Manchester City reportedly view Chelsea defender Ben Chilwell as a potential answer to their left-back problem and will investigate a move at the end of the season.

Chilwell, 26, was purchased from Leicester City for a £50million fee prior to the 2020-21 campaign, and he enjoyed immediate success at Stamford Bridge. In his first season with the club, all 27 of his Premier League appearances came in the starting line-up, and he also played a full 90 minutes in their Champions League final triumph over City.

Unfortunately, the England international with 17 senior caps has been plagued by injuries since, with a serious knee injury this past season followed by a long-term hamstring injury early in the current campaign.

Chilwell returned from his hamstring issue with a brief appearance off the bench against Fulham on February 3, and if he can prove his fitness down the stretch then he could prove the perfect replacement for Joao Cancelo after his shock departure on loan to Bayern Munich.

TOP STORY – CITY IDENTIFY CHILWELL AS POTENTIAL CANCELO REPLACEMENT

The future of Cancelo with City is looking bleak after he was shipped off to Bayern following reports of a training ground dispute with boss Pep Guardiola, and Caught Offside claims the club are already looking at long-term solutions in his position.

Fabrizio Romano writes that "Chilwell is one of the players who has been appreciated by Manchester City for years" – but adds the Englishman is just one name on a shortlist of left-back options to pursue when the season wraps up.

Chilwell's five-year contract with Chelsea ties him to the club until 2025, but the report states the addition of Marc Cucurella has made him more expendable if the price is right.

ROUND-UP

– According to 90min, Chelsea have made 24-year-old Napoli striker Victor Osimhen their top forward target, and he is expected to cost in excess of £100million (€110m).

– The Daily Mail is reporting Tottenham will look to sign new centre-backs at the end of the season, and have taken a liking to 22-year-old Crystal Palace talent Marc Guehi, who may be available for a fee of around £45million.

– According to Spanish publication Sport, Barcelona will join a long list of elite clubs – including Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Arsenal and Inter – in the pursuit of 25-year-old Borussia Monchengladbach striker Marcus Thuram. The France international will become a free agent after the season, and his father Lillian Thuram spent two seasons with Barcelona before retiring.

– Inter will work to secure 29-year-old striker Romelu Lukaku on either a permanent deal or another loan from Chelsea next season at a lower cost, per Gazzetta dello Sport.

– Football Insider is reporting Liverpool, Everton and Leeds United are all interested in 18-year-old Birmingham City midfielder George Hall, who some are calling "the next Jude Bellingham".

Cody Gakpo's decision to move to Liverpool at such a young age has not served him well, suggests his national team head coach Ronald Koeman.

After an impressive World Cup that saw him score three goals in five games in helping the Netherlands to the quarter-finals, Gakpo joined Liverpool from PSV in January for a reported fee of around £40million (€45m).

However, the 23-year-old forward, who also contributed to 21 goals in 14 Eredivisie matches this season, has endured a tough start to life in England.

He has failed to find the net in his first six games as Liverpool have won just one of their seven matches in all competitions since the turn of the year.

Koeman, in his second spell as head coach of the Netherlands after taking over from Louis van Gaal, is concerned Gakpo's move to an underperforming team at just 23 years old is hampering his development.

Koeman told a YouTube show hosted by former footballer Andy van der Meyde: "He has ended up in a team that is not doing well.

"If you don't score or you're not important and you don't win any matches, it's very difficult, especially for a young player.

"If that was someone aged 28, with experience, it would be different."

Gakpo is not the only Netherlands star to struggle with a new club, with midfielder Ryan Gravenberch yet to start a Bundesliga match for Bayern Munich since signing from Ajax prior to this season.

Koeman feels the inferiority in quality of the Eredivisie in comparison to the top leagues in Europe is making it difficult for young stars to flourish after taking the leap.

"The level in England is higher than in the Netherlands," Koeman added.

"But they are also young boys, aren't they? Like Gravenberch going to Bayern and not playing. Then that is difficult."

Cody Gakpo's decision to move to Liverpool at such a young age has not served him well, suggests his national team head coach Ronald Koeman.

