January is not expected to be a crazy transfer trolley for Liverpool, despite obvious weaknesses or lack of depth in defense and midfield, but the club is – as always – alert to opportunities and can make moves if the price is right.
Joel Matip's injury, an ACL blow that is likely to end the former Cameroon international's season, has accelerated the desire among fans to sign a centre-back.
But Jurgen Klopp dismissed this two weeks ago, saying it is 'unlikely' Liverpool will do so.
That said, Klopp hasn't completely slammed the door on potential newcomers. Liverpool's transfer chiefs were expected to sit down last week and discuss their tactics for the window ahead amid Matip's injury.
Confidential understands that much of Liverpool's plans for January would depend on the clubs' European progress, with the Reds likely to get a better deal from a team that had dropped out of the Champions League, for example.
Jurgen Klopp has ruled out Liverpool making a number of signings in January
Joel Matip's (pictured) injury, which will rule him out for the season, has left Liverpool short-handed, so a short-term or cheap option could be attractive if it presents itself.
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Liverpool have been keeping an eye on the Portuguese market and are exploring a number of options, not just Goncalo Inacio, who has been constantly linked with him. The Sporting defender signed a new contract this summer to increase his release clause to just over £50m.
The left-footed defender, who can also play as an inverted left back, has interest from other Premier League clubs, with Arsenal also said to be keen.
Liverpool were previously interested in fellow Liga Portugal defender David Carmo, who moved to Porto from Braga.
Wolfsburg's Maxence Lacroix, who went through the same Sochaux academy as Ibrahima Konate, was also mentioned but is not a priority. The Reds are unsure whether Bournemouth's Lloyd Kelly, who is available for free in the summer, meets the required standard.
Sporting Lisbon star Goncalo Inacio is one of the defenders Liverpool admire
Torino's Perr Schuurs was heavily linked with a number of English clubs last summer, but the Dutch defender, a product of Ajax's youth academy, recently suffered a similar injury to Matip, so this can be ruled out.
Neither defensive option is a concrete target, but Liverpool will keep their eyes peeled if cheap or short-term deals become available in January. As far as midfielders are concerned, the Reds are unlikely to go shopping in January.
Fulham midfielder Joao Palhinha has been constantly linked with him, but it is clear that Liverpool have little interest in spending a huge transfer fee on a 28-year-old. Sources close to the club also distanced Liverpool from Fluminense midfielder Andre Trindade last month.
LOANS ARE A MIXED BAG
Last Thursday, three of Liverpool's back four were players who spent last season on loan: Conor Bradley (Bolton), Jarell Quansah (Bristol Rovers) and Luke Chambers (Kilmarnock). It may have proven that the short-term market can work, but this season has been a little more frustrating.
Fabio Carvalho will be recalled by Liverpool after a failed spell at RB Leipzig – he has only started one Bundesliga game – while Rhys Williams is also likely to return to Merseyside after not making a single appearance for Aberdeen.
Nat Phillips has come under scrutiny from Celtic fans during his brief foray into Glasgow and that is another loan that hasn't worked.
Crewe goalkeeper Harvey Davies was booed by his own fans after making a series of mistakes in Alex's draw against Accrington on Saturday.
Fabio Carvalho's loan spell at RB Leipzig has not gone to plan and a new loan seems likely
Nat Phillips is also in the spotlight after faltering during his foray in Scotland for Celtic
Some will point to the fact that former credit manager David Woodfine left the club last summer after almost nine years of service. Of the 17 players currently on loan, perhaps only Tyler Morton has consistently excelled at Hull.
Leipzig play Werder Bremen on Tuesday before the Christmas/winter break, when the two clubs will make a final decision on Carvalho's future. He is likely to be loaned out again if he returns to Liverpool, with AC Milan, Burnley and Fulham all mentioned as destinations.
REGISTER PELOTON KLOPP
Jurgen Klopp becomes the latest athlete to collaborate with Peloton, with the Liverpool manager set to appear in a multi-channel campaign set to air around the New Year period. It builds on Peloton's partnership with the football club.
Klopp has partnered with Peloton for the German and Austrian markets, but the new promotion will be for the British audience and focus on the football match experience.
The campaign can be seen live on TV, cinema and digital channels from Boxing Day.
It will show the German working his way through the Peloton world as a new member, participating in cycling and strength training on the bike, running on a treadmill and using the app for yoga and outdoor activities. The promo is narrated by BBC Sport commentator Guy Mowbray.
DOAK IS A MAN IN QUESTION
Liverpool youngster Ben Doak is under interest from the same management agency that looks after Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson, with PLG UK looking to sign the winger as he increases his involvement with the first team.
Doak, who played in the Europa League last week, was managed by former Celtic, Wolves and Scotland defender Jackie McNamara, who helped him settle at Liverpool after a whirlwind 12 months that saw him move from the Glasgow side for £600,000 giants.
PLG also features Liverpool's Nat Phillips, who happens to be on loan at Celtic, as well as West Ham's England striker Jarrod Bowen, Brentford's Aaron Hickey and compatriot Ryan Christie, who plays for Bournemouth.
Ben Doak (right) is one of the brightest talents in Liverpool's youth academy and he is in high demand
FANS speak out against AXA
Liverpool's commercial partner AXA was the subject of protests outside Anfield on Sunday, with signs reading 'AXA stop funding genocide' being held aloft next to Palestinian flags as team buses arrived ahead of the match with Manchester United.
Protesters accuse the insurance company of having investments in Israeli banks that are complicit in Israel's illegal settlement project on occupied Palestinian territory. They are accused of making investments in an Israeli arms manufacturer that facilitates Israeli war crimes.
In 2015, a 'Stop AXA Assistance to Israeli Apartheid Campaign' was launched to attack the French insurance giant, and at that time AXA owned shares in three Israeli banks: Bank Hapoalim, Bank Leumi and Mizrahi Tefahot.
Before Sunday's match against Manchester United, there were protests against sponsor AXA
In 2015, a 'Stop AXA Assistance to Israeli Apartheid Campaign' was set up to target companies
KIRKBY CHILDREN
It is not just the first team with a match pile-up.
Liverpool's Under 18s fielded a much-changing side after their 4-1 defeat to Wolves on Saturday, with a number of players moving up an age group ahead of Tuesday's FA Youth Cup match.
Marc Bridge-Wilkinson's side head to Fleetwood's Highbury Stadium in a match that was canceled earlier this month due to a waterlogged pitch. Lamore Forrester, 16, made his debut for the Under 18s. The winger was man of the tournament in last year's Under 14 International Cup.
Liverpool's children prepare for an FA Youth Cup match against Fleetwood Town on Tuesday
Speaking after the defeat to Wolves, Bridge-Wilkinson said: 'It was a mixed team, we were quite young but we learned an awful lot about some of the younger players in the game and that can only be a good thing.'
Tuesday's clash can be watched on Fleetwood's YouTube channel.
But Sunday was a better day for Liverpool's academy after Bobby Clark scored a 90th-minute winner for the Under 21s against Chelsea.
The 18-year-old, who was involved with the first team until a recent injury, came off the bench to mark his return in style.