Everton's Premier League points deduction continues to send shockwaves through English football with Liverpool one of the clubs watching events unfold.
The Reds did battle with Manchester City for the league title over the past 10 years and will do so again on Saturday when the two sides meet at the Etihad. The two squads have been battered by injuries. However, Ibrahima Konate and Kostas Tsimikas have provided welcome boosts ahead of the weekend for Reds boss Jurgen Klopp.
But for now much of the focus remains on whether City will face punishment if found guilty of 115 charges of breaking financial rules. We'll have the latest on that and any injury and transfer news as it happens.
Send your views to @LivEchoLFC and don't forget to subscribe to our free Liverpool FC newsletter, our YouTube channel and listen to our Blood Red Podcast - with all your favourite ECHO regulars including Paul Gorst, Ian Doyle, Joe Rimmer, Sean Bradbury, Theo Squires, Tom Cavilla, Keifer MacDonald and more.
The Liverpool ECHO has launched its own WhatsApp community to bring you the very latest LFC transfer news and top stories direct to your phone. By joining our WhatsApp community, you will receive breaking news and top stories straight to your phone. All you have to do to join is click on this link, select 'Join Community' and you're in. If you are using your computer, tablet or an additional phone you can use your mobile phone to join the group below. Just scan your camera over the QR code and open the link. For further information, click here.
Keep tabs on the latest news, views and Liverpool FC transfer rumours below.
Thank you for following
That is all for today, make sure to come back tomorrow to keep on top the latest Liverpool news and of course Jurgen Klopp's pre-Man City press conference - you won't want to miss it!
Goodnight Reds!
Erling Haaland injury latest
According to ESPN, Erling Haaland is fit and ready to play against Liverpool this Saturday lunchtime.
They report that the striker returned to Manchester City training today - exactly a week on from injuring his ankle on international duty with Norway - as seen on a post on the club's X page this evening.
Liverpool told Dominik Szoboszlai is the reason they are 'eyeing the title' ahead of Man City clash
Former Manchester City captain Richard Dunne has been on opposition watch and from one leader to another, he was highly complimentary of Dominik Szoboslai.
According to the retired defender, it is the 23-year-old's impact since his £60m arrival that has elevated the Reds from mere top four challengers to eyeing the title itself.
Read the full story HERE.
Fabrizio Romano update on Mohamed Salah
It remains to be seen whether a formal offer for Mohamed Salah from Saudi Arabia would prove too tempting for Liverpool to turn down, however calming fears he could leave mid-season, Fabrizio Romano has said that the club will take up the same stance as they did when a verbal offer arrived on transfer deadline day.
He told his Here We Go podcast: "From what I’m told, Liverpool will retain the same position in the January transfer window.
"Liverpool have no intention of letting Mo Salah leave in January. With crazy money, anything can happen, but as of right now, Liverpool have the same position."
It certainly makes sense, as the Reds could still be competing on four fronts come January 1, 2024.
Patrick Dorgu blow
If Liverpool were looking to bolster their left back options by signing Lecce's Patrick Dorgu, as rumours have suggested they might these past months, then they have been dealt a major blow.
Speaking to Bold.dk, the Italian club's sporting director Stefano Trinchera made it clear the 19-year-old will not be on the move this winter.
""In January, he will stay with us. It is too early to make decisions about the future, but Dorgu is on the list of many of the big European clubs," he explained.
"I am not going to talk about the price of a kid who is growing day by day. That's not what we're looking for right now. We focus on his career, his development and playing time."
The director also named the Reds outright, as well as Manchester City, as two of many tracking the Dane's progress."
Man City duo on thin ice ahead of Liverpool clash
Via the ECHO's sister site the Manchester Evening News, two Manchester City stars will have to be on their best behaviour against Liverpool if they are to avoid suspensions.
Both Rodri and Jack Grealish are on four bookings each for the season as things stand, so a fifth would see them both ruled out of City's following fixture at home to high-flying Tottenham.
This is just another facet to what is already anticipated to be a great match - perhaps one for the Liverpool players to exploit by getting under their opponents' skin.
Crystal Palace travel information
There are a few matches to be played between now and Liverpool's trip to play Crystal Palace, however the South London club have published a warning to both sets of supporters about rail strikes that will impact travelling to and from Selhurst Park on December 9.
The Eagles' club website states: "Due to industrial action, there will be no Southern services calling at Selhurst station. Once again, Thameslink services will be extremely limited at Norwood Junction, which will impact home and away fans travelling from central London. London Overground is working as normal via Norwood Junction."
It is also reminded that supporters stay up to date with the latest information via the TFL, Southern and National Rail websites - we'll make sure to relay this message closer to the match for anybody travelling down from Liverpool that day.
Xabi Alonso's next club
With Xabi Alonso's managerial stock rising as he takes Bayer Leverkusen further into the current campaign unbeaten, the questions of whether he will move clubs, where that would be to and finally when become in greater need of answering.