After an impressive World Cup that saw him score three goals in five games in helping the Netherlands to the quarter-finals, Gakpo joined Liverpool from PSV in January for a reported fee of around £40million (€45m).

However, the 23-year-old forward, who also contributed to 21 goals in 14 Eredivisie matches this season, has endured a tough start to life in England.

He has failed to find the net in his first six games as Liverpool have won just one of their seven matches in all competitions since the turn of the year.

Koeman, in his second spell as head coach of the Netherlands after taking over from Louis van Gaal, is concerned Gakpo's move to an underperforming team at just 23 years old is hampering his development.

Koeman told a YouTube show hosted by former footballer Andy van der Meyde: "He has ended up in a team that is not doing well.

"If you don't score or you're not important and you don't win any matches, it's very difficult, especially for a young player.

"If that was someone aged 28, with experience, it would be different."

Gakpo is not the only Netherlands star to struggle with a new club, with midfielder Ryan Gravenberch yet to start a Bundesliga match for Bayern Munich since signing from Ajax prior to this season.

Koeman feels the inferiority in quality of the Eredivisie in comparison to the top leagues in Europe is making it difficult for young stars to flourish after taking the leap.

"The level in England is higher than in the Netherlands," Koeman added.

"But they are also young boys, aren't they? Like Gravenberch going to Bayern and not playing. Then that is difficult."

Life is good at Manchester United right now – and it might be about to get better.

Erik ten Hag has guided United to third in the Premier League, perhaps still in title contention, while they will face Newcastle United in the EFL Cup final.

Rivals Manchester City and Liverpool are facing various crises, and United's ambitions moving forward could be boosted by a lucrative takeover.

After making only loan signings in January as the Glazer family consider selling up, the outlook at Old Trafford might be about to change entirely.

TOP STORY – QATARI-BACKED MAN UTD BID DUE IN DAYS

According to the Daily Mail, a group of Qatari investors plan to buy United and give manager Ten Hag "the financial backing to lead the club back to the top".

The Glazers set a deadline of mid-February for bids, and an offer from the group is expected in the coming days.

The report says the group are confident their bid would "blow the competition out of the water".

This interest in United follows on the back of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, with the investors eager to secure ownership of "the crown jewels" of the footballing world.

ROUND-UP

– The Telegraph is reporting Manchester City's pursuit of Borussia Dortmund midfielder Jude Bellingham is at risk of being torpedoed by their potential financial breaches.

– According to Mundo Deportivo, Cristiano Ronaldo's team Al Nassr have offered 34-year-old Barcelona midfielder Sergio Busquets a contract worth €18million per season.

– Manchester United and Liverpool will both make a run at Eintracht Frankfurt striker Randal Kolo Muani, who impressed for France at the World Cup, per L'Equipe.

– Calciomercato is reporting Juventus will likely allow striker Dusan Vlahovic to leave at the end of the season if they receive a bid in the range of €90m.

– According to the Northern Echo, Newcastle United have made 26-year-old Leicester City midfielder James Maddison a key target.

Liverpool are expected to bid for Athletic Bilbao duo Nico Williams and Oihan Sancet at the end of the season.

Williams is one of LaLiga's brightest young stars, with the 20-year-old winger having already earned seven senior caps for Spain, including four appearances at the World Cup in Qatar.

Attacking midfielder Sancet, 22, netted a hat-trick in a 4-1 win over Cadiz on Saturday to take his tally of LaLiga goals this season to seven.

Williams in particular received heavy interest during the January transfer window, but Bilbao will reportedly be faced with tough decisions about both players at the conclusion of the campaign.

TOP STORY – PREMIER LEAGUE SIDES TAKE A LIKING TO BILBAO PAIR

According to AS, Liverpool were joined by fellow Premier League side Aston Villa in testing Bilbao's resolved over Williams in January, although they were informed no figure would be accepted below his €50million (£45m) release clause.

That report also mentions Sancet's release clause is only slightly lower at €45m (£40m), while Fichajes add he has received interest from Chelsea and Bayern Munich.

