Liverpool are entering a crucial period over the next four weeks which will help to form a clearer idea of their title challenging credentials.
Beginning with Sunday’s visit to Manchester United, the Reds will take in clashes with Chelsea and Tottenham in the next month and I feel they need to get at least seven points from the nine on offer if they are going to keep pace at the top.
Although United are in red-hot form having won nine straight, Jurgen Klopp’s men have the necessary quality, particularly in attack, to get a vital victory and reverse their recent poor form at Old Trafford which has seen them lose 11 from their last 14 visits there.
We’ve shown we can win against the big sides after beating Chelsea away and Manchester City at home so we are well capable of doing it again in Manchester. But even a draw would be a good result.
If you look at where those seven points could come from, a draw at United and wins at home to Chelsea and Spurs look more than feasible.
However, if they are serious about ending a 27-year wait for a league triumph, then they need to be producing against the top sides.
Losing Sadio Mane to the African Cup of Nations is a huge blow, though. He has been outstanding since he signed in the summer and he offers a different set of qualities to the rest of the attack – pace. He runs beyond the byline and produces quality when he cuts inside, utilising electric movement, both in attack and in defence, to add an extra dimension.
But Klopp’s side have proven already this season they can cope without their key protagonists with Adam Lallana a perfect example of someone who has stepped up in the absence of another after Philippe Coutinho’s spell on the sidelines with injury.
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Personally, I have to say I thought the Brazilian would have been a bigger miss than what has transpired. But we’ve continued to score a lot of goals without him and the productivity in our attacking play has still been high in his absence which was a bit of a surprise.
It goes to show the squad depth is there but you can always strengthen. If you look at the bench recently, there’s been some youngsters coming into the fold and that suggests there’s a need for more experience.
There are areas which need addressing – a centre midfielder, striker maybe even a centre-half but Klopp is not someone who will quickly open the cheque book.
As a manager who likes to shape players to adopt his system and style of play, the January window may not suit him but if there’s an opportunity to bolster the squad then the positions I’ve identified are where he’s likely to be looking.
If that player isn’t there, I don’t think he will panic because on the whole the squad is in a good shape and we’ll see the fruits of that over the next few weeks.
Former Liverpool midfielder Jason McAteer provides expert football analysis for beIN Sport.
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