Here is your Liverpool morning digest for Tuesday, January 18.
New guaranteed starter found as 'solution' emerges
As the question was fired across to Jurgen Klopp on Friday, the Liverpool manager was at pains to point to the evidence that backed up his argument.
With no Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane or Naby Keita to call upon for this visit from Brentford, the poser that landed at Klopp's feet was just how he was going to get his team through the coming weeks without them.
"Look, it is a shame that I have to remind people," began Klopp . "But we played one of the biggest games in our history here (against Barcelona in the Champions League semi-final) without Bobby Firmino and Mo.
"We won at Crystal Palace 7-0 last season and Mo didn't start the game. We won [5-0] against Manchester United and Sadio didn't start and now both are out.
"It is about finding solutions."
And while Klopp will never file this ultimately routine 3-0 home win alongside some of those statement performances and famous nights, this was at least another example to support his stance.
After the uninspired, shot-shy performance of Thursday night against Arsenal, Klopp made two changes to his team as he brought in Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Curtis Jones for James Milner and Takumi Minamino.
It was a call that paid off handsomely.
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Jones started in the midfield three with Oxlade-Chamberlain encouraged to attack down the right flank and it was a big afternoon for the former with Klopp indicating on Friday that he had spoken at length with the England U21 international about turning potential and promise into something more consistent.
A COVID-19 diagnosis and what was described as a "freak eye injury" have halted the progress of late for Jones, but this was more like it from the city-centre-born midfielder.
He looked bright and inventive when he moved out on to the left after initially starting in the centre and one dribble and shot in the second half brought out a decent stop from goalkeeper Alvaro Fernandez.
On this evidence, the 20-year-old has to start at the Emirates on Thursday night as Liverpool go in search of a place in the Carabao Cup final.
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Erling Haaland responds to Liverpool forward
Erling Haaland sent a message to Takumi Minamino following his goal for Liverpool against Brentford on Sunday afternoon.
Jurgen Klopp’s side got the better of Brentford at Anfield in the Premier League to move back up to second in the table.
Fabinho headed the Reds ahead on the stroke of half-time before Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Minamino struck in the second half.
After the match, the Japan international took to Instagram to express his delight at scoring in the win for his side on what was 27th birthday.
And Haaland, who was a team-mate of Minamino’s during their time together at RB Salzburg, sent a simple one-word message in response.
The current Borussia Dortmund forward wrote: “Takuuuuuuumi.”
Speaking at the weekend, Haaland revealed that Dortmund are pushing him to make a decision over his future and hinted he could decide his next move in the coming weeks.
Haaland has netted 78 goals in 77 games for Dortmund since joining them in the 2020 January transfer window from Red Bull Salzburg.
That impressive form has resulted in the forward being linked with a host of top clubs around Europe, including Liverpool .
And speaking after Dortmund’s 5-1 win over Freiburg at Signal Iduna Park on Friday night, Haaland admitted 'things will start to happen now' as the German side have made it clear to him that he has to decide his future.
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