Liverpool are beginning to resemble something of last season's title-winning team. There is a long way to go, but Arne Slot's side have won back-to-back-to-back in the Premier League, and they are unbeaten in seven matches altogether.
Instrumental in this blooming revival has been Florian Wirtz, whose velvet touches and crafty playmaking have started to pay dividends after a challenging start.
Routinely, the German midfielder, who signed from Bayer Leverkusen for £116m in July, has been the architect of Slot's still-struggling system, creating 13 chances from five matches in December, as per Sofascore, and finally breaking his duck during the weekend win over Wolves at Anfield.
Burt Liverpool are still lacking something from an attacking perspective, and that appears to be sporting director Richard Hughes' emphasis heading into the January transfer window.
Liverpool eyeing attacking additions
Slot will be sleeping a little easier after stopping the rot that had spread across Liverpool's campaign, now settled in the top four of the Premier League once again, albeit some distance away from first-placed Arsenal.
arne-slot-liverpool
There is still a shakiness to Liverpool's defending, and the Reds are lack fluency when building attacks up, so it's understandable that FSG are ready to invest in spite of their record-breaking summer of spending.
Some may clamour for a centre-back, but there's a sense Liverpool are going to wait until the summer for Crystal Palace's Marc Guehi.
Should Slot want Bournemouth's Antoine Semenyo, however, Liverpool must strike now, with Manchester City closing on the Ghanaian forward.
The pointers suggest Semenyo is headed for the Etihad Stadium, but The Telegraph have revealed that Liverpool are primed to launch an ambitious hijack, with the 26-year-old's £65m release clause there for the taking.
Hughes initiated talks with Bournemouth in November, but discussions haven't been followed up on. That could soon change, though, as the market prepares to open for business.
Why Liverpool must push for Antoine Semenyo
Semenyo is the talk of the Premier League. He has scored nine goals and provided three assists across 17 matches for Bournemouth, and pundit Chris Waddle has even described him as "the best winger in England" this season.
Bournemouth's Antoine Semenyo celebrates scoring their first goal
Two-footed and with an eye for goal, the pacy and powerful winger has all the ingredients to succeed at Liverpool, and Slot would surely find balance across his frontline by adding the former Bristol City prospect to his mix.
Wirtz got off the mark against Wolves, but it's easy to forget that the German's duties centre on being creative, supplying teammates. As per FBref, the 22-year-old ranks among the top 10% of positional peers in the Premier League for shot-creating actions and the top 2% for progressive passes per 90.
Shot-creating actions are pieces of play that lead to a shot. These include moments such as a pass, take-on or foul being drawn.
This contrasts perfectly with Semenyo's purposeful strides from the wing and into the danger area. A nine-goal return is nothing to be sniffed at, especially when considering he has only missed five big chances.
Premier League 25/26 - Antoine Semenyo
Stats (* per game)
Matches (starts)
Goals
Assists
Touches
Shots (on target)*
Accurate passes*
Chances created*
Succ. dribbles*
Ball recoveries*
Tackles + interceptions*
Duels won*
Data via Sofascore
In this, Semenyo is growing into a true superstar, and one who could form a formidable alliance with Wirtz in Liverpool's frontline.
Among Liverpool's biggest problems have been their physicality and ability to react to issues that arise in any given match. Wirtz, however, is a natural problem-solver, and he just needs more fluent teammates around him to go from strength to strength.
Semenyo's "world-class" consistency, as has been noted by teammate Justin Kluivert, has fired him into the ascendancy. Now Liverpool must take advantage and stop him from moving to rivals Manchester City.
Liverpool have been known to steal players from under rival suitors' noses in the past. Luis Diaz was seemingly bound for Tottenham in 2023; Cody Gakpo was honing in on a transfer to Old Trafford after the World Cup in Qatar.
Cody Gakpo for Liverpool
Semenyo's directness would see him mimic and outstrip such players. He is ferocious in front of goal, and this could work in tandem with Wirtz's creativity to restore the sparkle to the Anfield side's frontline.
Rice Related
[Slot's own Rice: Liverpool have submitted an offer for £61m "monster"](https://www.footballfancast.com/slot-own-rice-liverpool-submitted-offer-for-camavinga/ "Slot's own Rice: Liverpool have submitted an offer for £61m "monster"")
Liverpool have reportedly made an offer to sign a £61m star who could be their own version of Declan Rice.