After the trials and tribulations of last season, things are looking rosy for Liverpool just six months on. The Reds currently sit second in the Premier League table and are just two points off Arsenal in top spot.

Moreover, Liverpool has opened up a four-point gap on perennial rivals Manchester City, as Pep Guardiola's side go through something of a mini-crisis. The 2-0 win against Sheffield United at Bramall Lane means Liverpool is now unbeaten in its last eight league games, with its only defeat of the season coming to Tottenham way back at the end of September.

The only negative point is the injury to Joël Matip, which could rule the Cameroonian out for the remainder of the season. The defender ruptured his ACL in the 4-3 win against Fulham and, with his contract expiring at the end of the campaign, he may never play for the club again.

READ MORE: Liverpool and Arsenal set for three-game reckoning as bold Pep Guardiola prediction may backfire

READ MORE: Liverpool must accelerate Jürgen Klopp transfer plan after suffering biggest injury blow yet

Liverpool is on the road again this weekend, as it travels south to face Crystal Palace and ex-manager Roy Hodgson. Liverpool drew in the same encounter last season, but Jürgen Klopp will be hoping for a better outcome this time around. Here are two Liverpool.com articles that you shouldn't miss today.

The words Man City and crisis have never been used in the same sentence in the Pep Guardiola era, until now. Guardiola's men are winless in four games in the Premier League. This normally wouldn't be an issue for teams down the years; bumps in the road are to be expected in any given league season.

Yet due to the blistering pace City has cut over the last half-decade, this represents a massive hurdle for Guardiola's side to overcome. They find themselves six points behind Arsenal already, and Guardiola's sniping at pundits gives off the impression of a coach beginning to crack, just a little bit. Read more from James Martin by clicking here.

Over the past week of Premier League football, both Arsenal and Man City have conceded three goals in a single game. Arsenal scraped to a 4-3 away win against Luton Town in midweek, while City drew 3-3 with Tottenham last weekend.

Liverpool also conceded three goals against Fulham last weekend, but Jürgen Klopp has an advantage in the shape of Brazilian goalkeeper Alisson. Alisson missed the game against Fulham due to injury, and no one is better in the Premier League at shot-stopping.

Alisson has faced a total of 589 shots on target worth roughly 170.7 expected goals, but conceded just 150 times, not counting own goals. Alisson effectively been 20 goals better than the average goalkeeper, and this is the advantage Klopp needs to regain quickly. Learn more from Josh Williams by clicking here.

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Pep Guardiola is adamant: Manchester City will win the Premier League for the fourth successive season. Or he was, at least, until his side lost — and was outplayed — by Aston Villa on Wednesday.

Unai Emery had never beaten a Guardiola team before but John McGinn ran rings around Manchester City and Erling Haaland barely had a kick. After Arsenal and Liverpool had won earlier in the midweek round of games, perhaps the title picture is changing.

Manchester City is not going anywhere, of course. Aston Villa might have moved ahead of the Cityzens in the Premier League table but the chances of that being the case when it matters in May are extremely slim.

READ MORE: Kylian Mbappé transfer deadline set amid Liverpool links as Arsenal offered Ivan Toney 'Plan B'

READ MORE: Liverpool must accelerate Jürgen Klopp transfer plan after suffering biggest injury blow yet

But there is more than a bit of hope emerging for those looking to win the league ahead of Manchester City. Even though Arsenal and Liverpool are not perfect sides, Guardiola's team is offering enough slip-ups and dropped points to suggest it could be there for the taking this year.

The next few matches, though, will help determine a lot. Before Christmas, Liverpool will host Arsenal at Anfield. Before that, Mikel Arteta's men play Aston Villa and Brighton.

Those two games are set to be major tests for where Arsenal is currently at. Leading the league by the two points that separate it from Liverpool, the Gunners will face the exact test that Manchester City just failed by heading to Villa Park on Saturday.

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Roberto de Zerbi's Brighton might not be quite the side they were last season this time around but they can always cause problems. Arsenal lost twice at the Emirates Stadium to the Seagulls last season (in the Premier League and the Carabao Cup) and that fixture will not be an easy one either.

