After a Carabao Cup semi-final double header, attention now turns back to the latest round of Premier League action this weekend.
Some mouth-watering fixtures await, not least Tottenham’s trip to Old Trafford on Saturday lunchtime.
Then, on Sunday, Liverpool renew their rivalry with Manchester City at Anfield.
A host of Premier League managers will be previewing the weekend’s action today – stay tuned with Daily Mail Sport for all of the latest.
Slot: We know Van Dijk won’t be around forever
Arne Slot says Liverpool are not stupid and must replace reliable captain Virgil van Dijk but insists the signing of four young defenders in January shows the mid-term future of the club is in a very good place.
The Reds signed three central defenders for their academy last month and splashed £60million on Rennes prospect Jeremy Jacquet in addition to the £26m summer arrival of 18-year-old Giovanni Leoni, the Italian who would be in the first team if not for a cruciate ligament injury.
‘If I tell you (Liverpool) do everything with a reason and I don’t think you are surprised,’ said the head coach. ‘Everything done over here is never from panic, it’s always a long-term idea or something that has been thought about for a long time and not only by one person.
‘Of course, we are aware of the fact that Virgil won’t play for 10 years but he has a one-and-a-half year contract left, so he will be with us for that time, maybe even longer.
Virgil van Dijk is 34 now but still plays a key role for Liverpool under Arne Slot
‘If he keeps staying fit as he is now, I’ve said before what a compliment to him at his age to play every three days, not only now for our club but for his country for seven or eight months already.
‘Hopefully, he can stay as fit as he is for multiple years but this club is not stupid. We do know somewhere in the upcoming years, there is life for this club after Virgil.
‘I can say this for every position. This club is not only thinking about the short-term future but also the mid to long-term future.’
Liverpool are hopeful defender Joe Gomez is fit enough to make the squad for Sunday’s home clash against Manchester City, though right-back Jeremie Frimpong is still a week or so off returning due to a groin problem.
Lewis Steele
