It’s been an eventful week for Liverpool as the Philippe Coutinho saga has finally come to a close. On Saturday, it was announced that Barcelona and Liverpool have come to an agreement for the transfer of the Brazilian for a fee of £145m. Coutinho signed a five and a half year contract with the Catalan side.
Transfer News
Liverpool are believed to be interested in Monaco winger Thomas Lemar. The Frenchman has been on the radar of Jurgen Klopp since the summer but no deal was able to come to fruition.
Monaco boss Leonardo Jardim did say the club will not be selling their top players this window. Monaco sit second in the league and are looking to qualify for the Champions League next season.
However, his recent press conference did get people talking. On Monday, Jardim told reporters “we are not used to selling in the winter. But the transfer window lasts until the end of the month and many things can happen.”
Clubs have been interested in youngster Ryan Kent after his loan with SC Freiburg was cut short. Bristol City and Sheffield United are vying for his services and the reds are looking to send him on loan to a Championship club.
Klopp has stated that he is more than happy to finish out the season with the squad he has.
Fitness News
Top scorer Mohamed Salah is in contention to start for Liverpool this Sunday when they face Manchester City. Salah was absent for Liverpool’s last two fixtures with a groin injury.
The Egyptian travelled to Dubai with Klopp and the Liverpool squad for a short break following a gruesome Christmas schedule. He is set to report for training at Melwood on Wednesday and if everything goes well, he will play against the league leaders.
Alberto Moreno could also return to training this week having missed their last nine games with an ankle injury. Jordan Henderson and Daniel Sturridge are still sidelined with injuries.
Awards
As well as handing Klopp a boost for Sunday, Salah has also won the PFA Player of the Month award for November. This is his second Player of the Month award in a row with his six goals in four games enough to crown him the winner. It comes after he was awarded CAF Player of the Year on the 4th January.
A hat-trick from Rafael Camacho was enough to give the Liverpool U18’s a victory against Blackburn. Goals from Camacho, Liam Millar and Edvard Tagseth meant Steven Gerrard’s reds remain top of the league.
They are now unbeaten in their last 12 games and face Tottenham on Wednesday 10th January.