The summer transfer window is now behind us and Liverpool can fully concentrate on their football.
Unfortunately, the 2022-23 season hasn’t started so well. After Saturday’s frustrating 0-0 draw with Everton, the Reds have taken nine points from their first six Premier League games. Jurgen Klopp noted post-match that it’s of course "exactly 50 per cent" of the 18 available points, which champions Manchester City already have 14 of and leaders Arsenal 15.
Still, there are reasons for optimism at Anfield and the deadline-day singing of Arthur Melo has eased Liverpool’s midfield injury crisis. There's also the group-stage of Champions League on the horizon, as the Reds travel to Napoli on Wednesday in the hope ultimately avenging May's agonising defeat to Real Madrid in the final.
Here's a round-up of the latest news from Anfield.
No goods from Goodison
Liverpool couldn’t make it three Premier League wins on the trot as they were held by a plucky Everton side in Saturday’s early kick-off. The Reds had their best chances through Luis Diaz and Mohamed Salah in the dying embers of both halves, but Jordan Pickford was in human wall mode for the full 90 minutes.
Jurgen Klopp - who was nearly hit with a bottle shortly after Everton had a goal ruled out by VAR - decided to drop Roberto Firmino in place of Darwin Nunez, returning from suspension only to endure a frustrating afternoon. Andy Robertson also didn’t start the match, but did appear as a substitute.
Here are six taking points from Goodison Park.
Klopp lifts lid on Carvalho’s injury
Brought off for Firmino at half-time on his first Premier League start for Liverpool, Fabio Carvalho’s bright start to life on Merseyside suffered a blow on the other side of Stanley Park. The 20-year-old, who scored a 98th-minute winner last time out to earn all three points against Newcastle, suffered a dead leg after a challenge from Amadou Onana.
Klopp was asked by BT Sport whether Carvalho would be fit for Wednesday’s trip to Naples, to which the Reds boss replied: "I'm not 100 per cent sure but I think it's the muscle above the knee, a massive dead leg and very painful. One of the most painful things you can get - it should settle quickly but we will see."
Get involved! Where will Liverpool finish this season? Give us your prediction in the comments section.
Reason for Van Dijk decision revealed
Virgil van Dijk was labelled a lucky man by many after escaping a red card late in the game on Saturday. The Dutch defender went studs up on Onana but only received a yellow card. However, it’s already been revealed why Van Dijk wasn’t sent off by referee Anthony Taylor.
Ex-Premier League official Peter Walton explained on BT Sport: “The threshold on that one if there’s any force used against the foot it’s a yellow card. If the force is used to the shin it could be elevated to a red card. But in this instance Virgil van Dijk’s foot actually slipped down the shin and ended up on the foot which is why it’s a yellow card."
