Here are your Liverpool evening headlines for Monday, February 1.
Ozan Kabak deal nears
Liverpool are closing in on a deal to sign Schalke centre-back Ozan Kabak on a six-month loan with an option to buy.
After Joel Matip suffered ankle injury against Tottenham Hotspur last week, Jurgen Klopp admitted that the club could enter the market to sign a centre-back with all three senior options out for a sustained period.
And on Deadline Day, Liverpool are set to close out two deals for central defenders, including a six-month loan for Schalke's Kabak, who will cost £1 million for the temporary signing with a potential further £500,000 depending on Champions League appearances.
Liverpool will have the option to sign Kabak at the end of the season for £18 million plus add-ons. The ECHO understands that this clause does not need to be activated until June, giving Klopp and company time to properly evaluate the young defender.
Liverpool are also expected to wrap up a deal for Preston defender Ben Davies, who will cost an initial £500,000 with a potential £1.1 million in add-ons which are understood to include an England cap.
West Ham moments you might have missed
Liverpool got close to their best in Sunday's 3-1 victory over West Ham, scoring some sumptuous goals and reviving their recent sub-par form. However, there were some moments that you might have missed.
In his post-match press conference, Klopp suffered the same fate as all of us in recent months as he was on mute. He was attempting to answer a question about Nat Phillips, though no one could hear him.
In the first half, James Milner and Jordan Henderson could be heard shouting some rather unsavoury words after Liverpool sloppily conceded a corner.
Liverpool's performance was punctuated by a brilliant counter-attacking second goal. However, Henderson was one of the furthest forward, sprinting from one six-yard box to the other. Mohamed Salah collected Xherdan Shaqiri's first-time pass, but Henderson was right behind him and the first on hand to celebrate.
You can read all of the moments you might have missed here.
Thiago influence grows
Thiago Alacantara's influence is beginning to grow, as Ian Doyle wrote for the ECHO this week.
Thiago's role in the squad had been questioned, with Dietmar Hamann first questioning whether the technical and slight Spaniard suits Klopp's more athletically demanding style.
However, a return to peak fitness and tactical tweak from Klopp has seen Thiago flourish in the past week. And in Sunday's win over West Ham, he led Liverpool in the most touches of any player, completed the most passes and won the most duels and tackles. He also created some lovely, defence-splitting moments with his passing from deep.
Thiago has started the last three games in which Liverpool scored eight goals against teams currently in the top six in the Premier League. And that was with Sadio Mane on the bench against Manchester United and absent entirely against West Ham and Roberto Firmino brought off the bench on Sunday, too.