It is no surprise that December will be vitally important in shaping what the title race looks like — it always is, except when the World Cup is played then — but the next two Arsenal games really will be instructive of just where it is at. Liverpool, meanwhile, can only continue to pick up points, facing Crystal Palace (A) and then Manchester United (H).

By Christmas, Manchester City will have a game in hand (an as-yet-unscheduled clash against Brentford) as it travels to play in the Club World Cup around that time. And that means there is a chance for either Liverpool or Arsenal to get ahead and put the points on the board.

Either way, we should know a lot more about whether Guardiola's prediction is likely to come true or not by the time the Reds take on Arsenal in the FA Cup on January 7. If Liverpool can win its next two games and avoid defeat against Arsenal, Klopp's men could definitely be sitting on top of the league standings as they tuck into some turkey.

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Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp has faced criticism from former Aston Villa striker Gabriel Agbonlahor over a recent post-match interview. Agbonlahor referred to Klopp as "a big baby" due to his reaction during the interview.

The incident occurred after Liverpool's 2-0 victory over Sheffield United. Klopp was asked about the early kick-off time for the upcoming match against Crystal Palace.

Klopp has previously expressed his dislike for early kick-off times, citing the impact on player recovery time. This season alone, Liverpool has had four Premier League matches scheduled in the early time slot, many of which have fallen directly after the international break, which has left Klopp frustrated. However, Agbonlahor questioned Klopp's right to be discontent and accused him of overreacting during the interview.

READ MORE: Kylian Mbappé transfer deadline set amid Liverpool links as Arsenal offered Ivan Toney 'Plan B'

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During an appearance on talkSPORT, Agbonlahor stated, "He’s a big baby, isn't he? It's okay when he wants to make a joke about things. The poor presenter Marcus Buckland is having a little joke about it... liven up, Jürgen. Liven up Jürgen, you big baby." Agbonlahor also highlighted the sensitivity of managers in general, mentioning instances where other managers like Pep Guardiola had clashed with presenters.

It is worth noting that this criticism from Agbonlahor is not new. Last year, Klopp publicly criticized Agbonlahor after the retired striker made remarks about Manchester United following its heavy loss to Brentford. Klopp questioned Agbonlahor's credibility and reminded him of Liverpool's 6-0 victory over Aston Villa during Klopp's first year as manager:

"He lost against us 6-0 in my first year, so I couldn't remember him as a mentality monster on the pitch then! But what he said about Man Utd in that show, I was close to calling in and telling him: 'You forgot completely that you were a player'."

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The exchange between Klopp and Agbonlahor illustrates the ongoing tension and differing opinions within the football world. Managers often face scrutiny and criticism from pundits and former players, leading to heated debates and exchanges.

While Klopp's reaction in the post-match interview may have been seen as overly sensitive by Agbonlahor, it is important to remember that managers are under immense pressure, and their reactions can be influenced by various factors. The clash of personalities and differing perspectives adds to the drama and intrigue of the football world.

Liverpool.com says: Maybe Klopp was a little needlessly sharp, but he's under a lot of pressure. And the joke about kick-off times was poorly thought-out, at best, with this an issue close to the manager's heart.

A long-time advocate of player welfare, the festive schedule is no laughing matter. He was always going to be snippy when that was trivialized. Hopefully, another incredible put-down against Agbonlahor is on the way. Bringing up the 6-0 was genius.

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You may notice the below message on a small number of Liverpool.com articles. We like to innovate and this is part of a trial to look at whether AI can help speed up the publishing process. We will always declare where this happens.

This article was crafted with the help of AI tools, based on a piece first written by Tom Cavilla for the Liverpool ECHO. You can read the original piece by clicking here. A Liverpool.com news editor reviewed this content before it was published. You can report any errors to matt.addison@reachplc.com.

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Liverpool's fine form continued with the 2-0 midweek win over Sheffield United at Bramall Lane. Goals from Virgil van Dijk and Dominik Szoboszlai confirmed the three points, keeping the pressure on Arsenal at the top of the table. Here's your round-up of the latest Liverpool news.

Barcelona player says Liverpool star could play 'here'

Barcelona forward João Félix has stated that Liverpool ace Dominik Szoboszlai could play for the Spanish giants in the future. In an interview with SpilerTV (via Mundo Deportivo), Félix explained that he would be keen to play with a Liverpool star, but at Camp Nou rather than at Anfield.

