Liverpool must agree three marquee deals to avoid anxious transfer wait
If the summer transfer window centred around Liverpool's need for external, high-class recruitment, matters over the coming months might be focused on those already at Anfield.
The Reds have been able to absorb summer arrivals Dominik Szoboszlai, Alexis Mac Allister, Ryan Gravenberch and Wataru Endo into the squad well enough to the point where they stand as Premier League leaders heading into mid-January but the surge towards a surprise title challenge has been underpinned by those who have already been there and done it at Anfield.
Virgil van Dijk looks back to somewhere near his imperious best since taking on the armband from Jordan Henderson in the summer. The Reds captain has been the defensive rock upon which everything has been built, inspiring the back four to the meanest record in the division with just 18 conceded after 20 games.
Mohamed Salah once more leads the way for Liverpool in front of goal. The Egyptian is the only player to reach double figures so far and his haul of 18 means he has a real shot of breaking the 30 barrier once more upon his return from the Africa Cup of Nations.
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And Trent Alexander-Arnold appears to have gone up a level since being handed the vice-captaincy by Jurgen Klopp on the club's pre-season tour of the Far East. The versatile right-back has flourished in the hybrid full-back position, once more proving himself as the creative fulcrum of the team, this time just from slightly more central areas.
All three have been instrumental to the cause but that is not all they have in common. The trio are
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