Both players only have 18 months remaining on their contracts, meaning Bilbao will either need to sort out some extensions or be prepared to cash in.

ROUND-UP

– The Sun is reporting Manchester City, Milan and Inter are all admirers of Fulham left-back Antonee Robinson, although they will not meet the £35m asking price.

– According to the Daily Star, City will look to avoid any further depletion of their full-back stocks by offering Rico Lewis a new contract that would quadruple his salary.

– Journalist Rudy Galetti is reporting Galatasaray have agreed personal terms with out-of-favour Roma attacker Nicolo Zaniolo, and have offered a fee of €22m to the Serie A club.

– Newcastle United and Fulham target Sander Berge wants to remain with Sheffield United until his contract expires in 2024, with the Norway international excited by the club's potential Premier League promotion, per The Sun.

– According to Football Insider, Newcastle will return after the season for another attempt at signing Conor Gallagher, with the belief Chelsea would have allowed him to leave in January if their signing of Enzo Fernandez had been completed sooner.

Jamie Carragher would rather see Liverpool change everyone else at the club than part ways with manager Jurgen Klopp, though he accepts the Reds are a "million miles" away from their previous levels.

Klopp has come under fire amid a dreadful season for Liverpool, who sit 10th in the Premier League after almost delivering an unprecedented quadruple last campaign.

Saturday's 3-0 thrashing at the hands of Wolves made it three successive away league defeats for the Reds, who are yet to win a Premier League game since the turn of the year.

Klopp reiterated his desire to oversee a rebuild of Liverpool's squad after their latest humiliation, and Carragher believes there is nobody better for the job.

"I would change everybody else at that football club before I changed Jurgen Klopp," he told Sky Sports on Sunday.

"When he came in, Liverpool were sixth or seventh in the league and he's taken them to where they've been in the last few years, he's proven he can do that. I'd like to see him do that again. I'm sure he will.

"If people are talking about a change of manager… any manager coming into Liverpool would need to rebuild.

"I don't think it's a case of just buying one player – people keep saying, 'bring Jude Bellingham in'. I think with each week, it feels like it's bigger than one or two [new] players, it might have to be four or five.

"Any manager at Liverpool at the start of next season would have to do that, Jurgen Klopp has produced miracles at times.

"You can question Jurgen in terms of how it's got to this, he's part of that. But for the recruitment team, how did Liverpool go from almost winning four trophies last season to being 10th in the league now?

"For the start of next season, I don't think there's anyone any Liverpool fan would rather have in the dugout than Jurgen Klopp."

Liverpool are as close to the Premier League's relegation zone as they are to fourth-placed Newcastle United (both 11-point gaps), and Carragher says they need to get through this season before addressing their failings.

"They look a million miles off where they've been for the last few years," he said. "You're trying to work out why, and we've all been doing that all season, but it doesn't feel like it's getting better.

"Klopp's tried everything in terms of playing more experienced players, playing younger players, changing formation. Nothing's working.

"It almost feels as if they've got to crawl and hang on, get to the summer and sort it out in the transfer market."

Arsenal's assault on the Premier League title suffered a hit at Goodison Park as Sean Dyche provided the new manager bounce for Everton.

The Toffees secured a first league win since October to condemn the Gunners to defeat, opening the door for Manchester City to cut the gap to the leaders to just two points if they beat Tottenham on Sunday.

Sean Dyche's side were not the only relegation-threatened team to pick up a major scalp, as Wolves stunned Liverpool at Molineux to extend a miserable run of form for Jurgen Klopp's Reds.

There was no similar result for Southampton, who were picked apart by in-form Brentford, while Manchester United maintained their fine home run with a hard-fought win against Crystal Palace.

Here, Stats Perform looks at the most interesting facts to emerge from Saturday's Premier League action.

Everton 1-0 Arsenal: Goodison gloom for Gunners

Goodison Park is a ground that used to hold many happy memories for Mikel Arteta, who started his Premier League career at the club, but three consecutive league defeats for Arsenal at the venue may have changed that.

