Liverpool FC: Regeneration

Two sensational signings for the club, who bring real talent to the starting eleven with plenty more promise for the future! Coutinho, Isco, Mané & Morata in attack..... defences will be crushed!

Instant Impact: New boy Isco immediately made his presence felt at Liverpool

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The Transfer window is over, the signings are done, and Liverpool this month faced one of the sternest tests of the season, with a League Cup semi-final against Chelsea, two FA Cup matches, and a quick succession of League games, all in one month!

However, Klopp's men were more than up to the challenge, and got through the month more or less unscathed, and head into february on a high, after losing just once in 7 matches, partly in thanks to the performances of new signings Isco and Morata, but also thanks to some stunning performances by youngsters like Jermaine Anderson, who found himself with more first-team chances due to the Absence of Saido Mane, who departed for the African Cup of Nations following the 5-1 trouncing of Hull.

1-1 v Bournemouth
Origi
Joel Matip (7.1)

2-0 v Burnley (FA Cup)
Anderson (2)
Jermaine Anderson (9.2)

2-0 v Chelsea (League Cup)
N/A
Nathaniel Clyne (7.0)

5-1 v Hull
Milner, Mane (2), Morata, Coutinho
Saido Mane (9.5)

1-0 v Manchester United
Isco
Dejan Lovren (7.4)

4-2 v Chelsea
Origi, Cutrone, Coutinho (2)
Phillipe Coutinho (9.1)

2-0 v Chelsea (League Cup)
Liverpool Progress 4-3 on Penalties
Isco, Origi
Isco (9.0)

2-1 v Leeds (FA Cup)
Isco, Coutinho
Isco (8.1)

Player of the Month: Isco

Isco made an instant impact this month, netting three key goals for his new club, and picking up two Man of the Match awards for his intelligent link-up play and deadly accuracy in front of goal. The Spaniard has proved difficult for opposition defences to handle due to his tendency to drop off of his marker, and float in the space between the striker and the midfield. This movement, combined with the ability to pass the ball onto a postage stamp, means he has quickly become a crucial player for Liverpool.

Young Player of the Month: Jermaine Anderson

With Saido Mane at the African Cup of Nations, Adam Lallana was pushed out onto the right wing, which left space beside Jordan Henderson in the heart of Midfield. This spot was split between Anderson and Serbian Marko Grujic, but it was Anderson who had the bigger impact; two crucial goals in the FA Cup, and two assists in the league win over Chelsea see him pick up the Young Player of the Month award.

Isco and Morata are going to be great signings for the club and Isco could well be the driving force to fire Liverpool to the title!

Isco baby <3

Taking Chances: Youngster Marko Grujic impressed this month, taking chances at key times.

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With their place in the League Cup final tied up, February became about getting to the Wembley match as quickly and easily as possible. This wasn't always easy, as Liverpool faced both Manchester City and Arsenal, but keeping players fit for the final took precedence over results for Klopp, as he himself acknowledged ahead of the opening game against Arsenal.

Rotation didn't hurt his side through, as they completed an unbeaten month to catapult them into top spot, level on points with Chelsea, and 1 point ahead of 3rd-placed Arsenal. The title race is far from a foregone conclusion, with Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester United, Southampton and Manchester City all still in the hunt, and only 12 points separating 1st from 6th!

Focus for Liverpool now turns to the League Cup final; they are determined to get their hands on some Silverware this season, and the League Cup is their first chance to do so. After defeat last season, they'll be keen to pick up the win and lift the trophy. Full coverage of the final will be available online from the BBC, ITV and Liverpool's own website on the 26th of February.

1-1 v Arsenal
Grujic
Marko Grujic (7.3)

2-2 v Manchester City
Isco, Morata
Isco (8.3)

1-0 v Watford
Lallana
Joe Gomez (7.4)

4-1 v Wolves (FA Cup)
Sturridge, Coutinho, Lovren, Lonegran (og)
Isco (9.0)

3-1 v Everton
Lallana, Origi, Grujic
Adam Lallana (8.3)

Player of the Month: Adam Lallana

With Saido Mane injured on his return from AFCON, Adam Lallana was tasked with stepping into the Attacking Midfield role, and excelled on the right side of the Liverpool attack, providing two key goals, and two assists in his 4 starts this month. Lallana showed that he could produce when the team truly needed him, and alongside Isco and Coutinho, formed a clinical attacking midfield trio which Mane may struggle to break back into on his return from injury.

Young Player of the Month: Marko Grujic

Just like last month, Mane's continued absence left a midfield slot open, however this month it was Grujic who made it his own, scoring twice at critical times, and displaying an incredible ability to kill opposition attacks before they could really start, to take home the award this month.

A very good month for you, getting solid draws to Arsenal and City, as well as a Merseyside derby victory. Progressing in the FA Cup is a nice little bonus too, hopefully you can go and win the EFL Cup final to finish off a successful month.

Go out and win that League Cup, it isn't just a 'Mickey Mouse' trophy!

Liverpool are the best club in the League Cup! Go out and extend that record!!

