can make life easier for us, keep the ball better.

"But that's the attitude we want to have. We don't want to just win and think, 'Ah, we got away with that'. I think we can be better and I think it's important we have that attitude moving forward."

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Adam Lallana has stressed Liverpool need to enter the New Year in exactly the same manner they finished 2019.