"Dominik Szoboszlai, from Liverpool. I like his game and I think he could play here one day," said the Portuguese player. Félix is only on loan at the Camp Nou, however, so he might not even be there beyond this season given Barcelona's financial situation, let alone anyone else that he might like to play with.

READ MORE: Liverpool star may have played last game for club as Jürgen Klopp transfer stance must change

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Szoboszlai only joined Liverpool last summer and isn't going anywhere anytime soon. That, and the current state of Barcelona's economics — well documented at this point — means any future move is virtually impossible for the foreseeable future.

Hungary captain Szoboszlai has gone a little off the boil since a scintillating start to life at Anfield but did work very hard last night and earned himself a well-taken late goal. He is expected to be a key player for years to come.

Van Dijk 'devastated' for injured Liverpool teammate

Virgil van Dijk has revealed the Liverpool players are gutted over Joël Matip's ACL injury. The Cameroonian has always been troubled by injuries since arriving at Liverpool, but the defender has always been the model of consistency when on the field.

Liverpool's home shirt for the 2023/2024 campaign pays homage to Bill Shankly and the legendary Reds manager's final season in charge at Anfield. The Nike shirt features a bright red design with a bold white contrast on the colour and cuffs.

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Matip was forced to come off during the 4-3 win over Fulham, and it was subsequently confirmed that the 32-year-old has ruptured his ACL. That means he may have played his last game for the club, with his contract due to expire at the end of this season.

Speaking after the 2-0 win against Sheffield United, Van Dijk shared the feeling around Anfield over Matip's injury. Understandably, everyone is gutted that a key man will be out for so long.

"Unfortunately, the other day we lost Joel Matip and we are all devastated by that," he told Liverpoolfc.com. "That’s a sign as well; we have so many injuries going around in world football, it’s something we have to look at as well."

Liverpool may now need to dip into the transfer market in January. That might have been a good idea anyway given that Matip's contract would be entering the final six months, but any transfer plan must surely now be accelerated.

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It wasn’t pretty by any stretch of the imagination, but Liverpool did what it needed to do against Sheffield United. A 2-0 win keeps the Reds firmly in the title conversation, especially after another slip-up from Manchester City.

It looked for the longest time like Virgil van Dijk’s goal was going to be all that separated the two sides at Bramall Lane, with the hosts looking every bit the relegation candidates as they failed to pounce on a somewhat uninspiring performance from Liverpool.

In truth, the Reds didn’t need to move up a gear, and they eventually made sure of the three points deep in stoppage time thanks to Dominik Szoboszlai after good work from Darwin Núñez. The win brings Liverpool back to within two points of Premier League leaders Arsenal.

READ MORE: Dominik Szoboszlai has changed Jürgen Klopp habit and one Liverpool star is thriving as a result

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And with Pep Guardiola’s side faltering at Aston Villa, there is a real opportunity for Liverpool to make a real statement before the end of 2023. There was though a major blow confirmed by Jürgen Klopp after the game — here's what Liverpool.com learned and what you might have missed.

Virgil van Dijk is back, but we probably already knew that. His goal came as a nice bonus though — it has been a long time since we saw him scoring.

What we did learn though is perhaps Alexis Mac Allister’s best position might not be what many thought. Given the chance to play further forward in midfield, the Argentine didn’t really do enough to suggest he should remain there, and he could now face a fight for the number six role from Wataru Endō.

The biggest takeaway probably came away from Bramall Lane. Liverpool now has an almighty chance to open up some serious breathing space on Manchester City.

Pep Guardiola’s side continued its slump as it went a fourth game without a win, this time falling to Aston Villa. Those who switched over from the Liverpool game at the final whistle will have seen City come out very much second-best as well.

The gap between the Reds and their rival currently stands at four points, but with Guardiola’s team involved in the Club World Cup this month, there’s an opportunity for Liverpool to widen that gap. There is the small matter of beating Arsenal to contend with if that is to happen, not to mention ensuring that there are no slip-ups against Crystal Palace and Manchester United, but this is a chance few fans might have expected heading into the season, and one that needs to be taken.

