Champions League holders Liverpool overcame Monterrey 2-1 on December 18 thanks to Roberto Firmino's injury-time winner, before they went on to beat Flamengo in the final.

EXCLUSIVE BY SAMI MOKBEL: Andrew Massey, the Reds' current head of medical services, is set to leave Anfield to take up a similar role at world football's governing body FIFA.

Liverpool are appointing Arsenal's lead doctor Gary O'Driscoll as their new head of medical services. He has been the leading candidate to replace Andrew Massey at the club.

Every team has an unsung hero. Since he signed from Hoffenheim, Roberto Firmino has often played in the shadows - putting in some stellar displays but not always getting the recognition he deserves.

As revealed by Sportsmail earlier this year, Gary O'Driscoll was offered the top medical job at Liverpool after their head doctor Andrew Massey took up a role with FIFA.

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Fowler has the necessary coaching qualifications, but every attempt to find work in England was rebuffed. He applied for four League One jobs but was never interviewed.

THE NUMBERS GAME - KIERAN GILL: Manchester City's chase of an unprecedented Quadruple could see them play 64 matches this season, while title rivals Liverpool could only play 53.

The title chasers have topped the billing 13 times in 2018-19 while Manchester City, their closest MOTD competitors, have had that honour on seven occasions.

THE NUMBERS GAME: Compared to Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino does not score as many goals. He has contributed 16 this season compared to 26 apiece by the other two.

With 12 games left to play in the Premier League, Liverpool sit just four points off top spot. Arsenal’s demolition at Anfield was followed up with the drab stalemate with Manchester United, while the usually free-scoring Manchester City have failed to find the net in their last two games.

Liverpool could be poised to show real interest in Kylian Mbappe after manager Jurgen Klopp reportedly contacted the player's father for a general chat about his future.

White has enjoyed a brilliant season on loan at Championship side Leeds and his form has caught the eye of three Premier League giants, according to The Athletic.

The news comes as further grim reading for the financial positions Premier League sides find themselves in due to the drastically reduced incomes as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Serie A club are willing to entertain offers for the 28-year-old Senegal centre back when the transfer window finally opens this summer with Liverpool reportedly leading the chase.

PETE JENSON IN SPAIN: Barcelona coach Quique Setien is in favour of the club recalling Coutinho who he believes can get back to his best. Barca will owe Liverpool more money if he plays 24 more games.

Jurgen Klopp's side could snap up the 23-year-old in a cut-price deal if the imminent return of the Bundesliga means Rashica and Bremen are relegated before the middle of June.

Coveted Napoli captain Kalidou Koulibaly has become a transfer target for Liverpool. The 28-year-old is widely regarded as one of the best central defenders in world football.

The World Cup is just 37 days away and excitement is building. Each week our man in Brazil, Joe Callaghan, brings us the latest news and views from South America.

It would have been Bill Shankly’s 100th birthday tomorrow. Quite rightly the occasion is being marked at today’s game between Liverpool and Manchester United.

The Champions League winners take on the Europa League victors at Vodfaone Park in Istanbul with Jurgen Klopp looking to get his hands on a second trophy with the club.

Liverpool sent scouts to check in on Cakir as they look to find a long-term second choice goalkeeper. The 23-year-old made eight saves to thwart Fenerbache as the sides drew 1-1 on Sunday.

SPECIAL REPORT BY DANIEL MATTHEWS AND TOM COLLOMOSSE: While keeping an eye on Liverpool - 'I am happy they won the Champions League,' he said - he is still trying to rebuild.

EXCLUSIVE BY MIKE KEEGAN: Sportsmail can reveal that the entire top 10 - with the exception of City and Sheffield United - have submitted a joint application to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Traore has enjoyed a breakthrough season which has seen the speedster score six goals and provide 10 assists to help keep Nuno Espirito Santo's side firing this campaign.

Wolves captain Conor Coady has paid tribute to Liverpool counterpart Jordan Henderson for rallying footballers around the #playerstogether initiative.

When top-flight football in England was suspended last month due to the spread of Covid-19, Liverpool were 25 points clear of second-placed Manchester City with nine games remaining.

MERSEY BEAT — DOMINIC KING: Can you play football by numbers? This is an era when statistics have become king and a player’s importance is measured by the digits they produce.

DOMINIC KING - MERSEY BEAT: With each passing minute, he gets closer to the door. The relentless pursuit, the speculation and the astronomical bid.

MERSEY BEAT: In the giddy aftermath of the game of the season, one dejected man stood out. Head bowed, brow furrowed, Simon Mignolet scuttled out of Anfield without stopping to speak.

DOMINIC KING'S MERSEY BEAT: Even after Liverpool beat Crystal Palace on Monday, the focus after the game was about the obduracy of Jurgen Klopp’s defence and the impact of Alisson.

DOMINIC KING - MERSEY BEAT: Jordan Henderson was approaching the final 12 months of his contract and with Liverpool dallying, some of their rivals began to take notice.

DOMINIC KING - MERSEY BEAT: It is three years to the day since Liverpool sacked Brendan Rodgers. We must start with that fact in an attempt to apply some context about the club's situation.

DOMINIC KING - MERSEY BEAT: Liverpool look like they need an individual to spring forward and take things by the scruff of the neck. Jurgen Klopp will hope Naby Keita steps forward.

DOMINIC KING - MERSEY BEAT: It is difficult to know what to get most angry about: the man who made the idea, the potential recipient or some clubs for contemplating it.

DOMINIC KING - MERSEY BEAT: Towards the end of 2020, Liverpool will have a new £50million complex. The renovation of their Academy at Kirkby is well underway.

Real Madrid are keen on a massive summer swoop for Liverpool's £132million-rated superstar Sadio Mane... and reports state that the Bernabeu is the ONLY club he would leave Anfield for.

The Croatian has a release clause of £52million but Inter are desperate to tie him down to a new deal so they can raise their asking price.

The much-maligned Liverpool goalkeeper has spent the last two seasons with Turkish side Besiktas after his nightmare in the 2018 Champions League final against Real Madrid.

Loris Karius, Liverpool's forgotten goalkeeper, will officially return to Anfield on June 30 as he comes close to agreeing a severance deal with Besiktas.

Real Madrid star Gareth Bale has attempted to recreate his iconic Champions League final goal in his living room to raise money for the NHS during the coronavirus pandemic. 

Liverpool have earned a double nomination at this year's prestigious Laureus World Sports Awards after their incredible Champions League triumph last season.

Wayne Rooney 's wife flashed a wide smile as she laughed with friends at the luxury jewellery brand's football themed bash, in association with Hublot, on Thursday night

DANNY MURPHY: Eric Cantona or Wayne Rooney, Luis Suarez or Fernando Torres, Peter Schmeichel or David de Gea? Do you agree with his selections?

The former Manchester United star lavished praise on the club's arch-rivals, who appear set to claim their first league crown in 30 years, and says that the season may even run until the end of the year.

With a scarcity of top talent available in January, big players who are on the market usually have a number of suitors to choose from, creating a transfer tug-of-war.

Liverpool have been transformed since Klopp arrived in 2015 and the Reds are 25 points clear at the top of the Premier League table, a sign United must change tact, says Van Persie.

MARTIN SAMUEL - CHIEF SPORTS WRITER: There may be more than two months to go, but naming the Premier League XI of the season already seems easy enough. It's Liverpool.

Origi and Alexander-Arnold combined to put Barcelona to the sword in last year's Champions League semi-final second leg at Anfield last year, overturning a three-goal deficit.

EXCLUSIVE BY MIKE KEEGAN: The country's leading clubs have reaffirmed their commitment to women's football amid concerns over the impact of the coronavirus crisis on it.

Rio Ferdinand, who was on the pitch in October 2011 when Luis Suarez abused Patrice Evra, hit out at the length of time it has taken for any apology to come from those associated with Liverpool.