He has three fantastic options of former clubs from his playing days all said to be waiting in line. They are Real Madrid - who have yet to decide on their current manager's future beyond next summer, Liverpool - who are content with Jurgen Klopp under contract until 2026, and Bayern Munich.
The latter only appointed Thomas Tuchel as manager earlier this year, however it is El Chiringuito TV's belief that Alonso will assume command in Munich next summer.
The Spaniard is under contract at Leverkusen until 2026, which providing all scenarios played out as they would need to, perhaps the Reds could have easily transitioned from one manager to the next.
Combined Liverpool-Man City XI
It wouldn't be a top-of-the-table clash without this old trope, would it?
Former Liverpool full-back Jose Enrique has made an attempt at a combined Liverpool and Manchester City starting line-up, and well, just take a look...
Some major omissions from his former club - Trent Alexander-Arnold, Darwin Nunez and Luis Diaz amongst them. Who would you change?
My combined starting 11 between Manchester city and Liverpool ahead of our game against them on Saturday. Thoughts? pic.twitter.com/e8tw8un4sg
— José enrique (@Jesanchez3) November 23, 2023
Liverpool new £80m Anfield Road stand expansion to be open for Manchester United visit
Liverpool will have part of their new Anfield Road upper tier open for the visit of Manchester United next month after an acceleration in the £80million redevelopment.
The Reds had taken the decision last month to keep the new section of the stadium closed until next year as they continued to deal with fallout of the Buckingham Group, the initial contractors of the project, going into administration in August.
Work on the construction resumed in September under new contractors Raynor Rowen, and has continued at such a rate that Liverpool are now in a position to confirm a phased opening of the new stand, subject to a test event and safety certificate.
It's understood the club are optimistic around half of the tickets for the upper tier - which will house around 9,000 supporters - will be made available for the visit of bitter North West rivals United on Sunday, December 17.
Read the full story, here.
I know I wasn't at my best - but I feel I am important for Liverpool again now
Virgil van Dijk believes he has regained his importance for Liverpool this season after admitting to falling short of his own high standards last term.
The Reds captain has been in impressive form in recent weeks to help Jurgen Klopp's side enjoy a strong start to the Premier League campaign that sees them just a point behind leaders Manchester City going into the showdown between the top two at the Etihad on Saturday lunchtime.
It is in contrast to the previous season when the distraction of the mid-season World Cup, a hamstring injury and Liverpool's overall drop in form combined to ensure an inconsistent campaign in which Van Dijk attracted criticism.
The Holland international was then suspended for two games early on this term having been sent off at Newcastle United, but has been outstanding since his return and was key to Liverpool keeping clean sheets in three of their last four Premier League games and ensuring no club has conceded fewer goals in the top flight so far this season.
And of his form, Van Dijk said: "I just feel very good and I want to keep going. For me, what is the most important thing is how I feel, what my team-mates feel about me and especially the manager. All the noise from the outside, whether it is very good or very bad, you can't do anything with it."
Read the full story, here.
Man City know what their punishment will be as Liverpool and Premier League approach point of no return
In film and television, one particular phrase sends spine-tingling fear through anyone associated with a particular title.
To describe an ongoing creative work as having "jumped the shark" - coined after a bizarre moment in 1970s sitcom staple Happy Days - indicates the moment it has exhausted its original intent and has veered massively, and often irretrievably, away from its core values.
And the signs all suggest the Premier League is now dangerously approaching such a point of no return.
What was for many years heralded as the bastion of sporting and commercial success is now being seriously questioned as whether or not it is any longer fit for purpose.
The problem, as with many things in life, revolves around money. Lots and lots and lots of money.
Read the full story, here.
Reds handed fitness boost ahead of Manchester City
Joe Gomez, Ryan Gravenberch, Curtis Jones and Ibrahima Konate were all involved in training at the AXA Centre on Thursday.
It comes after the quartet missed the 3-0 victory over Brentford last time out.
Al Ittihad president to speak out on Salah
Al Ittihad's president, Anmar Al-Haili, has revealed he will soon speak out about Mohamed Salah and the possibility of the Egyptian moving to the Saudi Pro League.
“I remained silent… but I hope to be able to respond soon to what happened in the last week of the summer market regarding Salah, Ramos… and De Bruyne."
Liverpool have obvious problem again but Man City position offers hope
To some, it's Liverpool FC Reloaded. For others, it is Liverpool 2.0. But whatever the moniker, this season has been something of a step into the unknown for the Reds under Jurgen Klopp.
Not since his first summer in charge back in 2016, with the German having had the best part of a season to determine which route his team should take, has there been such a sweeping change in terms of personnel and method of playing.
It has been thus far been justified, with Liverpool going into Saturday's lunchtime showdown at Premier League leaders Manchester City just a point behind having taken 27 from their first 12 games.
That's exactly the same position in which the Reds found themselves at the start of that 2016/17 campaign, the birth of Klopp's first recognised team as manager.