Arteta has lost all of his three Premier League away matches to Everton, the first Gunners manager to endure such a run, while the Toffees boast three consecutive home league victories against Arsenal for the first time since March 1977 to August 1978.

It handed Arsenal just their second defeat in their last 21 Premier League matches (won 17, drawn 2), with the loss ending a streak of 14 unbeaten top-flight games for the league leaders.

Dyche, meanwhile, became just the second manager to beat a side starting the day top of the table in his first Premier League game in charge of a club, after Alan Curbishley defeated Manchester United in his first match with West Ham in December 2006.

Wolves 3-0 Liverpool: Dawson delight amid Klopp rot

Craig Dawson is not a name that would usually strike fear for opposition defenders in the Premier League but the Wolves defender has established a habit of haunting Liverpool, his latest goal representing his third against the Reds.

Each of those goals have come for a different side (West Brom, West Ham, Wolves) and he has scored more goals against Liverpool than he has versus any other side.

Klopp's side have now lost three consecutive away games in the Premier League for the first time since a run of four in April 2012 and have lost back-to-back Saturday 3pm kick-offs in the competition for the first time since March 2012.

A horror start was their downfall against Wolves, with Liverpool conceding more Premier League goals in the opening five minutes of matches than any side this season (five), while Joel Matip's own goal was his first in 135 Premier League appearances.

Brentford 3-0 Southampton: Bees buzzing at home

Unbeaten in their last nine Premier League games (won five, drawn four), only Newcastle United are currently on a longer run without defeat – extending their streak to 16 with a draw against West Ham in the late kick-off.

The Bees' trio of goals against Southampton took their tally to 23 goals in 11 Premier League home games this season, already surpassing the tally of 22 last term. In fact, only Manchester City (38) and Arsenal (25) have scored more at home this term.

On target with a header yet again, 10 of Ben Mee's 12 Premier League goals have come in that fashion and no side has conceded more headed goals in the top-flight this season than Southampton (10), two of them being on Saturday.

Pressure upon Saints boss Nathan Jones continues to rise, with Southampton losing eight of their last nine in the Premier League, winning just once, while they have just a single clean sheet in their last 27 matches in the competition.

Manchester United 2-1 Crystal Palace: Penalties on point for United

With 13 consecutive home wins in all competitions, Manchester United are in their stride and are enjoying their longest such run at Old Trafford since a 20-match streak between December 2010 and September 2011.

While Marcus Rashford scored in five consecutive Premier League home games for the first time, it was Bruno Fernandes' opener from the penalty spot that sent Erik Ten Hag's side on their way – and took the Portugal midfielder's tally of penalty goals in the Premier League to 14.

Only Wayne Rooney (20) and Ruud van Nistelrooy (18) have scored more from the spot for United than Fernandes, with his latest effort being the club's 173rd all-time spot-kick in the Premier League – the joint-highest total alongside Liverpool.

The red mist descended on Casemiro, however, with the Brazilian shown a straight red card for the first time in Europe's top-five leagues; the dismissal coming in his 366th such appearance.

That provided a late charge for Palace, who saw eight of their 10 shots come in the final 20 minutes after Casemiro's dismissal, but Patrick Vieira's side remain winless in the Premier League in 2023 (drawn 2, lost 3), scoring just once in the process.

Jurgen Klopp refused to speak to a reporter in the aftermath of Liverpool's humiliating 3-0 defeat to Wolves on Saturday, seeming to allege he was overly critical of the out-of-form Reds.

Liverpool's winless league run stretched to four matches at Molineux as Craig Dawson and Ruben Neves got on the scoresheet after Joel Matip put through his own net early on.

Wolves' opener was the fifth goal Liverpool have conceded in the opening five minutes of a Premier League game this season, more than any other side, while Dawson's second came just seven minutes later.

At his post-match press conference, Klopp was asked by the Athletic's James Pearce whether Liverpool's tendency to start slowly was caused by an attitude problem, and the Reds boss was unimpressed by the line of questioning.

