Liverpool

Lazio sporting director Igli Tare has opened talks with Liverpool for Belgian forward Divock Origi, with the Reds willing to sell the 26-year-old to avoid losing him on a free transfer in June. (LazioNews24 - in Italian), external

The Reds could allow Wales defender Neco Williams, 20, and English centre-back Nathaniel Phillips, 24, to leave the club in the January transfer window. (Sky Sports), external

Meanwhile, Aston Villa have 'no chance' of signing 24-year-old Liverpool and England centre-back Joe Gomez. (Athletic - subscription required), external

Want more transfer news? Read Thursday's full gossip column

We're already five days into the January transfer window, so here's a brief round-up of the best Liverpool transfer gossip to drop so far:

• The Reds are eyeing hidden gems rather than star names, with Borussia Monchengladbach midfielder Denis Zakaria, 25, (Mail), external and Olympiakos' Aguibou Camara, 20, (Calciomercato - in Italian), external on Jurgen Klopp's radar.

• Liverpool are, however, keen on Barcelona forward Ousmane Dembele, although that deal is more likely to happen at the end of the season, with Naby Keita possibly travelling in the opposite direction (Liverpool Echo)., external

• Klopp will not panic buy to bring in a striker to cover Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane during their absences at the Africa Cup of Nations - but will act if there is a player available, such as Leeds' Raphinha, who can benefit the club in both the long and short term (Anfield Watch), external.

Catch up with all the latest transfer news by tuning into BBC Radio 5 Live's Transfer Gossip Daily podcast on BBC Sounds.

You can also get all the best transfer chat via our gossip column here and track every done deal throughout January here.

Image source, Getty Images

Jay White, South Wales: Spend whatever it takes for Bellingham. Add Keita in a swap deal. Whatever it takes. It's time for FSG to reinvest and build around an aging first team. New contracts were great but we need investment in the squad depth. Bring in a wide forward of a high standard that isn’t African so we have better options during Afcon eg Raphinha from Leeds, Neres from Ajax and maybe Doku for the future.

Graeme, North West: Liverpool rely too heavily on Salah and (to a lesser extent) Mane who both play full games at that relentless Liverpool pace. This would go down like a lead balloon over the park but I think Richarlison would be a great buy as he can play either side, works his socks off and would be a regular contributor of goals and assists. He might also encourage Mane to take his game up a level. If they were to really push the boat out then maybe Raphinha too? £100 million might be enough to land both.

David Burke, Merseyside: Traore from Wolves to make up for Mane and Salah.

Have your say on Liverpool's transfer window here

News of Liverpool's formal request to postpone Thursday's Carabao Cup semi-final first leg at Arsenal has split opinions among fans.

After closing their training facilities due to the growing number of suspected positive Covid-19 cases, some supporters are sympathetic, while others say the Reds should forfeit the game or play the kids.

Jay: "As much as we would want to play a weakened Liverpool side, the risk of bringing Covid back to our camp is too high. Postpone."

Geoff: "Strange when the money talked Liverpool were happy to play an under-23 side when the first team were at the Fifa Club World Cup. Make them play."

Shahzad said: "When LFC went to play the World Club Cup and played the kids, everyone complained, now they are ravaged by Covid, some are saying play the kids!"

Andy: "Same rules should be applied to ALL clubs in the competition, whether it be Leyton Orient or Liverpool. EFL awarded game to Spurs due to Covid issues, same should apply if Liverpool fail to fulfil. Liverpool should play the youth/U23 players like in previous rounds or forfeit. Simple."

Seth: "If the EFL wants to be taken serious and seen as fair, they should make Liverpool to forfeit their match just like they did to Leyton Orient last season when they had to forfeit due to the same coronavirus that Liverpool are citing."

Lewis: "It seems there are more injuries and absentees due to the Afcon than actual Covid-19 cases. With Liverpool now closing their first-team training facilities, they are doing whatever they can to postpone the Carabao Cup game tomorrow."

You can join in the debate on our live page

Image source, EPA

Arsenal "will be sympathetic" to Liverpool's desire to postpone Thursday's Carabao Cup semi-final first leg, according to The Athletic journalist Adam Crafton.

The Reds submitted the formal request after an increase in Covid-19 cases at the club meant they cancelled first-team training on Tuesday.

"It becomes a question of player welfare," Crafton told BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast. "If they are not able to train a day or two before the game, are they physically equipped to go and play it?

"Arsenal will be sympathetic to the request after they have had Covid in their camp and I think the English Football League will be opening themselves up to a lot of criticism if they go ahead."

Former Everton and Scotland midfielder Don Hutchison agreed, adding: "Jurgen Klopp has got so much he's trying to juggle and, when it comes to Covid, we all have to be extra sensitive."

