But other whispers are doing the rounds? Here are three of the best from our gossip column.

Midfielder Frank Lampard will not rejoin New York City in January and will instead stay on loan at Manchester City, earning £190,000 a week. The 36-year-old signed for New York after he was released by Chelsea in the summer. (Daily Express)

Turkish club Fenerbahce have enquired about the possibility of signing Manchester United striker Robin van Persie, 31. (Daily Star)

Manchester City and Bayern Munich will both attempt to sign Germany winger Marco Reus, 25, at the end of the season. (Daily Mail)

The Sun goes with a headline of 'Kop That Stevie'. 'Gerrard Gamble' is the Daily Telegraph's effort. And the Daily Mirror goes with 'Shaken Steven'.

The back pages of the English newspapers are dominated by Steven Gerrard talk.

Liverpool leaving out Steven Gerrard for a trip to Real Madrid has previously been unimaginable. Most Liverpool fans that I chat to (and not just the one Reds supporter in the office today) reckon their hero, despite his advancing years, is undroppable.

So that has got us thinking. Which player at your club would you class as undroppable? Tweet using #theundroppables or text 81111. And we will put together your best 'Undroppable XI' later today.

Image source, EPA

Is dropping Gerrard a huge gamble? The Reds were outclassed by the Spanish giants at Anfield last month, and will not want to be embarrassed at the Bernabeu by a side which has plundered 42 goals in their past 10 matches.

"I don't see it as one," says Rodgers, who insists his priority is turning around his side's patchy Premier League form. "This week and these games against the likes of Real Madrid I see as a great opportunity for the squad."

So Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers is thinking the previously unthinkable. The chat from sunny Spain is that Steven Gerrard will be rested for the Reds' crucial Champions League tie at Real Madrid tonight.

"It is something I need to look at," says Rodgers. "He and I have spoken about that - three big games this week, Newcastle [last weekend], Real Madrid and then Chelsea. I need to look at a number of players to look at the games we want them to play in."

Image source, Getty Images

German horse Protectionist, for English jockey Ryan Moore, wins the Melbourne Cup but favourite Admire Rakti collapses and dies after the race.

Steven Fletcher scores twice as Sunderland beat Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park to lift themselves out of the Premier League's relegation zone.

Anti-discrimination group Kick It Out informs police of "racist tweets" sent to Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure.

Hello! It's Tuesday, it's Champions League day, and it's decision time for Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers.

Plenty of that chatter is coming up, but first we will kickstart the day with a catch up of all the big overnight news...

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Anfield. The Spion Kop. You'll Never Walk Alone. Red shirts. Steven Gerrard.

These five are as synonymous with Liverpool as red wine is with Bordeaux. But while a posh bottle of claret is thought to improve with age, a footballer isn't so lucky.

And father time is catching up with Liverpool's 34-year-old skipper Gerrard. For the past 16 years, the thought of Liverpool dropping him to face "probably the best team in the world" was unthinkable.