Liverpool

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We asked for you what one thing - good or bad - nobody is talking about at Everton but should be.

Here are some of your comments:

Gareth: We have so many players either out of contract this summer (Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Ashley Young, Idrissa Gana Gueye) or leaving following a loan period (Jack Harrison, Orel Mangala, Jesper Lindstrom). Even if (when) we do stay up, and move into the new stadium, we require a huge volume of new players at undoubtedly great expense subject to FFP. We'll need to spend a fortune just to stand still.

Luke: How many players are we going to be left with at the end of this season? With a dozen or so of our first-team squad out of contract at the end of the season, it could be a very busy summer transfer window and, despite the Friedkin money, are we going to be in a position to strengthen the squad while staying within PSR constraints?

Barry: The one thing people aren't talking about is the owners - and that can only be good news for Evertonians! After the turmoil of Moshiri, The Friedkin Group seem to be going about business quietly and discreetly in the background. If we can have owners who focus on running the business and leave the football to those appointed to run the club, we might get back to the stability of the previous David Moyes era.

Dave: For all the fair criticisms of Sean Dyche and Kevin Thelwell, they have left the club in a much better position for Moyes than it was a couple of years ago. All the big-money flops are gone, the wage bill is right down, the books are much healthier for PSR and the personality of the squad is good - lots of grafters in there. Moyes took the same steps when he first joined way back when and now, hopefully, he can start to add touches of class to the fairly blank slate he has inherited.

Richard: First, not really enough talk about the issues up front being related to full-backs not contributing well enough going forward. Secondly, we really miss James Garner but no-one mentions him. Thirdly, Jarrad Branthwaite's value will have halved over the past three months.

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Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk says the team are "very calm" after an excellent start to the season.

The Reds are six points clear at the top of the Premier League with a game in hand and wrapped up qualification to the knockout stage of the Champions League with a game to spare after beating Lille on Tuesday.

"You have to learn from difficult moments and moments that don't go your way," Van Dijk said.

"Most of the guys in the dressing room now have experienced last year and that should make you better. It should make you aware of how to deal with certain situations and circumstances, and you should be better equipped.

"At the moment, I am looking at our team and we are very calm. We are working our socks off each and every day, each and every game - and we need everyone fit, healthy and in form. That's the aim.

"[We are] going into the games with the mentality that it's game by game, and that has always been the case.

"I think the rest can say it as well, so let's see."

Listen to the full interview on BBC Sounds

Ian Kennedy
BBC Radio Merseyside reporter

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It has been a tough season so far for everyone at Everton, and the standout player for much of that time has been Jordan Pickford. Jarrad Branthwaite is also someone who generates headlines, but has had a season hampered by injury, much like Dwight McNeil.

But quietly going about his business recently has been Ashley Young, who, at the age of 39, has been among the club's more consistent performers of late, even while having to play at both right and left-back (and other positions too).

Iliman Ndiaye has also done well, which is not easy when the side have been struggling for wins, but he is someone who has that natural ability to go past players - and, as we saw against Tottenham, score goals too.

David Moyes will be hoping for more of that in the second half of the campaign, and that Dominic Calvert-Lewin's goal will kick-start things for him.

Moyes will obviously want more players to shine now as he tries to guide the team back up the table.

There is another tough game at Brighton coming up, but the win over Spurs could act as a springboard towards instilling more confidence and belief.

Listen to Total Sport Merseyside from 18:00 on weeknights and find details here of live Everton match commentaries on BBC Radio Merseyside

Explore Everton content on BBC Sounds

Henry Brownsey
BBC Sport journalist

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As the Reds made it seven wins from seven in this season's Champions League, Mohamed Salah made it 50.

A half-century of goals in Europe for the Reds, 45 in the Champions League and five in last season's Europa League campaign.

We picked out some of his most memorable strikes.

October 2022 - Rangers 1 -7 Liverpool:

After starting the game as a substitute, Salah came on in the 68th minute and scored in the 76th, 80th and 81st minutes to notch the quickest hat-trick in Champions League history (6 minutes 12 seconds).

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June 2019 - Tottenham 0-2 Liverpool:

In the Champions League final in May 2018, Salah was dragged down to the ground by Sergio Ramos, the master of the dark arts, and the Egypt forwrd had to be substituted with a shoulder injury before the first half was over.

A year later, Salah made up for lost time, scoring after two minutes from the penalty spot against Tottenham to send Liverpool on their way to their sixth Champions League title.

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December 2018 - Liverpool 1-0 Napoli:

In a game where Liverpool needed to win by either a clean sheet or two clear goals, Salah squeezed his shot past former Arsenal goalkeeper David Ospina in the 34rd minute to help the Reds reach the knockout stages.

