Latest transfer news as deadline day fast approaches for Everton and Liverpool as the January transfer window nears its conclusion

An away clash at Bournemouth might not have been underlined as a major obstacle in Liverpool's pursuit of the Premier League title but Saturday's clash on the south coast suddenly looks anything but a relaxed trip to the seaside.

Being a good, young left-back with Premier League experience is not the only reason he is being connected to Liverpool. Sporting director Richard Hughes, who joined Liverpool in the summer after leaving Bournemouth, signed the defender for his former club.

Paul Merson insists Liverpool are ‘favourites’ to win the Premier League but says their title push could start to falter if Virgil van Dijk was to pick up an injury. Arne Slot’s side have moved six points clear at the top of the Premier League and have a game in hand over title rivals Arsenal.

Everton were handed a double injury blow on Thursday when the Premier League club announced midfielder Orel Mangala would miss the rest of the season with a knee injury while striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin was sidelined with a hamstring injury.

Elsewhere, third-placed Nottingham Forest host Brighton, hoping to bounce back from last week’s 5-0 thrashing at Bournemouth, while Tottenham look to halt their alarming slide at Brentford

The Hungarian's outstanding goal on Saturday made a few more onlookers sit up and take notice of his performances in Slot's system this season.

Pep Guardiola's Manchester City have won four of their past five Premier League games to climb back into the top four after a miserable run of results.

Third-place Forest, who had won seven of their last eight matches, were brought back down to earth with a hefty bump last week when they were smashed 5-0 at Bournemouth. Brighton's hopes of winning for a third consecutive match were ended when they lost at home to West Ham United,

How the division's smallest club took a risk, backed their talented head coach, recruited smartly and refined their style

This ignited a heated exchange between Merson, Sherwood and Clinton Morrison as they speculated on the title's fate with 15 matches remaining. Merson, a former Arsenal forward, vehemently dismissed the notion that Liverpool is out of reach, citing last season's collapse when Liverpool lost at home to Crystal Palace while leading the league.