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Liverpool’s squad has changed dramatically over the last few years, with Jurgen Klopp clearly have a seismic impact at Anfield. The Reds are up there with the Premier League’s best teams at present, and within their ranks, they’ve got some of the league’s best players too.

However, that doesn’t mean that the squad at Anfield is filled with unsellable talent. To the contrary, in fact, because there are a handful of players at Liverpool that, at present, just aren’t good enough.

It’s clear that the Reds are improving and developing at a rapid rate, and that can mean that some players are left behind. For Klopp, then, transfer windows can’t just be about bringing in new talent – they’ve also got to be about getting rid of the players that, at this point, aren’t quite at the level that they need to be.

With that said, the writing should be on the wall in January for these two Liverpool players…

Nathaniel Clyne

Nathaniel Clyne moved to Liverpool from Southampton, and he immediately looked good. Brought in as part of a flurry of buys from the South Coast outfit, Clyne was a natural.

However, injury problems have caused him to lose his place after young Trent Alexander-Arnold took his chance in the Liverpool first team.  The latter has looked very good under Jurgen Klopp, and when he doesn’t play, it becomes clear that Clyne is no longer playing at a similar standard.

He’s still a decent player, but is he at the quality required at Liverpool? It’s pretty clear that he’s not, and perhaps even Joe Gomez would be preferred to Clyne moving forward, given the return of Dejan Lovren.

Liverpool may be open to selling him, and perhaps he could reset his career elsewhere.

Alberto Moreno

It’s a similar tale for Alberto Moreno. He’s now settled into a role as a back-up at Anfield – but for Liverpool, that’s still a risky game to play. In the few appearances that he’s played this term, he’s looked poor, and he’s the sort of player that is often only a few minutes away from a major mistake.

The emergence of Andy Robertson has shut down any chance Moreno forcing his way into the team, and the fine form of James Milner in the role last season indicates that his road to the team isn’t as simple as waiting for Robertson to struggle.

He may be better suited to a role abroad, like back in Spain, whilst Liverpool could do with a more reliable option on the rare occasion that Robertson can’t play.

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Loris Karius took the brunt of the blame for Liverpool’s defeat to Real Madrid in last season’s Champions League final.

The goalkeeper made two massive errors that led to goals for Los Blancos in their 3-1 triumph in Kiev.

It swiftly became clear that manager Jurgen Klopp needed a new shot-stopper, and he found a world-class one in the summer market.

Brazil’s number one Alisson arrived from Roma for around £66m and instantly ousted Karius, who signed for Besiktas on loan.

The German has made six appearances in all competitions and in that time has conceded six goals and kept one clean sheet.

On Thursday night in the Europa League, Karius made headlines for fluffing a save against Malmo.

The on-loan Liverpool keeper failed to stop the ball from sneaking in at the near post following a deflected cross.

In the end, Besiktas lost 2-0 on away soil, and on Twitter, plenty of Liverpool fans commented on Karius’s mistake.

Some had sympathy for the keeper, while others couldn’t help but mock.

After a poor start to the season, Arsenal have finally hit some form and following their win over Fulham at the weekend, the Gunners have made it nine wins in a row and are two points off the top. 

In refreshing news for the Arsenal fans, new signings Matteo Guendouzi, Lucas Torreira and Sokratis Papastathopoulos have all played well while Stephan Lichsteiner and Bernd Leno have also put in some solid performances.

All of Arsenal’s signings have greatly improved the squad but one area that Arsenal failed to strengthen was on the wing, where, as it stands, Arsenal don’t have a legitimate out and out top quality winger.

Recent reports had linked the Gunners with Atlanta United winger, Miguel Almiron but according to Calciomercato, Leicester City will try to scupper Arsenal’s deal for the MLS man in January.

The Breakdown

Since joining the MLS side, Almiron has established himself as one of the better players in the league and is currently enjoying his best season in the MLS. The Paraguayan has so far scored 12 goals and created a further 13 in the league this season.

The 24-year-old is capable of playing on either wing but also through the middle as an attacking midfielder. While his stats are quite impressive, the fact that he’s playing in the MLS which in truth, isn’t a very good league means that Arsenal should be cautious with any potential move.

What is true, however, is that the potential is there and for a reported £15 million, Arsenal wouldn’t exactly be spending a lot of money on a player that could turn out to be a solid addition to the squad.

What do you think Arsenal fans? 

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Scottish champions Celtic could be on high alert after it was reported Manchester United will look to loan Scott McTominay out in January, according to The Scotsman.

What’s the word?

Celtic have endured a slow start to the season as they have struggled for form in their domestic campaign, while their European endeavours saw the Bhoys miss out on Champions League football and suffer a Europa League defeat to Red Bull Salzburg in recent weeks.

Brendan Rodgers’ side are in need of additions when the January transfer window opens and The Scotsman suggests Celtic could be on alert after it was reported that Manchester United are prepared to send Scott McTominay on loan in the New Year.