"It's very difficult to talk to you, if I'm 100 per cent honest. I would prefer not to do that," Klopp told Pearce. "You know why, for all the things you wrote.

"If somebody else wants to ask that question, then I will answer it."

Another journalist present proceeded to repeat the same question, at which point a visibly irritated Klopp answered.

Meanwhile, Klopp's comments about Wolves' third goal quickly attracted the ire of the Molineux club on social media.

Klopp complimented Liverpool's second-half showing in his press conference, adding: "The third goal I don't count because it was the first time they passed the halfway line."

Wolves reacted with a cheeky tweet from their official account, replicating their usual full-time message with an image showing the scoreline as 2-0, with Neves' goal chalked off. 

Neves' goal was his fifth in the Premier League this campaign, making it his joint-most prolific season in the competition (also five in 2020-21). 

Jurgen Klopp remains confident he is the right man to turn Liverpool's form around after seeing their underwhelming season continue with Saturday's 3-0 loss at Wolves.

Liverpool suffered their third defeat in as many away league games this calendar year at Molineux, falling to another dire reverse as Craig Dawson and Ruben Neves followed up Joel Matip's early own goal.

The Reds are now 11 points adrift of a top-four place in 10th, having lost more away league games this term (six) than in the last two seasons combined (five).

Klopp has previously professed his desire to oversee a rebuild at Anfield, and the German remains certain he is the right man for the job despite Liverpool's downturn. 

Asked whether he was confident he could help Liverpool bounce back, Klopp said: "Yeah, yeah, absolutely.

"I know my job, you know my job, it's not to explain here how I can build up my team. I will be judged by you, which is fine. But today was not good enough, what I did."

Questioned on whether Liverpool's four-game winless run in the Premier League worried him, he added: "How can I not be concerned? I cannot sit here and say it's all okay. I was asked outside if it's because of last season, playing 63 games. 

"Yes, of course, it's clear that it has influenced the first part of the season, but how long do we want to suffer from that? It's February now. We had a full week to prepare.

"We are fit, we are now there, that might have been a problem earlier in the season, of course, when we had injuries – all are clear now. 

"But for today the first 12 minutes is not allowed, I have to say that, but we did it anyway. That's true and that's the outcome."

Asked whether he had lost faith in the players who almost delivered a historic quadruple last season, Klopp said: "No. I don't think they are at their best at the moment and do I like that? No. But I still know how good they are and how good they can be. 

"But football, and life, is not like this. We work every day and it's not because of him, him or him. So, these things happen because we cannot help ourselves in these moments. 

"These are the situations we have to go through. I don't lose confidence in the boys or whatever, but I see where we have to improve."

Liverpool have conceded more goals in the opening five minutes of Premier League matches than any other side this season (five), and goalkeeper Alisson struggled to explain the Reds' failure to start quickly. 

"In a game of 90 minutes, you have to do it consistently for the whole game," he told Premier League productions. "We showed today you can get punished for 15 minutes and that's what happened.

"We have the same players who achieved so many great things at this club and we are not performing well. It's difficult to say why. 

"I'm not saying I don't trust we can't bounce back. I'm just so disappointed about tonight's game. We have to keep working."

Jurgen Klopp was "disappointed and angry" as he struggled to explain Liverpool's dismal run of form continuing with a 3-0 defeat to Wolves at Molineux.

Liverpool found themselves two goals down within 12 minutes on Saturday as Wolves debutant Craig Dawson followed up Joel Matip's own goal, before Ruben Neves ended the Reds' hopes of a comeback in the second half.

Wolves' bizarre opener was the fifth goal Liverpool have conceded in the opening five minutes of a Premier League game this season, more than any other side.

With Dawson's goal then being timed at 11 minutes and six seconds, Liverpool have only once gone 2-0 down at an earlier stage of a Premier League game, conceding twice in the first seven minutes against West Ham in 2014.

Speaking after seeing Liverpool's winless run stretch to four league outings, Klopp hit out at the Reds' dreadful start to the match and apologised for their defensive shortcomings.

