‘Tis the season. Christmas is just around the corner, and it could prove to be a huge festive period for Liverpool.

The Reds will not need reminding of how they stand at the moment, with Arne Slot having guided them to the summit of the Premier League and Champions League standings, while he’s now just two games away from a Wembley final in the Carabao Cup.

There’s still a long way to go though, and with Chelsea breathing down their necks at the moment, Christmas could well be a nervy time for Liverpool fans. If things go according to plan though, it really could be the most wonderful time of the year (see what we did there?).

READ MORE: Arne Slot facing selection headache for Tottenham game with Liverpool star fit again

READ MORE: Anthony Gordon can't hide admiration for 'machine' Liverpool star - 'best I have seen'

• Liverpool injury latest and return dates after Southampton win including Conor Bradley update

• 'Liverpool can't make same transfer mistake with Virgil van Dijk that Man Utd made with me'

Liverpool.com has taken a look at what needs to happen over the festive period for the Reds’ perfect Christmas.

Salah signs

There’s no doubt what is top of most Liverpool fans’ wish list this Christmas, and Mohamed Salah could make their dreams come true.

There’s no official word yet on whether the Egyptian will be extending his stay at Anfield, but recent reports have suggested he could be on the verge of agreeing a deal with the Reds, having been handed a new contract offer this month.

He’s still arguably Liverpool’s best player, and getting him tied down would be the perfect gift heading into the second half of the season.

Chelsea stumbles

This weekend is a big one for the title race. In a worst-case scenario, Liverpool will spend Christmas Day looking up at new leaders Chelsea.

Both teams face tricky-looking away days this weekend, with the Reds heading to Tottenham while the Blues are at Everton. Obviously, there’s no love lost across Stanley Park, but Liverpool would dearly love a favor from their neighbors.

And having impressed at Anfield last week, a similar performance from Fulham at Stamford Bridge on Boxing Day would be the ideal post-Christmas treat. It might be a long shot, but if all goes to plan for Liverpool against Spurs and Leicester, they could extend that two-point lead over Chelsea to eight points.

Injury returns

Injuries have certainly taken their toll recently, although the issues do look like they might be abating after the returns of Diogo Jota, Federico Chiesa and Kostas Tsimikas.

Liverpool does still have a couple of big names out though in the shape of Ibrahima Konate and Conor Bradley. Chances are we won’t see them back until January now, but hopefully one - if not both - might be able to supply an early boost.

Konate perhaps looks the more likely to do so, having posted a picture of himself at the AXA Centre in his training kit recently. Fingers crossed the Frenchman might be close to a return.

Van Dijk and Trent progress

While the signs are looking positive on Salah, it has gone a little quiet on Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold’s contract situations.

The former has always seemed the most likely to put pen to paper out of the three, although he has insisted there’s been no news to report when asked about a possible extension. Hopefully progress is being made there, and he and Salah will still be at Anfield next year.

Alexander-Arnold’s situation is more of a worry. He has insisted that any contract negotiations will not be played out in public, although that won’t do anything to allay fears that he might be heading to Real Madrid.

January is a pivotal month considering he will be able to negotiate a pre-contract agreement with a foreign club, so it may well be now or never for Liverpool to get him tied down to a new deal.

Nunez back in form

It does seem like a lot of Liverpool fans have now made up their minds on Darwin Nunez. After two-and-a-half seasons on Merseyside, it does seem as though many aren’t willing to give him much longer.

Jota’s return may well see him reinstalled as the first-choice No.9, but there’s no doubt that the Reds could do with an in-form Nunez for the remainder of the season - especially given Jota’s injury record.

There might have been more than a slice of good fortune about his goal at Southampton on Wednesday, but when you’re struggling as a striker, you’ll take them any way they come. Hopefully that can prove to be a springboard for him to rediscover some form, which could well prove vital for Liverpool’s title hopes this season.