It’s Christmas! And while you’re unwrapping your presents, Arne Slot and Liverpool will be wishing for another three points over the festive period.
The Reds are of course in a sensational position as we reach the end of 2024. Four points clear in the Premier League with a game in hand, top of the pile in the Champions League with a last-16 place all but secure, and a Carabao Cup semi-final to look forward to.
Another win tomorrow against Leicester would see Liverpool enter 2025 in pole position for the league title. Things really could not be going much better for Slot - although he may still have a few more wishes that he hopes come true…
Salah and VVD sign
In an ideal world, Liverpool gets its contract sagas out of the way before 2025. With just a week to go before January 1 though, it’s looking increasingly likely we might face a nervous wait to learn the futures of Virgil van Dijk, Mohamed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold.
All three will be able to negotiate pre-contract agreements with foreign clubs from next month unless they put pen to paper at Anfield. The worry for Liverpool now is that all three will begin weighing up their options before making a decision on the offers they’ve received, which could push them closer to the exit door.
But if Christmas isn’t a time to be hopeful, then when is? Fingers crossed we might get some positive news before 2024 comes to an end - if it does, it does feel like it will come from Van Dijk and Salah.
Trent stays
The fear is very much real among Liverpool fans that we might be entering the final few months of Alexander-Arnold’s career at Anfield. The Reds vice-captain is not giving anything away, although rumors of a move to Real Madrid are dominating the headlines.
Chances are, those rumors will go into overdrive as the 26-year-old gets the chance to speak to foreign clubs next month. In fact, Madrid will be able to contact Alexander-Arnold as early as next week.
But, as he spends Christmas in the town that has made him the player he is, hopefully Alexander-Arnold might be swayed to stay right where he is, and secure his legacy as a Liverpool player.
Konate returns
If there’s one thing that really threatens to derail Liverpool this season, it’s injuries, and we might have already seen the big effect of one player being absent this season.
Obviously, Liverpool still remains in a strong position on all fronts, but they have perhaps lost some of the defensive solidity that they showed when Van Dijk was partnered with Ibrahima Konate. The Frenchman has been out since being injured late on against Real Madrid, and hopefully he might be able to make a return soon.
While we’re at it, having Conor Bradley back would also be a big boost. We’d also like to go through the rest of the season without any more injuries, although that might be asking a bit too much.
Chelsea, Arsenal stumble
Again, we might be asking too much here considering the fixtures Chelsea and Arsenal have coming up, but seeing them stumble again would be the perfect Christmas present for Liverpool.
Both sides face Ipswich in the next couple of games - Arsenal on December 27 and Chelsea on December 30 - so we wouldn’t expect either to drop points there, but their other couple of games could offer some hope.
Chelsea hosts Fulham on Boxing Day while Arsenal travels to Brentford on New Year’s Day. Again, they will be expected to claim all three points, but Fulham and Brentford are capable of springing a surprise. If they can, and Liverpool makes no mistakes against Leicester and West Ham, the Reds could head into the New Year with a seven-point lead. We can but dream…
Man Utd thrashed
It is of course the season of goodwill, but by the time Liverpool kicks off 2025 against Manchester United, all bets will be off.
Ruben Amorim brings his side to Anfield on January 5, and the Portuguese hasn’t exactly made a big impact yet over at Old Trafford. That win over Manchester City looked to have just papered over the cracks, with United looking a complete mess once again against Bournemouth at the weekend.
Liverpool could not be much further ahead than their great rivals at the moment, and they should absolutely wipe the floor with United when they come to town. Honestly, can you think of a better way to start the year?