Here are your Liverpool evening headlines for Tuesday, January 26.
Murphy names Liverpool’s two important players
Danny Murphy says that Liverpool need to make sure two players in particular stay fit for the rest of the season.
The club’s shortage of defenders has been a growing issue of late, with Joel Matip the only recognised centre-back currently fit, but even he has faced spells on the sidelines this season.
Murphy reckons it’s imperative that Liverpool keep both Matip and captain Jordan Henderson fit if they are to challenge for silverware this term.
He told talkSPORT : “Just because they’re having a little dip, that [quality] will come back. I’m not worried about goalscoring. He’ll believe they’ll get top four, but that’s not good enough now.
“Liverpool are way above that in terms of where they want to be and expectations and what the fans desire.
“If they don’t sign a defender, how fit can Matip stay with all the games? They’ll need [Jordan] Henderson and Matip fit, if they get those two fit they’ll be alright.”
Gerrard criticises Chelsea for Lampard sacking
Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard has criticised Chelsea for their decision to sack Frank Lampard as manager.
The Stamford Bridge club took the decision to part ways with Lampard on Monday and confirmed on Tuesday evening. the appointment of former Borussia Dortmund and Paris Saint-Germain boss Thomas Tuchel.
Rangers boss Gerrard was asked for his thoughts on Lampard’s sacking, and has criticised Chelsea for not giving him more time.
"I’m gutted for Frank, he’s someone I respect greatly, but knowing the guy he’ll be back before no time,” said Gerrard.
“He’ll dust himself down and get ready to get back involved and he’ll use this time to spend with his family - he’s obviously got a young family and one on the way.
“I’m disappointed for him, I thought it was a very swift exit, on the back of a positive result on the weekend, but I don’t know the details, I don’t know how it’s been for him, I don’t know the relationships that he’s had inside the club.
“But I did think it was an opportunity for Chelsea to reach out and support him in this tough period of results, rather than do what they’ve done.
“But Chelsea have got history for that, so it’s no surprise.”
Why Barcelona don’t owe Coutinho money to Liverpool
After Barcelona’s accounts, which were published in October, got yet more attention it appeared that the La Liga club still owed a significant amount of money to Liverpool.
The transfer of Philippe Coutinho to the Nou Camp in January 2018 came to around £142m, with the full amount owed to the Reds being £35.5m in both short and long-term payables.
This was part of £286.9m that is still owed by Barcelona to 19 clubs over short and long-term payables, but does not tell the full story.
While the accounts show that the debt to Liverpool remains, the Reds have actually received the cash after selling the debt to a third party financial institution.
A footnote in Barcelona's accounts states: "Liverpool Football Club has factored with a financial institution its right to collection."
This means that Liverpool are not waiting for the cash to drop into their bank account, that is something that they have already received from those they sold the debt on to - money that could have been used to recapitalise the business and money that should show in the forthcoming financial accounts from Liverpool for the financial year ending May 2020.
