Liverpool lose three players and sign one star as January transfer window closes
It is fair to say Liverpool are not enjoying their best season under Jurgen Klopp.
The Reds are ninth in the Premier League - 10 points behind Manchester United in fourth with a game in hand - and are in serious danger of missing out of Champions League football next season. They have also been knocked out of the Carabao Cup and FA Cup.
As such, it would have been wise for Klopp to freshen up his squad in January - but Liverpool had a fairly quiet month. Their only signing was Cody Gakpo, who completed a £45million move from PSV Eindhoven shortly before the transfer window officially opened.
Gakpo, 23, was seen as a coup for Liverpool. The Netherlands international enjoyed a brilliant start to the season with PSV - scoring nine goals and providing 12 assists in 14 Eredivisie games. He also found the net three times at the recent World Cup in Qatar.
Yet Gakpo has failed to replicate that form in England so far. He did not score or register an assist for Liverpool during his first five appearances under Klopp - with some fans wondering whether he is the real deal. Gakpo will need to prove his critics wrong.
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In terms of outgoings, just one player left Anfield permanently in January - Jake Cain. The 21-year-old midfielder, who made just one senior outing for Liverpool three years ago and spent last season on loan at Newport, signed a two-and-a-half-year deal with Swindon.
Youngsters Jarrell Quansah and Luke Chambers departed the club on loan deals to Bristol Rovers and Kilmarnock respectively, but the Reds were always expected to keep their powder dry until the summer.
Incomings
Cody Gakpo - PSV Eindhoven
Outgoings
Jake Cain - Swindon Town
Jarrell Quansah (loan) - Bristol Rovers
Luke Chambers (loan) - Kilmarnock
Join the debate! How would you rate Liverpool's January transfer window? Let us know here.
Cody Gakpo was the only new player Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp managed to acquire in JanuaryLiverpool have been plagued by midfield issues this season and are expected to rebuild their faltering engine room. Already, the likes of Jude Bellingham, Moises Caicedo and Matheus Nunes have been linked with big-money moves to Anfield.
Any new recruits will join Gakpo through the door. And although he has failed to make a significant impact on the pitch so far, he has, at least, bowled over his new boss.
Speaking earlier this month, Klopp said: "Cody has been in for two full training days and is a joy to watch, to be honest. In our situation, it's really nice to have a player who is pretty natural in a lot of things and knows where the goal is. He is obviously full of joy, enjoying each second at the moment.
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"He's a good footballer, good in small spaces, likes to shoot from distance, good finisher and dribbler. Everybody who wants to know about him could know as there are a lot of videos out there about him. It's nice to see in real life, in front of you.
"He looks really promising and fit. The sessions are intense for him because they're different. I'm very positive about him. Coming from a new league is always difficult, but we expect a positive impact."
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