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Will Barcelona get their man?

OK, so this is an obvious place to start.

Philippe Coutinho, you feel, will dictate just how happy Liverpool fans are when the transfer window closes.

The games have already commenced. Barcelona's charm offensive has continued, Liverpool's vow of silence remains. Coutinho, unhelpfully, is on the injured list.

As it stands, Liverpool are yet to receive a new offer, and suggestions that Coutinho has told Liverpool he won't play for the club again are premature at least.

But the shadow continues to hang over Anfield. Coutinho's form this season has been good, suggesting that the speculation has little effect. But will that continue? Will Barcelona firm up their long-held interest? Do they have the money to do so? Liverpool rejected £118m in the summer, and Coutinho's value has surely risen since.

Suggestions of a £133m asking price have emerged in recent days, and it will be very interesting to see what would happen if Barcelona went that high. Liverpool would need a damn good reason to sell their star man, mid-season and with so much to play for.

A more likely scenario, perhaps, is that a deal is ironed out now, to be completed in the summer. That would, at this stage, appear to be the best compromise. Certainly, the idea of Coutinho staying at Anfield beyond the end of the season appears very unlikely.

And if so, what do Liverpool do about it?

One imagines that there is plenty of work going on behind the scenes to formulate a plan for when Coutinho leaves, whether it is in this window or the next.

Coutinho's talent and versatility make him a hard man to replace, but Liverpool have to find a way - whether directly or via a tweak of their system and style.

Thomas Lemar, the Monaco midfielder, is definitely a target. The France international was pursued in the summer, though Liverpool were unable to agree a deal with the Ligue 1 club late in the window. Though not a like-for-like replacement, Lemar would be a high-quality addition - albeit one well behind Coutinho in terms of his development.

Liverpool have already boxed off Naby Keita for the summer, and it appears unlikely that they would be able to bring that deal forward to January, much as they'd like to.

So if they were to receive £133m (or more) for Coutinho, could they enter the market for another prime attacking midfield player? Julian Draxler, Christian Pulisic, Alexis Sanchez, Nabil Fekir, Manuel Lanzini are potential options.

Another idea, albeit one less likely to happen, is that the Reds would look to reinvest any transfer fee into the rest of their side. A holding midfielder, perhaps, or another centre back - a goalkeeper or a left back, even?

One thing is for sure, if Coutinho does leave this month then Liverpool would need to react. And fast.

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How will Virgil settle?

We could get our first glimpse of Virgil van Dijk on Friday, as Everton visit Anfield.

The spotlight will be on the £75m man, but that is to be expected. His every move will be scrutinised, as fans and pundits look to see if he really is the man to make a difference for the Reds.

He seems a strong, unflappable character, but we will find out soon enough. Jurgen Klopp has suggested that he will be patient with the Dutchman, as tends to be his way with new signings. He will build up fitness and 'rhythm' alongside his new teammates, though for his part he will be desperate to pull on that red shirt and show what he can do.

Can he settle quickly? If so, what a big boost that will be for the Reds.

Can the Reds stop the City juggernaut?

Roy Hodgson, of all people, should have been the man.

Manchester City's absurd unbeaten run should have ended at Crystal Palace, only for Ederson's legs and Luka Milivojevic's nerves to intervene.

The league leaders, then, will arrive at Anfield seeking their 23rd unbeaten Premier League game this season - their 31st in total.

Can Liverpool stop them? They beat Pep Guardiola's side here last season, and would dearly love to do so again. Revenge for their 5-0 shelling at the Etihad back in September would be sweet.

The power of Anfield will be needed - City really are some team, and have numerous ways to hurt you. How Liverpool would love to have all of their 'Fab Four' available for that clash on January 14.

(Image: Ian Walton/Getty Images)

Do the Dans remain at Anfield?

Two strikers with disappointing injury records, two strikers facing uncertain futures perhaps?

Two strikers called Dan.

Dan No.1, Sturridge, has already been linked with a move away from Anfield, with Southampton the latest club credited with an interest.

Sturridge has not featured for Liverpool since a substitute appearance against Spartak Moscow on December 6 - a combination of illness and injury halting him at a time when Klopp has looked to rotate his squad.

Many were surprised that the England striker remained at Anfield in the summer. Plenty would be surprised again if he were with the Reds come February.

And what of Dan No.2, Ings? He's found himself on the bench on a couple of occasions recently, reward for his graft in getting back to fitness and something like match sharpness after rotten luck with knee injuries.

But at 25 and having missed two years of football, will he want more regular action? Few could begrudge him if so, and he will have plenty of suitors in the Premier League if so. A loan deal is a definite possibility.

What will happen to the young stars?

Speaking of loans, what of Liverpool's clutch of talented U23s?

Plenty would benefit from competitive football, and Klopp and his staff will consider a raft of offers from the Premier League and beyond.

Ben Woodburn is one name who will be in the frame. The Welsh international is as gifted as they come, but opportunities in the Reds first team have not arrived. Liverpool would consider letting him leave if he were to start games at a decent level - upper Championship, most probably. They are, however, wary of sending such a bright talent out and risking a situation where he sits on the bench away from Anfield.

Harry Wilson, the free-scoring winger, is one who would surely benefit from the chance to play regular first team football. Too good for Premier League 2, not quite good enough for Liverpool, he needs a platform from which to continue his impressive development.

Decisions may be made, too, over the likes of Ovie Ejaria, Marko Grujic, who has attracted plenty of interest, Ryan Kent, whose half-season at Freiburg has not been as successful as hoped, and Cameron Brannagan, who is keen to find himself a Football League loan.

Jon Flanagan may be another name added to that list, though he awaits a court sentencing later in the month after pleading guilty to common assault.

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

Will Klopp make a change to his staff?

The New Year started with a bit of surprise news at Melwood, with Pep Lijnders leaving the club to take up a role as head coach of Dutch side NEC Nijmegen.

A blow to Klopp's coaching staff - Lijnders performed a key and much-appreciated role linking Liverpool's first-team with the Academy in Kirkby. His weekly 'Talent Group' sessions allowed players such as Woodburn, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Rhian Brewster to showcase their skills at Melwood.

Klopp intends to take his time before deciding how best to compensate for Lijnders' departure. Whether that will be via an outside appointment or an internal promotion remains to be seen.

If it is the latter, he has options with Steven Gerrard, U16s coach Barry Lewtas, U23s bosses Neil Critchley and Mick Garrity, or even Michael Beale, who returned to the club after a spell in Brazil back in September, all candidates to play the role of 'bridge' that Lijnders performed so admirably.