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April 2018 - Liverpool 5-2 Roma:

Up against his former side in the Champions League semi-final, Salah scored one of his trademark strikes into the far right corner, beating now-team-mate Alisson in the process.

He went on to add a second 10 minutes later and registered a further two assists.

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April 2018 - Manchester City 1-2 Liverpool:

To set up that meeting with Roma, two weeks earlier Salah had proved instrumental against Manchester City, scoring at Etihad Stadium in a 2-1 win.

He also scored in the first leg, as Jurgen Klopp's side cruised through to the semis 5-1 on aggregate.

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August 2017 - Liverpool 4-2 Hoffenheim:

The first of 50.

Needing to win across two legs to qualify for the Champions League that season, Salah grabbed his first goal in Europe and first Anfield goal for the Reds to help them to a 6-3 aggregate win over Hoffenheim.

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Former England midfielder Andros Townsend says Liverpool are an "almost perfect team" because of the way they win the ball back and immediately go on the counter-attack.

Against Lille on Tuesday, there were goal efforts from all over the pitch as Jarell Quansah and Alexis Mac Allister headed over from set-pieces and Darwin Nunez had a near-post effort saved.

"What impressed me the most about Liverpool in this game was on the turnover and how direct they were to find Nunez and Salah in space," said Townsend on BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast.

"Not only did they pick them out perfectly, but it was in the perfect moments as Lille were getting momentum and committing men forward.

"It was like win the ball back and then bang, straight away they're looking to put Salah in. That's why they got the first goal.

"It's really impressive how we have this almost perfect Liverpool team."

Listen to the full discussion on BBC Sounds

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Former Liverpool defender Stephen Warnock says Mohamed Salah was "a bit too greedy" in the Reds 2-1 win against Lille in the Champions League.

Salah scored his 50th European goal for the club as he helped Liverpool book their place in the last 16 of the Champions League with a 100 per cent record.

"I think Liverpool did what they needed to do," said Warnock on BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast. "They didn't really get out of first gear.

"Lille were organised and difficult to break down, especially in the first 30 minutes, but Liverpool worked out how to beat their press and went a bit more direct.

"There were times when Salah was going through [on goal] and had it been a bigger or tougher game he might have passed [the ball] in a couple of opportunities that he was maybe a bit greedy with.

"I think he always felt another opportunity would come to him because Lille were not really causing them too many problems."

Listen to the Football Daily podcast on BBC Sounds

There has been so much talk around David Moyes' return to Goodison Park, what he can achieve and whether he will be given reinforcements in this transfer window.

However, you know your club best - so what's the one thing at Everton no-one seems to be talking about, but really should be?

Tell us here

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We asked for your thoughts after Tuesday's Champions League game between Liverpool and Lille.

Here are some of your comments:

Tom: Hard-fought win against a well-organised Lille side who are no mugs. We need to cut out these moments of switching off which are costing us in games recently but we managed to get away with it here. Harvey Elliott deserves more minutes and needs to push Dominik Szoboszlai for that number-10 spot.

Ian: Really professional performance. Their goal was a gift but we controlled the game well. It was great to give so many players a rest too. We know that we could be pushing on three fronts at the end of the season and that has been our undoing in previous years.

Fran: Another disappointing performance from Liverpool and a lucky win against 10 men. They've been extremely lucky this season in all competitions but I suspect that their luck will have run out come the end of the season.

Rich: Deservedly top of both the toughest leagues in the world by some distance - but no one wins anything in January. We go again!

Kev: I would like to see Federico Chiesa start against Ipswich or PSV as he looked very lively and a threat. We never really got out of first gear and I think that is in part a credit to Lille who worked extremely hard. Very happy to qualify and miss the round of play-offs.

Tricia: Another well managed game from Arne Slot resulting in a comfortable evening. Chiesa's class was obvious even in his small cameo - just hope he can keep clear of injury and play a bigger role going forward.

Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal are interested in signing Mohamed Salah if the Egypt forward leaves Liverpool on a free transfer this summer, but Paris St-Germain are not targeting the 32-year-old. (Florian Plettenburg, external)

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

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

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Other teams "will fear playing Liverpool" after the Reds continued their winning run in the Champions League, says former defender Stephen Warnock

Arne Slot's side beat Lille 2-1 on Tuesday night to secure their seventh win from seven games in the new-look league phase of the competition and book their place in the last-16.

"I think Slot will be delighted because of the changes that he made for this game, particularly to the back line," Warnock told BBC Radio 5 Live.

"It's a job well done from Liverpool in what could potentially have been a banana skin.

"They were better in the second half and dominant but saw the game out in a professional manner and were quite comfortable in the end.