While Liverpool fans will have been celebrating the victory at Bramall Lane and then City’s subsequent slip-up, Jürgen Klopp was delivering something of a bombshell as he gave an update on Joël Matip’s injury. The defender was missing in Sheffield after pulling up during the win over Fulham on Sunday.

“It’s an ACL, ruptured,” Klopp confirmed after the game (via the ECHO). “That’s unfortunately what I expected from the first second. It looked like that. Very unfortunate, but that’s it.”

That unfortunately means Matip will likely miss the rest of the season. With his contract expiring in the summer, we might well have seen the last of him in a red shirt.

That will be a major blow for Liverpool. The Cameroonian had been in excellent form this season, and had re-established his partnership with Virgil van Dijk in the heart of the defense.

Having focused all his efforts on his midfield in the summer, Klopp recently suggested Jarell Quansah had justified the decision not to sign a new defender (via the ECHO). But with Matip now out of the picture, the 20-year-old now becomes fourth-choice behind Ibrahima Konaté and Joe Gomez, who have both had their injury problems.

Even if Klopp feels confident about Quansah’s ability, Liverpool now needs a new defender in its ranks. Ideally, next month.

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Since Jürgen Klopp was appointed by Liverpool in 2015, he's managed to refine his team's shooting tendencies over time. The German was regarded as one of the best attacking coaches in the world upon his arrival, and he's proved his credentials throughout his stay on English shores.

The Reds, in keeping with their reputation as a data-driven side, have focused on creating good quality chances over the years before attempting to score. The findings of expected goals have been essential to Liverpool's development, with Klopp's players recognizing the lack of sense attached to efforts from long range.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain said as much in an interview with The Athletic in 2021. "The biggest one for me is expected positions to score," he said after being shown a clip of his famous goal from outside the penalty box against Manchester City from the 2017/18 campaign.

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Oxlade-Chamberlain touched on the obvious downsides attached to his attempt, stating: "It’s not a very high percentage of scoring from there. Last season, I think I scored eight goals, four of them from outside of the box. You’re going to have to do well to replicate that every year."

The English midfielder left the club in the summer, alongside seasoned performers such as James Milner, Jordan Henderson, Fabinho, Roberto Firmino and Naby Keïta. Those players were replaced by four talents in Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, Wataru Endō and Ryan Gravenberch, and it is reasonable to suggest Klopp's new-look group are still getting to grips with his offensive ways.

So far this season, Liverpool has benefited from its revitalized engine room, but the team's shooting tendencies have almost gone back in time. The Anfield side has accumulated the most shots in the Premier League with 247, but the average distance from goal of those efforts has been 18.1 yards.

For context, only one team in the division is shooting from further out in Sheffield United, with the Blades likely resorting to those efforts from distance due to their inability to progress into the penalty box.

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It is a curious development on Merseyside, especially given Liverpool's tendency to shoot from close range last term. When the Reds finished fifth in the table last season, the average shot posted was around 16.2 yards from goal, which placed them fifth in the table ahead of champions Manchester City, who averaged 16.6 yards from goal.

The introduction of new players seems to have impacted Liverpool's ways quite considerably. Szoboszlai, for example, is a natural striker of the ball and as a result, he has been eager to demonstrate his quality in England. Only Darwin Núñez and Mohamed Salah have taken more shots than him, but the average distance of his attempts has been 26 yards out, which is far.

Indeed, Oxlade-Chamberlain talked about the Hungarian captain recently. Speaking to Sky Sports, he said: “I think he's got so much ability, physicality and just his character as a player. I think he's just what we needed in there. He's been really, really good. Trent says his shots are better than mine. He's got everything."

Similar applies to Mac Allister and Harvey Elliott, although the former did score from about 40 yards against Fulham over the weekend, suggesting that long shots can make sense sometimes. Trent Alexander-Arnold is another who has added to the theme now that he's occupying spaces in midfield more often.

The Scouse defender has posted 19 efforts on goal in the Premier League this term, with the average distance of his attempts being 25.9 yards out. The Reds have scored a healthy number of goals so far, but since acquiring the services of more technical and attack-minded midfielders, Liverpool's shooting habits have shifted.

It remains to be seen how Klopp will feel about the change, but if Mac Allister can keep scoring in the same vein as his goal on Sunday afternoon, he will likely have no complaints.

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