Liverpool put their early-season struggles aside this week, as they returned to winning ways when facing Rangers.
Having drawn four of their first seven Premier League matches, Jurgen Klopp’s side are facing heavy criticism. But goals from Trent Alexander-Arnold and Mohamed Salah helped them cruise past the Scottish giants and in the process, build some valuable confidence.
However, that newly-discovered optimism will be put to the test right away when they face league leader Arsenal on Sunday. The Gunners have already opened up a 11-point gap on Liverpool and a win at The Emirates could see them permanently pull away.
Ahead of their trip to capital, Klopp issued a rallying cry to the doubters, a message to misfiring Salah and a concerning update on the status of loanee Arthur Melo. Here, Mirror Football takes a look at the latest Liverpool news ahead of a potentially pivotal weekend.
Arthur ruled out
After signing on deadline day, Arthur Melo was expected to provide some much-needed reinforcements to Klopp’s depleted midfield options.
However, he has yet to impress for his new club amid a backdrop of uncertainty over his immediate future at Anfield. The Brazilian arrived on a season-long loan deal but reports quickly emerged claiming that arrangement could be cut short as soon as January.
And while they were dismissed, on early evidence, it will take some time for him to get up to the speed required to operate in their trademark style. Arthur has thus far featured for only 13 minutes and is now set for a spell on the sidelines after picking up an injury.
"Curtis Jones was in training yesterday, looked good but that's not his first session, he's probably closest. Naby [Keita] and Ox [Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain] are still a little bit away and we have one new injury - Arthur,” Klopp confirmed.
Klopp’s “unpredictable” Reds
The Liverpool boss has insisted his side will remain tactically versatile after admitting they have been “figured out” by some of their opponents.
Klopp tweaked the formation of his side for the win over Rangers, lining up in a 4-2-3-1, rather than the 4-3-3 he has adopted for several seasons. That earned them a win in midweek, but Paul Merson had warned Arsenal could “rip them to shreds”.
However, Klopp insists he will keep opponents guessing: "For us, it's more important we become unpredictable again so we need different systems for that as well. We can name different systems.
"Teams have worked out how to play against us when we're not at our best. Teams figured us out years ago but it still didn't work [for them] because we were exceptional.”
“Calm Darwin”
Jurgen Klopp has told misfiring Darwin Nunez to relax and let it happen when he is in front of goal. The £85million signing has just one goal from his first seven appearances in all competitions and missed a host of chances last time out vs Rangers.
But Klopp insists the goals will come - if the Uruguayan can add some extra composure to his game. “I think he said himself, he feels the pressure, these kind of things,” said the Kop boss. “He needs to calm himself down, but his movements are exceptional. If you could see him finishing in training, you’d think ‘oh my God!’.
“In the games, he’s in a bit of a rush and he just needs to calm down in those moments and use his full range of finishing. Not to change, just to keep going.”
