After a Carabao Cup semi-final double header, attention now turns back to the latest round of Premier League action this weekend.
Some mouth-watering fixtures await, not least Tottenham’s trip to Old Trafford on Saturday lunchtime.
Then, on Sunday, Liverpool renew their rivalry with Manchester City at Anfield.
A host of Premier League managers will be previewing the weekend’s action today – stay tuned with Daily Mail Sport for all of the latest.
Slot: We know Van Dijk won’t be around forever
Arne Slot says Liverpool are not stupid and must replace reliable captain Virgil van Dijk but insists the signing of four young defenders in January shows the mid-term future of the club is in a very good place.
The Reds signed three central defenders for their academy last month and splashed £60million on Rennes prospect Jeremy Jacquet in addition to the £26m summer arrival of 18-year-old Giovanni Leoni, the Italian who would be in the first team if not for a cruciate ligament injury.
‘If I tell you (Liverpool) do everything with a reason and I don’t think you are surprised,’ said the head coach. ‘Everything done over here is never from panic, it’s always a long-term idea or something that has been thought about for a long time and not only by one person.
‘Of course, we are aware of the fact that Virgil won’t play for 10 years but he has a one-and-a-half year contract left, so he will be with us for that time, maybe even longer.
‘If he keeps staying fit as he is now, I’ve said before what a compliment to him at his age to play every three days, not only now for our club but for his country for seven or eight months already.
‘Hopefully, he can stay as fit as he is for multiple years but this club is not stupid. We do know somewhere in the upcoming years, there is life for this club after Virgil.
‘I can say this for every position. This club is not only thinking about the short-term future but also the mid to long-term future.’
Liverpool are hopeful defender Joe Gomez is fit enough to make the squad for Sunday’s home clash against Manchester City, though right-back Jeremie Frimpong is still a week or so off returning due to a groin problem.
Lewis Steele
Farke lays out survival equation
Daniel Farke believes 12 more points from his side’s remaining 14 games will be enough to guarantee them Premier League survival.
A section of Leeds fans have questioned the club’s lack of new signings during the January transfer window, with only one addition after Brighton midfielder Facundo Buonanotte arrived on loan.
The Whites, who missed out on target Jorgen Strand Larsen – the Norway striker joined Crystal Palace for £48million – currently sit two places above the relegation zone on 26 points, six better off than third-bottom West Ham.
Farke said: ‘I don’t have the feeling during this transfer window that we are weaker, so I’m confident with this group that we can achieve our goals. We need one point average (from 38 games) to stay in this league, so we need 12 points to have this average.
‘This means three wins and three draws, whatever – six positive results from the last 14 games. The last 12 games we’ve played, we had 10 positive results. I would back my players to get six positive results. I want all 14 to be positive, but I’m confident we are capable to win enough to stay in this league.’
Farke will be without German midfielder Anton Stach, who will be sidelined for a fortnight with a hip problem, but defender James Justin (toe) is available after his withdrawal in last week’s defeat to Arsenal.
Central defender Jaka Bijol could also return to contention after missing the last three games due to a hamstring injury, while striker Lukas Nmecha (hamstring) remains doubtful.
Dyche keen for Forest to keep up momentum
Nottingham Forest boss Sean Dyche knows his side’s trip to Leeds is a significant clash in the battle for Premier League survival.
Forest are unbeaten in four Premier League games and can move nine points clear of the bottom three with victory.
Dyche said: ‘The key is in performances, we have seen the ups and downs of it since I have been at the club.
‘The ups, we have been very strong, and then when the downs are downs that’s when you learn about your players.
‘It’s another important game. It’s tough going up there, I have been many times, they have steadied the ship because early season there was a lot of noise about the manager (Daniel Farke) and “Can they or can’t they?”, but they have steadied it down with a lot of good performances.’
Neco Williams is suspended while Matz Sels and Callum Hudson-Odoi will be checked.
Hurzeler wants ends to Brighton’s ‘negative front’
Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler says the clash with rivals Crystal Palace on Sunday gives his side a chance to ‘stop this negative front’ following their recent slump in form.
The Seagulls sit 13th and are just two points above their opponents, but a win could catapult them back into the top half of the table.
However, following a run of one win from 11 league matches, three points in the M23 derby could prove difficult against a side that have spent big in the January transfer window.
But Hurzeler has nothing on his mind apart from getting three points.
He said on Thursday morning: ‘One focus is definitely game management in certain moments. I think the last two games (conceding late goals to Fulham and Everton) it cost us points and we definitely have to do it better, and I take responsibility for that.
‘Our approach will be the same. We try to go there, we try to win this game for fans, for supporters. We know the meaning of the game.
‘We see it as a big opportunity to bounce back, to stop this negative front, and therefore, we’re really looking forward to it.’
Hurzeler confirmed Diego Gomez will be available for selection but Yasin Ayari misses out with a shoulder injury.
