Liverpool

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Liverpool should play a strong team against Real Madrid and not contemplate resting key names with Manchester City in mind on Sunday.

That's the view of former Liverpool winger Mark Walters, who watched Sunday's win over Southampton with BBC Radio Merseyside.

Liverpool host Los Blancos at Anfield on Wednesday but could go 11 points clear of champions City if they beat them at Anfield on Sunday.

Some fans have questioned whether the Reds should rotate key names against the Spanish giants, given Arne Slot's side have excelled so far in the Champions League this term.

Walters said: "I would play the strongest team in both games, mainly because confidence is a big thing in football. If we win on Wednesday and play well, that will carry on to the City game.

"I would play a strong team against Real Madrid and hopefully that confidence from a good result will go on to the City game, which could be pivotal in the season.

"To be 11 points clear against a City team at this stage would be a psychological boost."

Listen to Walters speak to BBC Radio Merseyside

AC Milan are set to rival Newcastle United for the signing of Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin, while Real Madrid are considering a move for Blues defender Jarrad Branthwaite. (Teamtalk), external

Meanwhile, Everton boss Sean Dyche has the full backing of current owner Farhad Moshiri and will be in charge for the foreseeable future. (Sky Sports), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Tuesday's full gossip column

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Former Liverpool striker John Aldridge has been speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live to look ahead to the weekend's game against Manchester City and Mohamed Salah's contract situation

On the impact of Manchester City losing Rodri: "You you'd expect the amount of money that they've shelved out over the last eight years or so that that they're giving people a chance to come in and do the job, but they haven't and lost belief. And that happens to all really good, great teams."

Will Liverpool be playing a 'wounded animal' on Sunday: "If they perform on the day - and they've got a point to prove next week - then it's going to be such a tough game for us. You know absolutely they're a tremendous squad and I expect nothing but a really hard game next week."

On Mo Salah's contract situation: "It's a little bit political, isn't it. It's a well known trait of Liverpool to keep things close to their chest but I think the fans will demand to know what's going on to a certain degree."

On the fans wanting him to stay: "Absolutely, look at his figures. They're obscene and unbelievable."

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A Liverpool-related question was put to BBC chief football writer Phil McNulty in Monday's Q&A.

Joe asked: If Liverpool were to only sign one of the three (Trent Alexander-Arnold, Virgil van Dijk or Mohamed Salah), which do you think should be the priority? Obviously, Trent has age and value on the other two, but maybe not quite the same level of importance to the team - game in, game out.

Phil answered: The ideal would be for all three to sign, but as you asked me, I would make Salah the priority if I had to choose one.

Salah is world class, one of Liverpool's modern greats, who is playing at the peak of his powers, even at 32, and is in magnificent physical condition. He is a match-winner, a game-changer, both as a creator and scorer. In my view he is irreplaceable in this Liverpool team.

I was stunned to hear him say he has not had a new contract offer from Liverpool's owners. Obviously his age will be a consideration - but how much would it cost to sign someone anywhere near his calibre as a replacement?

Read more of the Q&A with Phil and the rest of the day's football news

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BBC Sport's chief football writer Phil McNulty has been answering your questions, with a few coming in regarding Sean Dyche's future at Goodison Park.

Graham asked: Surely the end is nigh for Sean Dyche at Everton? While I appreciate his work in the past couple of years, surely this season he has really under-delivered in terms of points against who we have played? He is not attacking enough and he is just too cautious with substitutes and tactics. I'm not expecting us to be prime Barcelona but surely we should be mid-table comfortably by now, given the fixtures?

Phil answered: I totally agree about this season. Everton had a decent opening run of fixtures, so two wins from 12 games is very disappointing - as has been the standard and style of football. It has all been very sub-standard.

You can sense the growing frustration and discontent among Everton fans at what they are watching.

As I have said before, I do not see Sean Dyche as Everton manager next season. Prospective new owner Dan Friedkin will surely want his own manager in charge and Dyche's contract is up at the end of the season.

Will a decision be made earlier? There are a few things to consider here.

Who, at present, would actually make that decision while Everton wait for the Friedkin takeover to be cleared? Who would take the job with new owners possibly only weeks away?

I think the scenario the new owners would like is for Dyche to somehow keep Everton relatively safe to survive in the Premier League going into the new stadium next season, then make a change.

I can only see a potential change if Everton suddenly look in dire danger of going down - and they do have a very tough run of fixtures coming up.

However, the mood does appear to have changed over the past few weeks, so Dyche needs wins very quickly.