"Obviously it was a horrible start, two goals which cannot happen like that," he told Premier League Productions. "But it happened, and we were 2-0 down because of our own fault.

"We should have defended better. We were passive in that period. I cannot explain it. There is no excuse for it.

"You're 2-0 down, the crowd is there, but it opens up and we get some control. Then for about 45 minutes we play a good away game without scoring. That sums it up, pretty much.

"These 15 minutes cannot be allowed. It needs to change, that's the thing. I stand here again and for the first 15 minutes I have no explanation, I'm sorry.

"In the end, we lost 3-0 and the goal in the second half was perhaps the first time they crossed the halfway line, but when you start like this you don't deserve anything."

Liverpool have lost three consecutive away league games for the first time since April 2012 (a run of four), while they have suffered more defeats on the road this term (six) than in their previous two campaigns combined (five).

Up next for Liverpool is a Merseyside derby against Everton, who began the Sean Dyche era with a huge victory against Arsenal on Saturday, and Klopp knows his team must improve quickly.

"We have to change it immediately in the next game," he said. "Everton won today, and they are in a good moment, so we have to prove a point again.

"For the moment, I'm so disappointed and angry about the first 15 minutes, I can't find the words for it.

"Then we had chances we should score. It could have been 2-1 and that would have changed everything I'm sure. Wolves deserve the three points."

Liverpool's dire run of form continued as Craig Dawson and Ruben Neves got on the scoresheet for Wolves in a 3-0 thrashing of the beleaguered Reds at Molineux on Saturday.

The Reds' bid for a first Premier League victory of 2023 never got going as debutant Dawson followed up Joel Matip's bizarre own goal to put Wolves firmly in control within 12 minutes.

Jurgen Klopp's team enjoyed plenty of possession after the break, but any hopes of a comeback were dashed with 19 minutes left as Neves capped a swift break to put Wolves 3-0 up.  

As well as avenging last month's FA Cup exit against Liverpool, Wolves claimed a huge three points in their bid to avoid relegation, leaving crisis club Liverpool in 10th and winless in four league matches.   

Wolves needed just five minutes to breach a Liverpool defence bereft of confidence, as Hwang Hee-chan's cut-back spun off Matip and against the post before crossing the goal-line.

Rocked by that goal, Liverpool fell further behind seven minutes later when Joe Gomez inexplicably headed Matheus Cunha's cross away from Alisson's grasp, allowing Dawson to fire high into the net from close range. 

Jose Sa denied Darwin Nunez with a one-on-one save two minutes later, but Liverpool were fortunate to reach half-time 2-0 down as Matheus Nunes broke clear to draw a similar stop from Alisson.

Max Kilman cleared off the line amid a goalmouth scramble as Liverpool looked to respond after the break, before Mohamed Salah bent an effort narrowly wide of the bottom-left corner.

Sa made another huge save from Nunez's low strike as Wolves sat deep to defend their lead, but Julen Lopetegui's men made the points safe when Adama Traore broke clear to tee up Neves for a neat left-footed finish. 

Jurgen Klopp has no doubts about Mohamed Salah's quality and believes the forward can play a key role in Liverpool achieving "something special" this season.

Liverpool will head into Saturday's match at Wolves 10th in the Premier League, 10 points behind fourth-placed Manchester United in the battle for Champions League places.

The Reds, who are also out of both domestic cups and face Real Madrid in the Champions League, have not had Salah at his brilliant best this season.

Although Salah is Liverpool's joint-top scorer in the league this season, he has netted only seven times in 19 matches. Across his first five campaigns at Anfield, he tallied 118 top-flight goals.

This comes after a close-season in which Salah signed a lucrative new Liverpool contract as team-mate Sadio Mane was allowed to leave.

But Klopp came to the defence of his star man ahead of the Wolves game, telling reporters: "That attitude and these kind of things are not Mo's problem.

"Mo's a world-class athlete, so he's the first in, last out, trains hard. Now he's not scoring, but there's people out there that think, 'why did they give Klopp a contract?', so that's how it is in our world.

"It's completely fine. If we don't deliver in the moments, if there's criticism, it's no problem. 

