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What's the situation regarding Sadio Mane’s contract at Liverpool?

Sadio Mane is under contract until 2021. Liverpool made it clear towards the end of last season that they would be willing to reward his progress with a new long-term deal and preliminary talks were opened.

Clearly, those discussions have yet to reach a conclusion but Liverpool don’t seem overly concerned about the situation. Mane is clearly happy at Anfield and the Reds have a good relationship with his agent Bjorn Bezemer.

With Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino having penned new long-term contracts this year, Mane is the next priority. If the situation remains unresolved come next summer then a degree of concern would be understandable but I don’t see it as a big issue currently.

Will Bobby Firmino continue in the number ten role he’s found himself in lately?

It will depend on the options at Klopp’s disposal and the opposition Liverpool are facing.

Playing Salah more centrally with Firmino just behind has got the goals flowing again against limited opposition. Firmino is such an intelligent footballer that he can certainly have a big influence in that deeper role.

Part of the reason behind the switch to a 4-2-3-1 formation was Klopp’s desire to have Fabinho playing as one of two holding midfielders with Wijnaldum for company. It’s also a way of getting Shaqiri in the same line up as Salah, Mane and Firmino.

Jurgen Klopp explained his usage of the new formation and what it means for Fabinho recently

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Could Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain or Rhian Brewster return before the end of this season?

We’ll see Brewster back in a Liverpool shirt before Oxlade-Chamberlain. The hope is that Brewster will make his senior debut in the second half of the season . Klopp has big hopes for the teenage striker.

There is an outside chance that Oxlade-Chamberlain could make a comeback before the end of the season but he certainly won’t be rushed back. It was such a serious knee injury he suffered and Liverpool don’t want to put pressure on him with any kind of timescale .

Zeljko Buvac is still listed on the club website. Surely the club need to make an announcement? Do you think we’ll have official confirmation anytime soon?

There won’t be an announcement from the club until the terms of his exit have been agreed. I thought it would have happened before now but clearly it has dragged on with lawyers involved.

I certainly don’t expect Buvac to return to Liverpool. Officially, he’s still first assistant coach on the club site. That job really belongs to Pep Lijnders now but the Dutchman can’t be given that title until the loose ends from Buvac’s departure are confirmed.

(Image: Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Do you think Henderson’s place in the starting XI is at risk after the promising performances of Fabinho and, in turn, his captaincy?

It was great to see Fabinho perform at such a high level against Red Star but it was strange to see some people using his impact to write off Henderson. The fact is that Klopp has got great options in every department - nobody is guaranteed a start.

There will be games when Klopp goes with both Fabinho and Henderson in the same midfield.

But is Jordan Henderson 'jealous' of Xherdan Shaqiri and Fabinho? Jurgen Klopp reveals the answer HERE

Klopp will keep on rotating to help ensure Liverpool are able to sustain a challenge both domestically and in Europe.

It was Klopp’s decision to give Henderson a new long-term deal back in September so that tells you what he thinks of the England midfielder. He won’t play every game when fit but he will still be very important to the Reds’ season. There certainly won’t be a change of captain this season.

Has Daniel Sturridge done enough to earn himself a new deal at Anfield? Or are the club waiting to see if he continues his fine form?

It’s a tricky one. Sturridge has enjoyed a fine start to the season and deserves massive credit for reviving his Liverpool career. But in truth he’s still only an impact sub for Klopp and his £125,000 per week contract expires next summer.

Liverpool have a big decision to make. Are they prepared to give him a one or two year extension on the same kind of terms?

(Image: John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

And even if they are would Sturridge be willing to accept that? The fact is that he could play more and earn more money elsewhere, especially when you consider the hefty signing on fee he could pocket if he left as a free agent.

I think the situation will become a lot clearer between now and Christmas. Come January 1 he could sign a pre-contract agreement with a club overseas.

Any chance Liverpool will buy a forward or creative midfielder in January if we stay in the title race?

Unless injuries hit, I’d be surprised if Klopp made additions to the squad during the January window. He seems very content with what he’s got currently.

Is this the strongest Liverpool squad you’ve seen in your lifetime?

Yes, I’m struggling to think of a time when Liverpool’s bench looked as strong as it does currently. Klopp has got real game-changers waiting in the wings - Shaqiri’s impact after coming off the bench last weekend was the perfect example.