The midfielder is seeking regular first-team opportunities and Celtic may be able to provide that if they launch a pursuit of the Scotland international in January.

A good move?

Highly-rated by Red Devils boss Jose Mourinho and already earning three senior appearances for Scotland this year, McTominay is an addition who could provide a significant boost in Celtic’s lacklustre campaign so far.

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McTominay, utilised as a defender on a number of occasions by Manchester United, can provide protection to Celtic’s back line and his versatility would prove to be a tremendous asset for the remainder of the campaign.

While Celtic would likely face competition in the hunt for McTominay’s signature, a key lure could be the option of European football if the Bhoys manage to advance into the latter stages of the Europa League – though that could be a stern challenge with a double-header against RB Leipzig on the horizon.

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Tottenham fans have been discussing their need for a new central midfielder, and a whopping 90 per cent of fans want to sign Lyon’s Tanguy Ndombele.

Tottenham are expected to undergo a bit of a midfield overhaul next summer, as both Mousa Dembele and Victor Wanyama could leave the club.

Dembele is almost certain to leave when the Belgian’s contract expires at the end of the season, as his performances have just dropped off a little this season.

Wanyama could depart in search of regular playing time, meaning Daniel Levy will have no choice but to get his wallet out next summer.

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Lyon starlet Ndombele was heavily linked with a summer move to North London, and fans are extremely impressed by what they’ve seen of him this season.

The 21 year-old was superb when Lyon won at the Etihad in their first Champions League game of the season, and he was at his very best in their 3-3 draw against Hoffenheim last week.

The wiry midfielder is excellent on the ball, always looking for a forward pass, and best of all he loves a feisty tackle.

A huge 90 per cent of fans are backing a move, and you can view the full poll results down below…

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At the start of the season, not many Liverpool fans would have been surprised if James Milner was given a bit-part role.

The Merseyside outfit recruited two new midfielders in Fabinho and Naby Keita, which made it that much harder for the fringe players to get a look-in.

For Milner, though, he was given a starring role in Liverpool’s midfield, and for the most part has been a regular in the team.

Last weekend, the former Manchester City star was named on the bench for the team’s Premier League match against Cardiff City at Anfield.

Adam Lallana was selected instead as he played in a midfield alongside Fabinho and Georginio Wijnaldum.

This weekend, the Reds will go head to head with Arsenal at the Emirates and there could be more tinkering from manager Jurgen Klopp.

Liverpool are unbeaten in the top flight so far this season, and they will be hoping to keep up with Man City in the title race by overcoming Unai Emery’s side on Saturday.

With that in mind, should Milner come back into the line-up, or would he make a better impact coming off the bench?

Let us know by voting below.

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Scottish Championship striker Lawrence Shankland is being lined up as a potential Swansea recruit, per reports emerging in the Scottish Daily Mail noted by HITC.

What’s the word?

The paper version of the Scottish Daily Mail (Oct 30, page 53) is reporting the Swans as a potential new home for Ayr United’s 23-year-old goal threat.

The 6ft 1in tall Shankland had already been linked with moves to Sunderland, Hull, Wigan and non-league side Fylde by The Sun on Sunday (Sep 23, page 61), HITC noted, but now face competition from a third English Championship side who are preparing a move for 2019.

So far this season, the Glasgow-born striker has scored 14 goals in 13 games for the second tier side, including braces against Greenock Morton and two at Alloa Athletic making the forward the league’s second highest scorer.

Shankland’s performances are showing he is the main man in Ayr once again with 52% of his side’s 23 goals and counting, also the second highest contribution rate behind Queen of the South’s Stephen Dobbie’s 65%.

Goals are coming naturally to the striker at his current side, netting 29 times in 33 appearances last season.

At present, Transfermarkt holds no expected fee for the striker at his sixth club, but note that he has never held a transfer value higher than £135,000, coming when he joined Ayr in 2017 as a free agent two months after being released by Aberdeen.

Worth a punt?

Without a transfer figure to go by, the amount of risk in a move for someone relatively unproven is hard to measure. But if Ayr are open to losing their man main, Swansea should definitely sound the player out given how prolific he has been in the past year.

It does seem like the Swans are keen on bringing the Scotsman to the Liberty Stadium, with the Scottish Daily Mail’s report noting Graham Potter and the board were making moves to either wait it out until the summer when his contract expires or put together a cash bid in January.

His arrival in south Wales would add yet another forward to the ranks, which include regular striker Oliver McBurnie, Wilfried Bony and Courtney Baker-Richardson, but another addition would prove beneficial with only McBurnie netting more than twice for the Jacks.

Newcastle United will be looking to build on their first Premier League win of the season against Watford when they take on Bournemouth at St. James’ Park this Saturday.

The Magpies, however, could be without one of their key players going into the game.