"You can question character, knowledge, ability, everything. You have the right to do everything, but you cannot score the amount of goals Mo scored if you are not an outstanding, world-class football player."

He added: "There are moments when Mo of course would have scored last year. You think that had something to do with the new contract or whatever?

"That's just not right. Things are like they are and the only way we can stop all these questions and discussions is by performing to our top, top level and that's what we have to do and what we will work on.

"We are really on it, and we are still straight, positive, we want to play in the games and we believe in our chances to reach something special even this year.

"It's not great to be not leader of the pack, but we are in a position where we can improve a lot the situation in the table and we have to start tomorrow and continue from there."

Jurgen Klopp is confused over how Chelsea's transfer business is possible after the Blues brought in eight January signings.

Chelsea signed World Cup winner Enzo Fernandez from Benfica for a British record transfer fee of £106.8million (€121m) on Tuesday, pushing their January spending past £300m.

That capped a hectic window for Chelsea, who splashed out to sign Mykhaylo Mudryk, Benoit Badiashile, Andrey Santos, Noni Madueke, David Datro Fofana and Malo Gusto, who will spend the rest of the season on loan at Lyon.

Joao Felix also signed on loan from Atletico Madrid as, with Chelsea sat 10th in the Premier League, co-owner Todd Boehly gave head coach Potter an array of options with which to mount a push for the top four.

In contrast, Klopp's Liverpool, above Chelsea on goal difference in ninth, only brought in one signing, bringing in Cody Gakpo from PSV in January for a reported initial fee of around £37million (€42m).

Klopp is baffled over how Chelsea's spending is allowed in relation to Financial Fair Play regulations, telling reporters: "I don't understand this part of the business about what you can and can't do. It's a big number.

"I don't understand how it's possible with all the things around, but obviously it's not up to me to explain how it works."

When asked for his personal views on Chelsea's record-breaking January dealings, the Liverpool manager joked: "I say nothing without my lawyer."

Despite the eye-watering fees Chelsea have paid out, Klopp feels it could be money well spent with the quality of players they have signed.

"They're all really good players," Klopp said. "From that point of view, congratulations.

"The players they brought in, I didn't think once 'why did they do that?' They will play well together."

This term, Liverpool have failed to hit the high standards they have set since Klopp's arrival at the club in 2015, during which they have won both the Champions League and Premier League.

Liverpool have been hit by injuries to Virgil van Dijk, Luis Diaz and Diogo Jota, while some players have struggled for form.

One such example is midfielder Fabinho, who has been benched in recent games for 18-year-old Stefan Bajcetic and was fortunate not get sent off for a rash tackle in Liverpool's FA Cup defeat to Brighton and Hove Albion last week.

"He knows he's not flying and that he needs to work back," Klopp said of Fabinho. "That's how it is. 

"It's really helpful we have Stefan. You need a guy who wins challenges but plays football as well. Fab did that for us for plenty of years, absolutely brilliant. Best in the position for a long time and at the moment it's not clicking, that's true as well.

"He's not the happiest person on the planet, but he understands the decision."

Jurgen Klopp has challenged Liverpool to follow Marcus Rashford's example and roar back to match-winning form.

Klopp's side have won just one of their last six games in all competitions, with Kaoru Mitoma's stoppage-time winner for Brighton and Hove Albion last weekend ending the Reds' hopes of silverware in the FA Cup.

Out of the EFL Cup and sitting 21 points behind Premier League leaders Arsenal in ninth, Liverpool have failed to match the standards they have set for much of Klopp's time at the club.

They have won the Premier League and Champions League under the German, while finishing runners-up in those competitions a combined four times.

Liverpool's slump has coincided with rivals Manchester United enjoying a strong first campaign under new manager Erik ten Hag, with the Red Devils fourth in the league and the only team left fighting for success on four fronts.

United have been able to count on the impressive form of Rashford, who has bounced back from scoring just four league goals last season to net 18 times in 31 appearances across all competitions this term.

