Liverpool return to action on Saturday afternoon when they travel to Brighton in the Premier League.
Having secured four successive league victories either side of the World Cup, Jurgen Klopp's side looked to have turned a corner in what has been a difficult campaign, but a 3-1 loss at Brentford earlier this month deservedly condemned them to a fifth defeat this term.
The Reds remain in the hunt for the top four, however, and could close the gap on Manchester United depending on their result earlier in the day against local rivals Man City at Old Trafford.
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As part of the build-up to the game, here are all the latest off-diary titbits and gossip of what has been happening around Anfield of late.
Nunes shows what he's about
As chance would have it, on the week it became clear how Liverpool are assessing the merits of Wolves' Matheus Nunes ahead of a potential summer move, the Portugal international found himself at Anfield, tasked with helping knock them out of the FA Cup.
The Reds, it is understood, have an interest in Nunes but are watching him ahead of potential move later this year given he cannot play for them this season. Having turned out for both Sporting Lisbon and Wolves this term, he is unable to play for a third, making any move this month reductive.
However, having been named in connection with the Reds, you can be sure supporters at Anfield will have been watching closely when he came on as a second-half substitute in that 2-2 FA Cup draw last Saturday.
Nunes was excellent in his cameo, always willing to take possession in difficult areas and using his ability to ghost past players to get the visitors up the pitch in a game they will feel unfortunate not to have come away with a place in the third round.
It's not quite gone according to the plan at Molinuex so far for Nunes but Reds fans will be keeping a keen eye on his development in the Midlands from here on in, you feel. Watch this space.
Barton told to sit down
Elsewhere, there was plenty of scouting interest from the stands at the Kirkby Academy too on Wednesday night as Liverpool's Under-21s entertained Paris Saint-Germain in the Premier League International Cup.
Alongside Preston North End boss Ryan Lowe was Joey Barton, who takes charge of Bristol Rovers presently. It's possible that both were there to run the rule over centre-back Jarell Quansah, among others, and Barton was particularly impressed with Mateusz Musialowski, given some of the comments overheard on the night. The former Newcastle midfielder's evening was perhaps most notable for what happened just before kick-off, though.
Barton was one of a number of match-goers who were told, in no uncertain terms by an almost laughably over-officious steward, that he and the rest of the talent-spotters in attendance simply had to sit in the first row of seats on the night.
Others attempted to shuffle over to new seats to gain a better vantage point of the game itself before they were ordered, in comical fashion, by the Liverpool steward to get back into their assigned seats. As the mock drama unfolded, Barton was one of the onlookers left bemused, yet oddly entertained, by the lengths the club employee was willing to go to fulfil their brief.
Koumetio's wondergoal
It was a Liverpool comeback Billy Koumetio won't forget in a hurry.
Having returned mid-season from his loan spell with Austria Vienna, the French centre-back was in the team for that 4-2 win over PSG on Wednesday night. Two goals and an outstanding performance was a superb way to remind all of your talents but it was Koumetio's first strike that won't be forgotten in a hurry for those fortunate enough to be there to witness it.
The centre-back was well inside his own half when he spotted PSG goalkeeper Lucas Lavallee off his line. One big swing of that trusty left boot later and Koumetio had opened the scoring in quite stunning fashion.
"He actually did say he meant it!" beamed manager Lewtas after the game. "And to be fair, the way he shaped up, he meant it! I am not going to argue with him and he could have had a hat-trick as well!"
If you haven't seen it, check out Koumetio's social media pages for what will surely win Liverpool's in-house Goal of the Season competition.
Nunez likely to miss Brighton
As if Jurgen Klopp's injury woes weren't bad enough up top at present, it now looks like Darwin Nunez will add to them for the Brighton game.
The Uruguay international is a doubt for the match after missing training on Thursday. Nunez, in fact, has missed most of training this week and is unlikely to be risked as a result.
At a time when both Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz are sidelined and Roberto Firmino is struggling, Klopp's could really do without another forward option on the shelf.
It's been described as a minor injury by those with knowledge of the problem but it was also believed Firmino's issue, picked up on the eve of the Carabao Cup defeat to Manchester City, was not a serious one. However, the Brazil striker has now missed the last five games for Klopp's men. Hopefully Nunez's isn't anywhere near as troublesome. Klopp will deliver the latest on the injury in his Friday press conference.
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