What a week it’s been for Liverpool. First, a comfortable 2-0 win over reigning European champions Real Madrid, then they brushed aside title rivals Manchester City by the same scoreline.
Everything Arne Slot touches is turning to gold as the Dutchman gears up for Liverpool’s next fixture, a trip to stuttering Newcastle United.
Liverpool travel up to Tyneside after going nine points clear at the top of the Premier League table and know they must keep momentum going over a difficult Christmas period to ensure they remain top of the pile.
Mirror Football has taken a look at the biggest stories to come out of Anfield this week ahead of their game against Eddie Howe’s men.
PSG chief denies Salah interest
All the transfer talk around Liverpool has been dominated by the future of Mohamed Salah after the Egyptian again fuelled the fire following the win over City.
Salah suggested it was his final game against Pep Guardiola’s men – after already claiming he was “more out than in” last month amid a lack of progress in contract talks.
Now PSG chief Nasser Al-Khelaifi has responded to reports his club could be a destination on a free transfer.
“It’s not true,” he is reported to have told Sky Sports in Germany. “He’s a fantastic and amazing player, but we’ve never considered him, to be honest.
“We know every club would love to have him, but this rumour about us is simply not true.”
Alisson gets return date
Liverpool’s surge to the top of the Premier League has not been thwarted by a key injury to No 1 goalkeeper Alisson, who has been missing since their 1-0 win over Crystal Palace in October.
Caoimhin Kelleher has deputised admirably in his place ever since and the Dutchman may be given a tough decision whether to displace the Irishman when Alisson does return.
But Slot has now provided an update on the Brazilian shot-stopper amid his battle to recover from a hamstring injury, teasing Liverpool fans that he could be back sooner rather than later. He stressed that because Kelleher was performing so well, there was no reason to rush Alisson back.
He said: “I think I was clear about our position in the goalkeepers a few weeks ago, but we are just waiting for the moment Alisson is completely fit because Kelleher is doing too well to put Alisson in goal if he is only 50%.
“He is getting there, it might take a few more days but he’s getting closer and closer. He will be in goal before the end of December.”
Slot pokes fun at Neville prediction
It’s fair to say Liverpool weren’t everyone’s pick for Premier League champions in the summer. Jurgen Klopp had only managed it once in nine season amid the dominance of Manchester City, so what hope did new manager Slot have?
Gary Neville had said in the summer Slot would struggle with the “pain” of having to succeed Klopp. He then changed tack this week and claimed the Reds were “very, very strong favourites” to triumph in the title race.
When Neville’s latest comments were put to Slot, the Dutchman was bemused to say the least.
He said: “Is that the first one? He had a different opinion on us at the start of the season, which probably most people had about us, except our fans. We don’t look at it at this moment like this.
“We know we have a difficult week coming up again and as we thought, Real Madrid and Man City were difficult to face. I think it’s even harder to go to Newcastle away as well. We’re not even halfway through the season yet, but it’s a good position to be in.”