Klopp cited Rashford's stunning return to form as a model for Liverpool to follow in their bid to get back to winning ways, saying: "One of the best examples is Marcus Rashford, the season he had last year and this year.

"I'm sure he can't really explain it. It's not like Marcus didn't want to deliver last year. Now he's flying.

"The time in between these two extremes, you have to use, you have to work and fight through it. Self-pity is not allowed in these moments. Only one person can change this, and it's yourselves. These things can happen and will happen, but it's about limiting the time to get back on track."

Having tasted victory only eight times in 19 league games so far this season, Klopp believes his team must show they are capable of winning games again if they are to finish the season strongly.

"We love this game, the boys especially because they can play it still," Klopp said. "A big part of it is the desire to win football games. When you don't achieve that, that's the hardest moment for all footballers on the planet.

"We were much better in a lot of areas [against Brighton], but in the end when the result is not right, it overshadows everything.

"When you've won the last five games, you don't have to prove that you can win football games because everybody knows. We have to prove this point, that's clear.

"We didn't win enough football games in the last few weeks and the whole season so far, so that's what we want."

Liverpool travel to Molineux to face Wolves on Saturday, a third meeting with Julen Lopetegui's side since the turn of the year following a 2-2 draw at Anfield in an FA Cup third-round game and a 1-0 victory in the replay.

Saturday's match is the first of a run that sees them face local rivals Everton and top-four hopefuls Newcastle United, before the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie with Real Madrid at Anfield on February 21.

Klopp is remaining calm ahead of the crucial juncture in Liverpool's season, explaining at his pre-match press conference: "I don't worry about a run of fixtures. We have to use the time we have to improve, to play the football we want to play, to work on the things we think are necessary or massively necessary.

"We have only played half the season, which is crazy but means the second half of the season we can do whatever we want in a positive direction.

"We decide how positive the outcome will be."

Newcastle United have joined the race for Jude Bellingham, with reports suggesting they are not dissuaded by Borussia Dortmund's potential £133million (€150m) asking price.

Bellingham, 19, has become one of the top prospects in world football since arriving in Germany, becoming a key player for Dortmund and impressing at the World Cup with England.

The Birmingham City youth product, who already has 22 senior caps to his name, has become more of a goal-scoring threat this season, with his 10 goals in all competitions already matching the combined total from his past two seasons. 

Bellingham netted in each of his first four Champions League fixtures this campaign, joining Manchester City striker Erling Haaland and Paris Saint-Germain superstar Kylian Mbappe as the only teenagers to ever score in four consecutive games in the competition.

The world's biggest clubs are set to fight it out for the young phenomenon's services, and Newcastle want in on the action.

TOP STORY – NEWCASTLE ENTER BELLINGHAM CHASE

According to Sport Bild, the main four contenders for Bellingham are Manchester United, Manchester City, Liverpool and Real Madrid, but "Newcastle United are trying to get into the game".

The report says Bellingham has ruled out both Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain but gives no indication that Bellingham would consider a move to St James' Park.

That could change if Newcastle – who have lost just once this Premier League season – qualify for the Champions League.

It also states Dortmund will demand "up to" £133m (€150m), but with so many wealthy, interested parties, it is hard to imagine the final figure falls below that without any unforeseen injury concerns.

ROUND-UP

– The New York Times is reporting Fiorentina were left frustrated by Chelsea owner Todd Boehly after he personally called them with a low-ball offer for 26-year-old Morocco midfielder Sofyan Amrabat on deadline day.

– Leeds United winger Jack Harrison, 26, is expected to sign a new contract with the club after his £20m transfer to Leicester City was called off at the 11th hour, per Sky Sports.

– According to Calciomercato, Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric has received interest from both MLS and Saudi Arabian clubs, but he has his heart set on a contract extension at the Santiago Bernabeu.

– The Telegraph is reporting Chelsea's academy players fear a mass exodus if the club misses out on Champions League qualification, as they will need to balance their books with some sales.

– According to The Independent, Everton do not feel 30-year-old free agent Isco has the physical profile to suit the Premier League and are no longer considering his signing.