"It was what Liverpool needed to do and never really got out of first gear to achieve that. They worked out how to beat the Lille press and they caused them problems.

"At the start of the season, not many people knew what to expect of Arne Slot.

"Since Pulisic's goal for AC Milan against them, they have cruised. They have sat back when they need to, and put the foot down when they need to.

"Teams will fear playing Liverpool."

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Liverpool boss Arne Slot became just the second manager in Uefa Champions League history to win each of his first seven games in charge of a club, after Hansi Flick with Bayern Munich (won first seven between 2019 and 2021).

The Reds have also gone on to win all 22 of the games in which they have opened the scoring under Slot (across all competitions), with 10 of those coming at Anfield.

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Liverpool boss Arne Slot, speaking to Amazon Prime: "We are happy that we are top eight. This league table doesn't tell you anything.

"Maybe the number 24 is better than the number 16 but the 16 had an easier draw. We want to be top but we have to wait and see if it's an advantage.

"As a manager, I'm a bit more impressed than the crowd or the people who watch the TV. I knew they were 21 games unbeaten but they beat both Real and Atletico Madrid and they did this without the best players in the world, with the greatest respect. I wasn't happy about one chance conceded and one goal conceded.

"The privilege of managing Liverpool is you have more than 11 good players. You know how tough this competition is and the Premier League and it's up to the players to be ready if they get a chance. His [Harvey Elliott] goal was a lucky goal but his performance was good.

On if Liverpool are the best in the world: "No. I think we have a lot of quality and players work really hard. If Thomas Frank says this then it means something. He's been in the Premier League a long time and doesn't have a lot of resources so if he gives this compliment then it is nice. I can come up with five or six teams who are also very good.

"Every time we win it is by small margins. They understand how hard we have to work for a win. Bayern Munich is very good and Barcelona beat Benfica 5-4."

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Liverpool midfield Harvey Elliott, speaking to Amazon Prime: "It is hard to put into words. All my life I've dreamt of playing Champions League football, not only for my boyhood club, but to play here at Anfield in front of our fans and especially to score is a pinch me moment.

"The family are here watching down and it is an amazing feeling but it is done now - I need to go into training tomorrow and make sure I'm putting the work in again.

On what Slot said to him at half-time: "He just said go out and play and enjoy the game and do it for ourselves really. I wanted to go on and affect the game but also enjoy it.

"I've dreamt as a kid of playing on this stage so I just wanted to enjoy the moment and take it all in my stride and help the team out."

On his celebration: "It is pretty clear to be honest - I am not leaving. This is my team and my club.

"I'm a massive fan and we're in a great position so far this season. I haven't really seen the chat, but my friends have messaged me and called me about a few things. It is always going to happen in January, especially after being out for a long time and not playing as much as I want to, but that is football.

"I've had conversations with the gaffer but, at the same time, I need to understand the situation. The team is flying - we are first in the Premier League and Champions League. For me to go in and say I should be starting it would be silly of myself really. You know what the answer is going to be.

"I need to stay patient and when I am getting opportunities, however long it is, just enjoy the moment, especially after being injured for three months at the start of the season.

"I just want to enjoy my football and when a chance comes I need to show the gaffer that if I am needed I am ready."

Callum Matthews
BBC Sport journalist

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This season has been "difficult" for Harvey Elliott, according to Liverpool team-mate Mohamed Salah.

The 21-year-old suffered a broken foot early in the season and has been restricted to just substitute appearances in the Premier League and Champions League so far this campaign.

He is starting to have an impact though.

He assisted Darwin Nunez's second goal at Brentford on Saturday and his deflected strike was the winner here.

There has been speculation that Elliott may leave Anfield in the January transfer window but he was quick to shut that down post-match saying "I'm not leaving - this is my team and my club".

With Liverpool still fighting on all four fronts then Elliott is picking a good time to return to form and lift his output.

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Liverpool goalscorer Mo Salah, speaking to Amazon Prime: "Hopefully not the last one but I'm very proud of it. I wasn't focused on it before the game.

"They have a really good game plan and they were unbeaten for 21 games so they're a quite tough team. I'm glad we managed to win that game.

On his goal: "We got the ball and Curtis [Jones] played the ball very well finally and I managed to score.

"Not switched off but they went to counter-attack and managed to score. The clean sheet is very important to us and our backline.

On Harvey Elliott: "He had injuries at the start of the season and it's been difficult for him. I'm always here for him, he's a great lad. When you want to win the biggest tournaments, you need a great squad.

On Liverpool squad who won Champions League in 2019: "It's a different manager, different player. We have three, four, five, six from the other squad."

Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?

Have your say on Liverpool's performance

Come back to this page on Wednesday to find a selection of your replies