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Following Liverpool's 3-2 comeback win over Southampton on Sunday that took them eight points clear at the top of the table, Match of the Day 2 discussed Liverpool's title chances.

Former Manchester City captain Steph Houghton said: "They have put themselves in a great position.

"To be eight points ahead and the way they are playing, they really are in form and next Sunday's game [against Manchester City] is going to be absolutely crucial for the season.

"Playing Manchester City at Anfield is going to be a really tough game but at the same time, Liverpool at this moment in time are in pole position."

Arne Slot's side have a difficult run of fixtures coming up that includes facing Champions League holders Real Madrid and defending Premier League champions City in the space of five days.

"Don't get carried away. Every Liverpool fan is a little bit surprised by how well Arne Slot has adapted and how well the team has adapted to what he wants to do," former Reds midfielder Danny Murphy added.

"Liverpool fans are used to [the team] playing big games. I think this week is huge.

"They could get away with not playing great against Real Madrid because they have other games in the Champions League, but the City one – if they win that and go 11 points clear, that is a huge gap."

Steven Wyeth
Match of the Day commentator and Final Score reporter

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How do you solve a problem you have been wrestling with for 22 months?

Increasing the goalscoring output is something Everton manager Sean Dyche has "worked endlessly to solve" since he arrived at Goodison Park.

However, only bottom side Southampton have fewer goals than Everton's 10, after 12 games of this season, and no side in the division has drawn a blank as often as the Toffees have - six times.

The latest failure came against a Brentford side that played the majority of the game a player light and had not previously kept a clean sheet.

The concourse chat at half-time on Saturday was: 'We have got to win now surely, playing against 10 men!'

Without the goals required to make even the most highly anticipated of wins a reality, it seems the final season at Everton's iconic home could become an increasingly nerve-wracking experience.

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We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Everton and Brentford, which finished goalless.

Here are some of your comments:

Everton fans

Steve: Once again we were too timid despite having so many shots. Beto should have been on for the start of the second half and we should have been more adventurous with the ball going forward. As much as we owe a debt of gratitude to Sean Dyche it's obvious we're going nowhere and he should take a bow now and leave before it's too late.

Mick: How on earth does Dyche get away without criticism from the media, pundits and crucially Everton's non-existent board? There is nobody there to fire him. Anyone else would have been hounded out of any other club, look at Man Utd! Pathetic, one-dimensional hoof-ball from a bygone era. Dinosaur of a manager. Get rid now before it's too late.

Paul: Lots of effort but as usual lacking quality where it matters. Subs were late again and maybe if we had gone two up front from half-time the pressure might have told.

Steven: Another dreary and drab performance. Lacking any quality. I'd like to see someone coach the squad about the offside rule and how to take a corner. Given the fixture list, we needed the points. It's going to be a cold, cold Christmas.

Brentford fans

Symon: We'd have taken a draw and a first away point before the game. Ultimately, a clean sheet with only 10 men for nearly an hour - and creating the best chances of each half - feels like a moral victory. If players are going to be red carded for trying to score, as Christian Norgaard tried, then football will become a non-contact sport.

Nigel: The Bees were starting to take control before Norgaard’s unlucky dismissal as he tried to poke in a loose ball for an opener. We defended stoutly in the second period, although could have done better with a couple of promising counter-attacks. Although our passing wasn’t as crisp as normal and we allowed Everton too much space, I’ll take a point.

Sian: Given the circumstances, it feels like a win to get our first away points and first clean sheet of the season. Bit in two minds about the red. While I acknowledge that letter-of-the-law on dangerous play it's a red, at the same time it was also very harsh since it was a loose ball, and Pickford seemed to seek the collision more than the ball.

Nick: Hung on in. Perseverance paid off against a pretty poor Everton. Should have converted a few.

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Liverpool fan John Gibbons, speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast on Mohamed Salah's contract situation: "I think he will stay.

"What he has given the football club over a number of years has been phenomenal.

"The owners are trying to get the best possible deal but as fans it gives you anxiety because you know you can't imagine a life sort of without him."

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We asked for your thoughts after Sunday's Premier League game between Southampton and Liverpool, which the Reds won 3-2.

Here are some of your comments:

Southampton fans

Rod: Played well, again, but gifted them two goals, again. It's time for Martin to acknowledge that his desired style of play does reflect the capabilities of his team.