Leader: Jordan Henderson Captained Liverpool in his second League Cup Final

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It was a balmy 17 degrees when Liverpool and Southampton walked out onto the Wembley pitch this evening to battle for the League Cup. Liverpool, led by Jordan Henderson, were keen to lift the trophy this time round, having lost out to Manchester City in an agonising Penalty shootout last season. Southampton, sitting just outside the top 6, knew that a win here would give them European football next season, so the stakes were high for both teams.

Lineups: Liverpool v Southampton

Liverpool: Karius, Clyne, Matip, Lovren, Moreno, Henderson, Can, Lallana, Isco, Coutinho, Morata
Subs: Mingolet, Gomez, Anderson, Sturridge, Alexander-Arnold, Grujic, Origi

Southampton: Forster, Cedric, Caceres, Yoshida, Bertrand, Romeu, Davis, Hojbjerg, Redmond, Tadic, Gabbiadini
Subs: Hassen, Calabria, Boufal, Rodriguez, Clasie, Targett, Ward-Prowse


Both teams started brightly, but it was Southampton who mounted the first serious attack of the match. Tadic skipped past Joel Matip, and slipped a pass to Gabbiadini, who drove a first time shot low and hard to Karuis' left, but the German 'keeper was equal to it, saving and holding the shot.

Southampton continued to pile on the pressure, and Davis drove deep into the Liverpool half, laying the ball off to Tadic, who gave it back to him on the edge of the box. The Southampton captain took a pop at goal, which Karius could only parry into the path of an onrushing Nathan Redmond, but the winger blazed his shot over the bar.

Despite the early pressure from Southampton, it was Liverpool who took the first blood. Emre Can took possession deep inside his own half, pinging a long ball out wide to Moreno, who took off down the flank. The Spaniard has grown immeasurably since the start of the season, and beat two men before being upended by Cedric. From the free kick, Can lifted the ball to Coutinho on the edge of the area. The Brazilian took a touch, cutting inside Caceres, before rattling a long-range shot past Forster to give his side the lead.

Liverpool maintained the pressure, and Adam Lallana doubled the Liverpool lead after just half an hour. The former Southampton man was quickest to the rebound of Matip's headed attempt, and lifted the ball over Forster who was caught off his line.

Liverpool were 2-0 up and coasting, and came out strong in the second half, pegging Southampton back deep in their own half. Forster was almost a completely different 'keeper in the second half, keeping a surging Liverpool attack at bay, almost until full-time, but Alvaro Morata proved to be the undoing of a heroic second half.

The Spanish newcomer picked the ball up on the edge of the area, and laid it off to Isco, who then moved it out wide to Adam Lallana. Morata had continued his run, running straight onto the end of Lallana's inch-perfect cross to bury the ball in the far corner, and complete a resounding 3-0 victory for Liverpool.

Congratulations on the silverware! I am sure it will be the first of many!

Congrats on the big win

A 3-0 win is the perfect way to wrap up a piece of silverware. Southampton are a difficult side to play however you've completely outdone them, congrats.

Superb victory, congratulations on the silverware! So, which Southampton players will be making the grade in next season's 'Southampton Intake' for Liverpool?

Young Blood: Alexander-Arnold proved he is ready for the next level this month

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Coming off the back of a successful League Cup run, Liverpool were aiming to cement their place in the title race this month, as well as progress in the FA Cup to keep the dream of a domestic treble alive.

They may have started slowly, with a loss against Swansea, but in the two games which followed, Liverpool looked truly terrifying. Klopp rotated his squad a fair amount, and the opportunities afforded to youngsters seemed to work in his favour, particularly the introduction of Trent Alexander-Arnold at right-back when Nathaniel Clyne picked up a 3-match suspension in the Swansea match.

Indeed, Klopp has - despite his protests early in the season - used a remarkable number of 'home-grown' youngsters this season, and it seems to be working well for him: senior players are more motivated to hold onto their places in the squad, and the youngsters are champing at the bit to get game-time, which makes the entire squad more competitive.

1-0 v Swansea
N/A
Joel Matip (7.4)

4-1 v Stoke (FA Cup)
Isco (3), Coutinho
Isco (9.5)

3-0 v West Brom
Grujic, Isco, Lallana
Trent Alexander-Arnold (8.7)

Player of the Month: Isco

Isco is really starting to look like one of the best signings of the season! A hat-trick and assist against Stoke, and a further goal against West Brom gave the Spaniard a haul of four goals from 2 games, and further highlighted just how much defences struggle with his intelligent movement both on and off the ball

Young Player of the Month: Trent Alexander-Arnold

With Nathaniel Clyne suspended for the Stoke and West Brom matches, Alexander-Arnold stepped into the Right Back role, and excelled, picking up 3 assists in 2 matches, and demonstrating why Klopp called him one of the most balanced talents in European football. Solid in defence, and a livewire going forwards, Alexander-Arnold caused some real problems for defences, who were forced to push wide to stop his marauding runs, and this in turn meant they were out of shape trying to cover the front 4, who were often left with oceans of space.

Great update. Glad to see you doing well.