Listen to the full discussion on the Football Daily podcast on BBC Sounds

The transfer window opened on Saturday and will remain open for business until 31 January at 23:00 GMT.

But who do you want to see Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp bring in to the club this month? Where does the squad need strengthening?

And are there any players who need to move on?

Give us your views on the Reds' ins and outs here

Goals from Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane in Liverpool's 2-2 draw against Chelsea have earned them each a spot in Garth Crooks' team of the week.

Mohamed Salah: I heard my non-selection of Mohamed Salah in my team of the year got one or two a little hot under the collar. Well, I make no apologies for that. Salah made my team of the season but crudely chased the Golden Boot award.

His selfishness had a negative effect on Sadio Mane in particular and, in my view, had an adverse effect on Liverpool's campaign last season - a point I made at the time.

This season Salah looks like a team player again and his goals are coming naturally. He is no longer looking for cheap penalties and is back to the player he was the season Liverpool won the title, and that's why he makes my team of the week.

Sadio Mane: I must say I'm not entirely sure Mane should have remained on the field after his challenge on Cesar Azpilicueta but I'm delighted he did. The Senegal international was booked for the foul but managed to behave himself for the rest of the game and made a significant contribution to a classic football match.

Mane is a tough player but an honest one too. Quite often referees have to assess the character of a player when he's not sure if the offence was deliberate or not and in Mane's case his honesty seems to provide him with the benefit of the doubt.

Read what else Garth had to say on Salah and Mane, plus see which other players made his team of the week

With the Premier League, Carabao Cup semi-finals and FA Cup third round all taking place this week, BBC Radio 5 Live has you covered.

• Monday, 3 January - Manchester United v Wolves (17:30)

• Wednesday, 5 January - Chelsea v Tottenham (19:45)

• Thursday, 6 January - Arsenal v Liverpool (19:45)

• Friday, 7 January - Swindon Town v Manchester City (20:00)

• Saturday, 8 January - Millwall v Crystal Palace (12:45)

• Saturday, 8 January - Newcastle United v Cambridge United (15:00)

• Saturday, 8 January - Hull City v Everton (17:30)

• Sunday, 9 January - Tottenham v Morecambe (14:00)

• Sunday, 9 January - Nottingham Forest v Arsenal (17:10)

All times GMT

George Cummins, BBC Sport

Jurgen Klopp will miss Thursday's Carabao Cup semi-final with Arsenal at the Emirates following his positive Covid test. He was missing from the dugout for Liverpool's 2-2 draw with Chelsea on Sunday.

Assistant manager, Pep Lijnders spoke to 5 Live Sport after the draw with Chelsea last night and said Klopp won't be back on the touchline: “He can’t be, no, because of the quarantine rules. He has mild symptoms.

"Jurgen is a very optimistic and positive leader. He is our leader and our boss. I hope everything stays like this and it's mild symptoms and he is back quick with us.”

Alisson, Joel Matip and Roberto Firmino also missed the game following positive Covid tests.

Liverpool are interested in signing 20-year-old Guinea midfielder Aguibou Camara from Greek club Olympiakos. (Calciomercato - in Italian), external

The Reds have also been linked with Borussia Monchengladbach's Switzerland midfielder Denis Zakaria, with the 25-year-old also wanted by Aston Villa, Leicester, Arsenal and Everton. (Mail), external

Want more transfer news? Read Monday's full gossip column

Image source, Getty Images

• After losing four consecutive Premier League games against Liverpool between 2019 and 2020, Chelsea are unbeaten in their last three against the Reds (won one, drawn two).

• Chelsea have drawn five of their last six Premier League home games, drawing three consecutive league matches at Stamford Bridge for the first time since February 2016 (a run of four under Guus Hiddink).

• There have been four instances in the Premier League this season of a side failing to win a game in which they’ve led by 2+ goals, with Liverpool accounting for two of those occasions - the other being 2-2 v Brighton in October.

• Since the start of his first season with Liverpool (2016-17), only Harry Kane (40) has scored the opening goal in more different Premier League games than Sadio Mane (37), while the Senegalese forward is also the first Liverpool player to score in consecutive appearances away to Chelsea in the league.

Phil McNulty, BBC Sport

Liverpool will kick themselves for losing a position of such advantage here. They had Chelsea where they wanted them at 2-0 and let it slip away.

They play in a thrilling full-on style but too often this season they have never quite been in full control, despite seemingly having the situation in hand. This was another one of those occasions.

Liverpool’s players looked shell-shocked when they went off at half-time after conceding two quick goals and while they were still a huge threat after the break their chance of winning had started to escape.

Now they must find a way of compensating for the absence of Mo Salah and Sadio Mane as they go to the Africa Cup of Nations.

In this season of fine margins, Liverpool will know that while they played well at Chelsea they let the chance of a crucial win slip through their grasp and it may prove very costly.