Duncan: I'm convinced that sacking the manager would be a disaster. There is fight in this team, there is skill and there is intelligence. We saw with our own eyes what happens when the defence just hoof the ball out - to cheers from the crowd - it comes straight back. Off to Brighton next, with hope and confidence.

Hedley: The manager must go! He employs suicidal tactics, taking ridiculous risks in and around the team's penalty box. In addition, many of the players are not nearly good enough. They wasted millions of pounds buying third rate players in the summer. They must change the manager and completely change their style of play, or else relegation is certain!

Tom: Well Russell, pride comes before a fall. Unfortunately your refusal to change and adapt your style in the Premier League is getting us relegated. The same interview every week by him. Thanks for getting us promoted but it's time for a change.

Liverpool fans

Sean: Found a way to win again despite not being at our best. Great team spirit goes a long way in a title charge.

Zahid: I'm not exactly sure we were dominant but we were certainly doing well. Salah's performance showed why FSG need to agree a new deal with him. We were caught on the counter-attack and the other goal was a penalty that should never have been. But, I'm pretty satisfied with the game and hope we can get wins against Real Madrid and Manchester City.

Barry: Before the game I thought this was going to be a tough game considering what happened at the Eitihad and the underlying pressure that brings. The difference is we battled back to a deserved victory and got the job done. I'm really confident about next weekend now. Only downside was Darwin was non existent for me (again).

Trevor: The Reds still like to go behind and then come back to win. Not good enough when the manager every week says we lack the intensity in the first half. A required win rather than a good one. Well done, Saints. Not good enough, Reds. You are getting away with it at the moment - results and table flatters.

John Bennett
BBC Radio 5 Live reporter at Goodison Park

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It was striking after the match on Saturday how different the perception of Everton's current form seemed to be in the stands, compared to inside the dressing room.

It's now 270 minutes without a goal and three matches without a win for Sean Dyche's side and sitting in the press box at Goodison Park you could sense the frustration from the supporters.

Their team failed to create clear-cut chances in the second-half against 10-man Brentford, who going into the game had the second leakiest defence in the Premier League. The boos at full-time made the disappointment very clear.

So it was with that in mind that in the post match interview room I asked Everton centre-back James Tarkowski how difficult it'll be, in the midst of a three match goal drought, to remain confident and keep their belief going into a very difficult next set of fixtures?

"That’s your perspective of it," Tarkowski said to me. "My perspective is that we've lost one in eight so there's different ways of looking at it.

"I'm quite positive that we’re in a good place, we're progressing as a team and we’re getting closer to where we want to be but it takes time."

I can fully understand why Everton's players need to focus on the reasons to be optimistic rather than the reasons to be pessimistic but the fans are clearly unhappy and very concerned ahead of nightmare run of games in December, including meetings with Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City.

The new owners are arriving at any moment and unless Everton find a way to end their problems in front of goal, the league position could look even more precarious by the time we get to Christmas.

Chris Collinson
BBC Sport statistician

Only three teams have had more shots in a Premier League game this season than Everton had against Brentford.

The Toffees had 27 shots, which is by far the most a team has had in a game this season without scoring a goal.

However, while Everton did have a lot of chances, they were really poor ones on average, with their 27 shots amounting to just over 1 xG. So it's not as surprising that they didn’t score, despite what the shot count suggests.

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Mohamed Salah strikes again.

Reflecting on Liverpool's 'Egypitian King,' former Liverpool midfielder Don Hutchison said: "He is amazing. There are players you can take off and rest but you can never do that with Salah because he always impacts games.

"He is so crucial to this team it is untrue."

This season alone, Salah has been involved in 16 of Liverpool’s 24 Premier League goals, which is 67% in all.

He has 12 goals and 10 assists in 18 games in all competitions this season. It works out at a goal involvement every 65 minutes, his best for Liverpool.

But as the contracts of Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold continue to be in limbo, fans are making themselves heard.

"There is no one in the game that can come in and fill his boots," added former Premier League striker Glenn Murray. "What a lot of people also don't speak about is that he is fit for 90 minutes every single week. Incredible.

"He's in the conversation of being one of the best all-time Premier League players."

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Real Sociedad feel powerless in stopping 25-year-old Martin Zubimendi from leaving the club, with Liverpool and Arsenal both eager to sign the holding midfielder, who is rated at 60m euros (£49.9m). (Todofichajes - in Spanish), external

Meanwhile, Wayne Rooney is planning to make a move for Liverpool's 18-year-old English striker Jayden Danns, to bolster his attacking options at Plymouth. (Sun), external

Want more transfer news? Read Monday's full gossip column