The January transfer window is fast approaching and Liverpool must act quickly if they want to salvage any major success from the 2022/23 campaign.
Jurgen Klopp's side have made a mixed start to the Premier League season, having picked up just six wins from their opening 14 matches and face Aston Villa on Boxing Day in their first top-flight outing since November 12. Liverpool currently sit in sixth place, seven points off fourth-place Tottenham and a mammoth 15 behind leaders Arsenal.
The Reds also crashed out of the Carabao Cup on Thursday, but Klopp's men can be excused by the fact they faced the toughest team left in the competition, away from home. Liverpool were beaten 3-2 at Manchester City despite goals from Fabio Carvalho and Mohamed Salah, with Nathan Ake striking the winner for Pep Guardiola's men.
Although the Reds are through to the last-16 of the Champions League and take on Wolves in the FA Cup third-round, Liverpool need to strengthen their squad in January should they want to challenge for honours and success come the end of the season.
Klopp's side do often perform better in the second-half of the campaign but this season feels slightly different given the state of their squad and mood from the outside. Liverpool are in desperate need to add at least one midfielder in the winter window with the Reds lacking strength and quality in that position.
Arthur has made just a handful of appearances since his loan move from Juventus, while Naby Keita, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and James Milner are all out of contract at the end of the campaign and can sign pre-contract agreements with non-English clubs ahead of a potential summer move.
Meanwhile, Jordan Henderson is entering the twilight of his career and Harvey Elliott hasn't had much big-game experience, meaning Liverpool could do with bringing in a quality player who is in his prime. Jude Bellingham has been someone firmly linked with a move to the Reds, but Liverpool may have to wait until the summer to try and pursue a transfer for the Borussia Dortmund and England ace.
The Reds don't have the time to wait, however, and need to act fast as missing out on a Champions League finish could put players off, like Bellingham, from moving to Anfield. Youri Tielemans and Moises Caicedo have emerged as realistic candidates and would be astute signings - having both gathered a wealth of Premier League experience.
Liverpool fans urged Jurgen Klopp to sign Tielemans after he struck another stunner in Leicester 's 2-0 win over Merseyside rivals in November, and their wish could come true. The Belgian still hasn't signed a new contract or an extension to his contract at Leicester, with his current deal running out at the end of the season.
It seems inevitable that Tielemans will leave Leicester in search of top level football and Liverpool could be a perfect destination for the midfielder. Some Reds supporters will see another glimpse of Tielemans in person when the Foxes travel to Anfield on December 30, and Liverpool could grab the midfielder for a cut-price in January.
Meanwhile, Caicedo has been linked with a switch to the Reds having impressed for Brighton since his move to the South Coast from Independiente del Valle. The 21-year-old, like Bellingham, has a mixture of youth, potential for the future and also being a ready-made Premier League midfielder that can perform on a weekly basis.
Although next summer is expected to busier for the Reds, January could be as important given how big playing in the Champions League is to attract players. Jamie Carragher has admitted that there needs to be wholesale changes on the playing squad and a vast bag of money for Klopp to spend.
Carragher told Sky Sports : "There's no doubt Jurgen Klopp has said to Liverpool's owners that I need £200m to £250m to spend in the summer. That sounds like an outrageous figure, but that's what Man Utd and Chelsea spent last summer, so that's the figures Liverpool are competing against.
"I think there's one been once in Klopp's tenure that Liverpool have properly gone for it. That was after the Champions League final, they brought a lot of players and I think [the squad] needs that now. But I don't think FSG have those funds right now and that's why they are looking for investors to come in and help them."
Back in November, it was reported that Fenway Sports Group have put Liverpool up for sale, 12 years after initially buying the Anfield outfit. A statement from FSG read: "There have been a number of recent changes of ownership and rumours of changes in ownership at EPL clubs and inevitably we are asked regularly about Fenway Sports Group’s ownership in Liverpool.
"FSG has frequently received expressions of interest from third parties seeking to become shareholders in Liverpool. FSG has said before that under the right terms and conditions we would consider new shareholders if it was in the best interests of Liverpool as a club. FSG remains fully committed to the success of Liverpool, both on and off the pitch."
It was later revealed that FSG are actually looking for investors and a partial sale of the Reds, although they would consider any offer that comes in to buy the club. This could be another huge alteration at Anfield if the Reds do get more money pumped into the club, meaning it could drastically affect the budget.
With many things expected to change at Liverpool over the next 12 months, can Klopp get the Reds back on track and is he the man to take the club forward during his time? Only time will tell.
