FOOTBALL UPDATE

FA  Cup fourth round tie between Liverpool and West Brom at Anfield.   Liverpool:  Jurgen Klopp looks set to be without a trio of players for this one. Adam Lallan has suffered an injury setback, whilst Ragnar Klavan and James Milner also look set to miss out through illness and a dead leg respectively. Nathaniel Clyne is thought to be making good progress as he recovers form a back problem but he is still not training with the rest of the squad. Captain Jordan Henderson is back in training and could get the nod in this one, whilst Dejan Lovren is also back available. Simon Mignolet will be given the chance to stake his claim between the sticks.   West Brom:    The 'Baggies' are thought to be suffering after a flu bug swept through their camp, with Ben Foster, Ahmed Hegazi, Gareth McAuley, Jay Rodriguez, Sam Field and James McClean are all struggling to be fit for the game, meaning the likes of Boaz Myhill, Oliver Burke and Hal Robson-Kanu....

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain credited a second-half "rampage" from Liverpool with ending Manchester City's unbeaten run in the Premier League. The former Arsenal midfielder set in motion a thrilling 4-3 win for Jurgen Klopp's men, who responded to Leroy Sane's equaliser five minutes before half-time by putting City to the sword after the break. Roberto Firmino caught out John Stones to get on the end of Oxlade-Chamberlain's throughball and dink a finish past Ederson, the first of three goals in a dizzying nine-minute spell, with Sadio Mane and the excellent Mohamed Salah also getting in on the act. It meant a first loss in 23 Premier League outings for Pep Guardiola's side this term, whose heads cleared in the closing stages as substitute Bernardo Silva and Ilkay Gundogan set up a grandstand finish. "It's a nice statement for us. They've been brilliant all year, they’re a fantastic side," said Oxlade-Chamberlain, who felt Liverpool t...

Barcelona and Liverpool are close to sealing the transfer of Philippe Coutinho having agreed on a fee for the Brazilian. Philippe Coutinho's dream of joining La Liga giants Barcelona is about to be realised after the fee and payment schedules were agreed between the two clubs. The Catalans were planning to fly the Brazilian out on Saturday for a medical examination to be completed on Monday, which is why Coutinho didn't join the rest of the Liverpool squad on their trip to Dubai.  As soon as the deal worth £145 million is concluded, Coutinho will travel to Spain to meet up with his new teammates, becoming the second-most expensive signing of all time.  Liverpool bought Coutinho for £8.5m from Inter Milan in 2013 and are set to make a handsome profit when the transfer is officially announced in the coming hours.

As Liverpool continued their preparations for Friday's clash with Everton, there was a fresh face training among Jurgen Klopp's squad. Virgil van Dijk, who became the world's most expensive defender when he completed a £75million move from Southampton this month, joined his team-mates for the first time on Wednesday night. The defender could make his debut in the FA Cup third round on Friday. And he appeared in good spirits ahead of the Merseyside derby at Anfield. As Liverpool continued their preparations for Friday's clash with Everton, there was a fresh face training among Jurgen Klopp's squad. Virgil van Dijk, who became the world's most expensive defender when he completed a £75million move from Southampton this month, joined his team-mates for the first time on Wednesday night. The defender could make his debut in the FA Cup third round on Friday. And he appeared in good spirits ahead of the Merseyside derby at Anfield. Van Dijk took part...