Sweden national team manager Graham Potter has provided a fitness update on star duo Dejan Kulusevski and Alexander Isak as the national team prepare for a high-stakes World Cup play-off semi-final against Ukraine in late March. Both players have been dealing with long-term injury lay-offs, leaving Potter sweating on the availability of his most potent attacking weapons.

Arne Slot has delivered a promising update on Alexander Isak, with a potential return date for the Swedish striker being pencilled in. Isak, who is the Reds’ record signing, was forced to undergo surgery after suffering a broken leg against Tottenham on December 20. His campaign has not become a complete write off, with positive progress being made through a rehabilitation programme.

With half-time approaching and Liverpool losing 1-0 to Newcastle United, Anfield was already bracing itself for another disappointing defeat in this most trying of seasons. In the space of 138 seconds, though, Hugo Ekitike changed the entire mood on Merseyside. The Frenchman's first goal - a near-post finish from Florian Wirtz's clever cutback - may have been crucial, but it was his second strike that sent the fans into a frenzy.

Premier League legend Danny Murphy has singled out Swedish striking duo Viktor Gyokeres and Alexander Isak as the season's biggest transfer disappointments following their high-profile summer moves. The former midfielder believes both forwards have failed to justify their massive price tags since joining Arsenal and Liverpool respectively, leaving supporters at both clubs feeling "disappointed" with their output so far.

Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes has a very cold, analytical approach to his role - so much so, in fact, that he was once described as "robot" by an agent who had dealt with him. Of course, being devoid of emotion probably wouldn't be such a bad thing for Hughes, given the nature of his job and the potential for being adversely affected by the wildly differing views on the work he's doing at Anfield.