As then, there is a sense this is an evolving side perhaps missing a key element or two. Seven years ago, a top-rated goalkeeper and commanding centre-back were the chief requirements along with a wide forward, gaps filled by Alisson Becker, Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah over the subsequent 18 months.
Read the full story, here.
Gary Neville slams Super League instigators and calls for football regulator
Speaking on The Overlap, Gary Neville has labelled Liverpool and the other five Super League breakaway clubs as "bullies" and called for an independent regulator to oversee the English game.
"It's too complex for them (Premier League), they can't control their own mob, let alone create a multi-club international new strategy, that's not going to happen," said Neville. "They're not capable of those things, the people in the Premier League haven't got the skillset to deliver this type of operation. We need to get back to basics, real-time financial monitoring in football, create what football clubs can lose each year, what football clubs can put in as owner funding and monitor it on a very strict basis, equalise the rules across the four leagues and make the consequences of not doing so consistent.
"So everyone knows the damages if you're found guilty, at the moment it's making it up as you go along. The Premier League is broken in terms of governance, the stamp down after the ESL was unbelievable. I'd be furious if I was an Everton fan, it's an absolute disgrace what you've done to my football club.
"On the other hand, Everton have done wrong and created a financial crime within the game, an irregularity, so they should be punished. What they feel they're now being is the scapegoat, the 'new Premier League', which doesn't exist really.
"The big six, they are bullies, they've done it to Everton, would the Premier League have done this to a Manchester United, Manchester City, a Chelsea, they wouldn't probably do that."It's basically a rewrite of Ste's piece but for Liverpool audience I suppose."
Harvey Elliott makes surprise Liverpool criticism admission and responds to boos
Harvey Elliott was speaking to the ECHO's Theo Squires, and other reporters, after England under-21s 3-0 win over Northern Ireland on Tuesday.
The Liverpool midfielder, who fired a brace to take his overall tally in Euro 2025 qualifying to five, admits he needs to replicate his goal-scoring at Anfield.
“Is it five? (Pauses) Yeah, it is (Laughs). I just needed to make sure. Yeah, it’s five,” he told reporters after his brace against Northern Ireland when reflecting on his recent scoring run for England. “Yeah, definitely (I’m looking to score more goals for Liverpool)."
Read the full interview, here.
Henderson slammed for Saudi move
The only openly gay footballer in England's professional leagues says Jordan Henderson's move to the Saudi Pro League was a 'slap in the face' after revealing the ex-Liverpool captain had previously reached out in support.
Blackpool forward Jake Daniels, 18, last year became the first professional footballer in the English game to come out as gay since Justin Fashanu in 1990 and revealed he had received the backing of Henderson and his Al-Ettifaq manager Steven Gerrard.
The forward, though, has revealed his disappointment in seeing Henderson, who had aligned himself as a staunch ally of the LGBTQ+ community during his time as Liverpool captain, complete a controversial move to Saudi Arabia, a country that prohibits same-sex marriage.
"It was frustrating," Daniels told the BBC. "Henderson messaged me when I came out. I have the DM on my phone, he was backing me the whole way. He was like: 'We're proud of what you've done.'
"Seeing him move to Saudi, it's kind of like slapped it in my face really, hasn't he? It was frustrating but I guess the money pays well and money must mean more to people."
Ibrahima Konate fitness boost ahead of Saturday?
Ibrahima Konate appears to show that he will be available for selection against manchester City on Saturday.
The Frenchman missed the Reds' victory over Brentford last time out due to a reoccurring hamstring issue.
Would you start Konate at the Etihad if he was fit?
Kostas Timikas opens up on early Greece exit
Liverpool defender Kostas Tsimikas has opened up on the reasoning behind his premature exit from the Greece squad - admitting that a return to the AXA Training Centre made sense due to being one booking away from a suspension.
"I could not play in the game against France because if I should take a yellow card, I would not play in the (Euro 2024 play-off) games in March, which are more important than the one against France. I decided to come back earlier to the team, to be with the squad, to train with the team, to be more ready.
"It was my decision and this is what I wanted to do because, as everybody knows, most of the time we play 12.30 after the international break and even the players who played far, they didn't come yet, they come probably one day, two days before the game. So for me, I think it was a very good chance to come earlier to be with the team and to train hard."
Sign up for the Bottom Line newsletter
Want to find out more about the finances behind football's biggest clubs? Then the Bottom Line newsletter is the place for you. Dave Powell, our Business of Football reporter, delves into the numbers behind the biggest clubs in the world of football.
And we have a 75% off offer for a limited time this week. Don't miss out.
Black Friday deal: Sign up to get 75% off our business of football newsletter
Good morning!
Hello and welcome to our Liverpool FC liveblog this Thursday morning.
Only two more sleeps until the Reds are back in action, what a match it should be away against Manchester City - a top-of-the-table clash.
In the aftermath of Everton's points deduction the pre-match conversation has been dominated by City's own financial breaches and Liverpool's attempts to get the league to push forward with those, but as kick-off approaches the latest injury news is becoming that much more important.
As we see what arrives on our plate today, catch up on the top stories below:
