When the final whistle sounds at Anfield after Crystal Palace’s visit on January 19, Jurgen Klopp will be in a position of rare luxury.
From 4.50pm on Saturday week, Klopp will be able to give his players a few days off to recharge tired minds and aching limbs and — above all — know he has a window in which he can do some proper work on the training ground.
It has been a bugbear for Liverpool’s manager that work at Melwood on shape and tactics has been limited recently. A schedule of 12 matches in 44 days since November 24 has given Klopp no time to go in depth on the areas that need improvement but he can now see a window where that changes.