The big games just keep coming for Liverpool. After a tricky Premier League showdown at AFC Bournemouth on Saturday, their next three matches are three critical fixtures in three different tournaments.

On Thursday the League Cup takes the main focus, as the Reds look to overturn a one-goal deficit against Tottenham Hotspur. Arne Slot has a full-strength squad to choose from - Trent Alexander-Arnold aside - and will fancy his chances of pulling back the 1-0 disadvantage against the injury-ravaged and out-of-sorts opponents.

With an FA Cup clash with Plymouth Arygle and a Merseyside derby showdown with Everton to follow, this week has the potential to be season-defining for Liverpool. Our fan jury have their say below on what's to follow.

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James Noble

We’re now creeping into that portion of the season where the crux of the campaign is increasingly the now and the not-too-distant. Tottenham’s visit for Thursday night’s Carabao Cup semi-final second leg at Anfield highlights that, with a 1-0 deficit to turn around and a place in a Wembley final to play for.

It’s an exciting prospect and there’ll hopefully be plenty more high-stakes games in the coming months. Indeed, the match against Ange Postecoglou’s dangerous, if unpredictable, side – particularly given the context of the aggregate scoreline – could prove a beneficial experience ahead of the spring, especially in the Champions League.

Arne Slot’s team have plenty of reason to back themselves, of course. Saturday’s 2-0 success at Bournemouth was niftily navigated and represented another notable step forward in the Premier League pursuit. There were excellent displays across the board, with Alisson Becker, Ryan Gravenberch and Mohamed Salah rightly earning praise aplenty. Now sixth in the all-time Premier League goalscoring charts, Salah’s consistent excellence continues to dazzle.

Sunday’s FA Cup trip to Plymouth Argyle, whose form has also improved recently, will likely bring rotation, but diligence will still be needed and the squad looks promisingly strong. Then, of course, comes the derby – likely the last at Goodison Park – against David Moyes’ reinvigorated Everton. The now and the not-too-distant look increasingly intriguing.

Andrew Cullen

It was disappointing to see Arsenal pick up three points against Man City at the weekend. The victory, and the manner of the victory, will remind Liverpool that the road to the title will not be via the primrose path. My disappointment was tempered fairly swiftly, however, when I took a moment to reflect on City’s demise this year. They will of course be back, but taking a moment to enjoy their dip should not be spurned.

It was interesting to read Jamie Carragher’s comments on Dominik Szoboszlai this week. Carragher is right to point out that Szoboszlai’s stats are less than impressive. Looking at Szoboszlai’s Liverpool career to date, it has been turbulent.

After a blistering start, a start which attracted Steven Gerrard comparisons, he faded quite significantly in the second half of last season. This funk in performance continued during international duties in the summer and also persisted into this current campaign, which is one reason Curtis Jones managed to secure a regular place in the starting line-up.

We have however seen a turn in his performance; he continues to bring high energy, and he has settled well into the midfield trio, alongside Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister.

The key question will be whether he can retain consistency for the rest of the season. At 24, and with relatively limited Premier League experience, there will be more to come from him, including, I hope, more goals and assists.

As things stand, his acquisition has been a success, although fans will hope he continues to follow an upwards performance trajectory.