Image source, Getty Images

News from the Scottish Premiership.

Yesterday, manager Brendan Rodgers admitted the January transfer window "wasn't ideal" for Celtic but is not apportioning blame ahead of a club review.

The Scottish Premiership leaders signed Jeffrey Schlupp from Crystal Palace on deadline day and brought winger Jota back from Rennes, with forward Kyogo Furuhashi moving in the opposite direction.

"I said it myself, we wanted another striker, so we're not hiding behind anything," said Rodgers.

"And absolutely, the supporters will look and see that a top striker has gone out, a legendary striker.

"So I understand that. But all I can do is affect what we have now and look to teach and work very hard and finish off what has been, until now, a great season for us."

Yep, understood. I didn't really think it through.

And that's all from Liverpool's news conference. Many thanks to Arne Slot for distracting us from my terrible scrap offsides suggestion.

Not my finest ratio.

We'll be chatting more about Liverpool and the rest of the EFL Cup semi-finalists a little later.

Liverpool

Liverpool manager Arne Slot delivered a long answer when asked how he keeps all the players in his squad happy now that he has a near fully fit group to choose from: "That is one of the only things that I don't understand here in England. Everywhere around the world and in Europe as well when we play Champions League, we can take 23 players to the game. We are here in a country where we play the most games - especially the ones like us, Arsenal, Aston Villa, Chelsea - all the ones that are playing in Europe.

"We play so, so many games. If you are able to play all of these games, you need a big squad, that seems to be fair to me. One of the things that is so important for a manager - to pick the first 11 is difficult - but to tell someone they aren't even in the squad makes it even harder. I don't understand why we don't go to 23 in this country because this country plays the most games out of anywhere in the world and we only have 20 players we can take to the game. It's not for that game because nine substitute is more than enough but it would keep the dressing room going.

"You need more than 20 players in this country because we play so many games. Why can't we bring 23 players to the game instead of 20? That will be the most difficult decision I have to make tomorrow - to leave someone out who works so hard on a daily basis and wants to be involved - that is the hardest decision for me to make."

Liverpool

Liverpool manager Arne Slot on who will get the nod out of Alisson Becker and Caoimhin Kelleher for tomorrow evening's game: "The two goalkeepers don't know yet. When I leave this room, I am going to go to the media next door and then afterwards I will inform the goalkeepers which decision I have made."

Liverpool

Liverpool manager Arne Slot on referees potentially announcing key decisions to the crowd from the start of next season: "For me, it is not necessary because I can go two steps backwards and see the live coverage of anything but that isn't available to fans so if the fans like this then let's do this. If the fans like it then let's continue but let's see if they do because the last time it happened I was there in the Spurs stadium and it was so obvious - it was not necessary to announce it was offside.

"I think the one we were interested in is why he didn't give the second yellow card [to Lucas Bergvall] and that is something he didn't have to explain. I think maybe if he does explain it and it's a disadvantage for the home team then it becomes even more of a pressure on the referee so I wonder if it is a good thing for the referee. It will add more pressure on the next and the next and the next decision. "

Liverpool

Liverpool manager Arne Slot on whether he was satisfied with the January transfer window: "I've said it many times, we have a very good squad and if you look at the league table, the players have shown that the trust we have in them was correct. We don't have, apart from Trent now, many long-term injuries.

"We did have some injury problems with Alisson and Diogo Jota and some others but at the moment, apart from Trent, they were all available today. So, there is not a reason to add something to the team unless you have a chance in the market. That is something we saw last time with the goalkeeper [Giorgi Mamardashvili] we brought in because we saw there was a chance in the market. For now, we are happy with the team that we have."

Liverpool

Liverpool manager Arne Slot on Trent Alexander-Arnold's injury: "He is going to miss the game tomorrow. We will have to see if he can play Sunday but what we do know is that he is not available for tomorrow.

"He left the pitch with a bit of a pain in his leg [against Bournemouth]. He is already back on the pitch with the rehab coach so let's see how long it is going to take but he will not be available for tomorrow."

Liverpool

Hang on, Arne Slot's just sat down and is about to talk to the media.

Genuine question, and I absolutely promise I'm not just saying this for clicks, should we just do away with the offside rule?

James, Cardiff:RE Alan at 08:37 Going back to daylight will result in the same uncertainty around whether or not there is daylight - you’ll still need to draw lines to determine any overlap. What we need is a “too close to call” system where if the offside is less than 5 cm or so, the benefit of the doubt goes to the attacker.

Joe, Manchester: RE Alan 08:37 - how does clear daylight make it any easier? If anything it's worse because then you have to determine whether there is the overlapping of an attackers heel and a defenders toe preventing daylight.

Matt, Scotland: Reply to Alan 08:37. People talk about 'going back to daylight between defender and striker' as if it would solve all the problems, but to see daylight it would still need someone to either draw a line on a screen, or for the linesman to make an on field decision at the time of a pass. Either option leaves us in same position as we are now, so people would still moan.

Image source, Getty Images

Missed this one? Last night, teenager Mason Melia agreed to join Tottenham Hotspur for what St Patrick's Athletic have announced is a "record transfer fee for a League of Ireland player".

The 17-year-old made his senior debut in May 2023 and became the youngest scorer in league history aged 15.

The deal, which is reportedly worth an initial £1.6m, will see Melia move from St Pat's to the Premier League side in January 2026 on a five-year contract.

The County Wicklow native has made 54 appearances for St Pat's, scoring 10 times, and earned his first call-up to the Republic of Ireland Under-21 squad in October 2024.

In 2023, he became the youngest player to play in an FAI Cup final when he helped his side defeat Bohemians to lift the trophy.

James, Cornwall: Agree with Alan at 08:37. Similar to the whole of the ball being completely over the line, the significant body parts of head and feet need to be distinctly in front of the defender to signify an unfair advantage. Rather than just possible signs of the attacker moving quicker than the defender.

Mark, Hastings: Totally agree with Alan at 08:37 - anyone remember Bamford's goal being ruled out because his hand was offside? You cannot score a goal with your hand.

Some housekeeping. At about 09:00 GMT Liverpool we'll have a manager's news conference.

Liverpool play Tottenham on Thursday. We'll have the best of Arne Slot's quotes.

We could have a VARSTED inspection where a former official sits in a corner at Stockley Park with a clipboard.

Thanks for messaging Alan, sounds very similar to something Arsene Wenger suggested a few years ago.