By the time Liverpool hosts Manchester United on Monday morning (12.30am), we are likely to find that the Merseyside club has rejected a second offer from Real Madrid for Trent Alexander-Arnold (main image).
The Spanish club, which may sign Alexander-Arnold for free in the summer, is desperate to bolster its squad in the January transfer window after a series of injuries has left a number of key personnel on the sidelines.
That forced it to make a tentative enquiry about the defender earlier this week, but that was quickly rebuffed by Liverpool, which could also lose top scorer Mohamed Salah and defender Virgil van Dijk for free as their contracts expire in June.
The inability to extend the trio’s contracts has overshadowed the blockbuster game against bitter rival Manchester United at Anfield on Jan 6 (12.30am).
Liverpool is enjoying a stunning season under new manager Arne Slot, winning 23, drawing thrice, and losing once to lead the English Premier League and Champions League.
It has scored 68 goals, keeping 13 clean sheets while conceding 22 times.
United, on the other hand, is on its third manager of the season. It is 14th in the EPL, having lost nine of its 19 league games, winning six, and drawing four times.
In the League Cup, it won twice before losing to Tottenham in the quarter-finals, while in the Europa League, it has three wins and as many draws after six matches.
It has scored 48 times and conceded 40, including two direct from corners.
So, while it all points to another victory for Liverpool – it beat United 3-0 earlier in the season – form goes out the window when these two rivals face each other.
With the doubts surrounding the future of Alexander-Arnold, Salah, and van Dijk, United will be fired up to give Ruben Amorim a win at the home of its hated rivals and prevent a fifth straight defeat in all competitions.
The Portuguese coach, who was in contention to replace Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool before Slot was offered the job, is finding life difficult in England after several successful seasons in his homeland.
There is no doubting his talent, but he would need to rebuild his squad if United is to start challenging for honours.
Slot, meanwhile, was fortunate to inherit Klopp’s ‘Liverpool 2.0’ and has hit the ground running.
There is a need for a few upgrades – either in this transfer window or in the summer – but Slot knows he has an excellent squad.
He won’t take United for granted and will also keep a close eye on Arsenal, which has crept up to second in the table, six points adrift, having played a game more.
FIXTURES (Malaysian time)
Jan 4
Tottenham vs Newcastle (8.30pm)
Bournemouth vs Everton (11pm)
Aston Villa vs Leicester (11pm)
Crystal Palace vs Chelsea (11pm)
Southampton vs Brentford (11pm)
Manchester City vs West Ham (11pm)
Jan 5
Brighton vs Arsenal (1.30am)
Fulham vs Ipswich (10pm)
Jan 6
Liverpool vs Manchester United (12.30am)
Jan 7
Wolves vs Nottingham Forest (4am)
