The nine Liverpool players who could leave in January transfer window
Forget Auld Lang Syne and the chimes of Big Ben. Nothing brings in the New Year quite like the opening of the transfer window.
With January upon us, already the tittle tattle has started with rumour and speculation abounding. Given Liverpool's superb start to life under new boss Arne Slot, many supporters want the club to continue building their squad from a position of strength.
The Reds will keep an open mind regards any new signings, particularly given their habit of using the mid-season transfer window more wisely than most. But it isn't just about incomings, with the market providing an opportunity for players to be moved on. And here we look at some of the deals that could be in the offing.
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The deals not happening
What has become abundantly clear is that, even though they at present will walk away from the club for nothing at the end of the season, Liverpool have no intention of allowing any of Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold to leave this month.
The Reds have already rebuffed such an approach for Alexander-Arnold from Real Madrid, while the continued importance of Salah and Van Dijk to the challenge for honours on four fronts under Slot make their departures this month an absolute non-starter.
Liverpool remain hopeful of securing new contracts for both Salah and Van Dijk, although there is an acceptance it may not be quite so straightforward with Alexander-Arnold given the strong interest from the European Super League advocates from the Spanish capital.
The question marks
With almost a full month until the window closes, there will be plenty of scope for movement even though it will, as ever, most likely be concentrated on or around deadline day.
Given Liverpool are actually in a weaker position in terms of squad numbers now compared to the start of pre-season, it seems unlikely any fringe players such as Wataru Endo will be permitted to exit.
However, there continues to be speculation out of Italy regarding a return to the country for Federico Chiesa, who has struggled for fitness since arriving from Juventus in the summer and has made only four appearances for the Reds.
Tyler Morton is another who has seen first-team opportunities limited this term, with the 22-year-old making just three League Cup outings and having not made the bench for the last three Premier League games. Whether Liverpool are open to a deal may depend on their squad situation nearer the end of January.
The loan deals
Morton, though, could be among a group of players who could leave on a temporary basis this month, again dependent on the requirements of the first team and any injuries that could emerge.
Teenage striker Jayden Danns was close to a loan move in the summer before injury, while midfielder James McConnell - another to have lost a large chunk of the season through fitness concerns - could also benefit. In the Academy ranks, the likes of Harvey Davies, James Norris, Dominic Corness, Tom Hill and James Balagizi would seem primed for loan moves.
Liverpool have had 12 players out on loan during the first half of the season and have long demonstrated they are not averse to cutting short those agreements should players not be given the minutes their development requires.
Kaide Gordon, who hasn't started a game for Norwich City in two months, is among those whose situation the Reds are assessing, along with Calvin Ramsay at Wigan Athletic.