The Breakdown

The Evening Chronicle reports midfielder Jonjo Shelvey may be a doubt for Bournemouth’s visit following a muscle injury he picked up in Newcastle’s victory over Watford, which would come as a huge blow to manager Rafael Benitez.

Shelvey is often the player to get Newcastle attacks going with his vision and ability to play a forward pass through the lines.

His absence, especially against an in-form Bournemouth side who have been brilliant this season, would put Benitez’s men in an unfavourable position.

That being said, in Ki Sung-yueng, Newcastle have a player who can come in and do a similar job. The 29-year-old has found it difficult at St. James’ Park since arriving from Swansea City back in the summer, but played a significant part in the Magpies’ first victory of the campaign.

It was the South Korean’s cross that found Ayoze Perez who headed home to give Newcastle all three points on the day, and there is no reason why he cannot come into the side to influence the game in the same manner.

Like Shelvey, Ki also has good vision and is capable of executing more difficult passes. With that in mind, Benitez should absolutely look to the former Swansea man if Shelvey is unavailable for Saturday’s clash.

Tony Pulis has become something of a cult-hero in English football ever since he took Stoke City to the Premier League in 2008, with his style of football emerging as something of a benchmark for how managers should utilise squads of limited individual talent. 

Whatever your standpoint is on Pulis, there is absolutely no question that his tried and tested methods are consistently effective. He will never inspire supporters to drool over his philosophy but you cannot argue with his results.

His style has been manufactured with one incredibly fundamental objective in mind: to win football matches. If three points are earned with a 1-0 win following a goalmouth scramble which sees the ball cannon off an opponent, onto the post and off the back of the keeper’s head before squirming over the line, then so be it.

It’s a question of what and not how; Pulis has built his career off making his side incredibly difficult to break down, and it’s those foundations which have made him something of a go-to manager for Premier League clubs hoping to beat the drop, and also for Championship clubs dreaming of promotion.

And that’s why he now finds himself at Middlesbrough this season. Boro are a side who are no strangers to relegation from the top-flight or promotion back to it, and with Pulis at the helm it seems they are in prime position to return in 2019.

That Boro have conceded just 8 goals in 17 Championship fixtures is a testament to Pulis’ expertise in constructing an unbreakable defensive unit, but every Pulis back-four needs a leader who commands from deep and embodies the spirit of his philosophy.

At this moment in time, that man is Aden Flint, Boro’s cunning summer signing from Bristol City. Flint showcased his never-say-die attitude in the Robins’ journey to the Carabao Cup semi-final last season with a series of valiant performances in central defence, and he has continued his fine form under a manager who simply adores players of his character.

Flint epitomises everything that is so successful about Pulis’ style: he relishes a physical battle, is an excellent defender at this level, willing to adapt and comfortable playing long-balls to ensure a quick transition from back to front.

Signed for a fee of just £7.2 million in the summer, Flint is already shaping up to be a genius signing and, if Boro ultimately clinch promotion to the top-flight this season, there is no doubt the quality of his performances will represent a core component of that achievement.

Middlesbrough fans – thoughts? Let us know below!

Football players are seldom brave enough to complete a transfer switch to a local rival, but there are notable exceptions to the rule. 

Carlos Tevez famously joined Manchester City in 2009 when his complicated contract at Manchester United came to an end, while Jack Colback crossed a tentative north east divide when he swapped Sunderland for Newcastle United in 2014.

But no single transfer has shaken the very foundations of a local rivalry quite like Sol Campbell’s decision to sign for Arsenal in 2001, shortly after his contract with Tottenham Hotspur had expired.

Joining a local rival is one thing, but allowing a contract to run down before joining a deeply hated local rival on a free transfer is unforgivable.

Campbell decided to complete that unforgivable act in 2001 and his reputation amongst the Tottenham supporters has never quite recovered, and a similar fate could be on the cards for Gareth Bale if he decides to join Chelsea in a dramatic swap deal.

According to a recent report from Spanish media outlet OKDiario, Real Madrid have their sights set on a future deal for Eden Hazard, and they are willing to barter over a swap deal involving Gareth Bale in order to secure the services of the scintillating Belgium international.

Now, there is no direct suggestion that Bale would be inclined to cooperate with a deal which would see him join one of Tottenham’s fiercest rivals, but if he agreed to move to Stamford Bridge he would join Campbell as one of the club’s most despised individuals.

Bale is still regarded as one of the most exceptional players to ever wear the Tottenham shirt and he boasts something resembling legendary status in north London, but that would be torn down in an instant if he decided to move to Chelsea.

He will be acutely aware of the rivalry which exists between Chelsea and Tottenham – one which has been intensified in recent years following a handful of feisty and truly electric London derbies – and a willingness to move to Stamford Bridge with that awareness would be the most noteworthy betrayal since Campbell joined Arsenal.

Tottenham fans are still holding out a glimmer of hope for Bale’s return, so a stunning move to Chelsea would leave a deep-felt psychological scar on the club.

Tottenham fans – thoughts? Let us know below!